The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-03

m ~rserrercr ars<s uhen tie new
truck q sxnsea. The ssrae willingness
on the Fart q these IN charge Of tssr
srrek - exhifSsri by the csszsr de-
psr1nens. Of the organization wiA Ess
Il there
The total expenses al tha depart
rsesf, sndndanx tise purchase Of ho<e
appzratgs and engine house los. i
fiEu8 50. Pasd for new truck 4g7ss So
hoe ard suction. <Isf5 II. for new
bel and toxer. 9as u. for engine lot
fnr No. 4. $500. which makes = total
Of 1864 81. ard aeinetess from the
su1eans. 81 953 %, leAve- haisa<e 81
sfsT2 81 a. the eos. Of the department,
proper
FsSwgss OF cHrxF
At the time Of the introduction into
the city council 81 the oEeiasrsce Great
ing the frs department.. serious oppo-
sis1on wzs encountered against any
change In their primitive fscffsts q
doing thing. and W. were snes wiz.
the often-ssnce repeated remark Let
wei enough ai0ne. and 10 order 70
reconcile lot II 'sosd tlremsfl certain
csrsee4xions we're made abridgsng the
authority " the CHIEF. Time has only
demonstrated the necessity OF The au-
thority OF the chief ensbraei.sg all
in the department | refer cs-
pecfaily 10 the engineers m
charge o. the engines A. IL Is
nov they are ouIy responsible 70 the
city council for their conduct. and
right here j. one Of the abuses referred
10. and one that should engage the
immediate attention o. the Council,
States with tide tables have been
placed In the engine houses, and the
engineers directed TO keep 3 daily
record OF the tides. Systems OF alarms
have been instituted and the engineers
instructed 10 ring the alarms 30 that
companies leaving the hostse may
know the direction Ia take Retarn
calls Tin event 81 false aisrnssi have
been established, warning far away
companies that their services arc not
required At only few point along
the water front have the services of
the engines been considered necessary.
The engineers have been instructed
not to leave the house, but get ali III
readiness, aud wait until they are
called Various other instructions of
the same nature have been given. Pos
sfbly some 81 them have Tor short
time been obeyed by the en-
ginecr, but when they conflict with bis
comfort they are totally disregardcd
When the alarm comes into the house
no effort il made 10 locate the fire and
inform The rest OF the department by
the UNDER TODD system of bells, but all
j. eonfurion. instructions 10 the dog.
nothing bat q changing OF bells, ne
head, no tail. nothing bat a furious
ringing OF bells. and the iiremen and
citsxcas are treated 10 the Illuminating
sight oi one company running down
Front street, another company run
ming up Second street. neither compa-
ny Knowing the locality OF the fire, but
are out 20 hunt il up | dare say not
a member OF the chief council bat has
seen isspectacie frequently repeated
and so i, will be untN the engineer /.
accountable 10 the city for his conduct.
WASHING HOSE.
This i an abuse that should be con-
SitieFed. II is duty that requires two
persons The engineer should make
one Of them. Members have made
nine dollars a day washing hose.
ENGINE HOUSES.
No. company and hook and iadde T
company have no meeting rooms out
side the council chamber, as set forth in
former report A house could be con
strueted on that part Of the lot back OF
the council chamber that would ac-
commodate both companies.
RECOMMENDATIONS
| would renew recommendation
made in a former report regarding
facilities for escape from hotels
theatres, lodging houses. etc. in event
OF tire. | would recommend that the
electric light companies be compelled
TO establish cut offs ut suitable points
IN the city 50 that In event OF fire the
tireu3cn are not exposed to contact
with the electric current.
] would recommend the immediate
and thereafter the annual inspection
by the United States inspector OF
boilers OF the boilers Of the steam fire
engines nov used in this city.
! would again srge the organization
OF q fire patrol as one OF the most
necesS 4ry adjuncts to a well aisci-
pinned department.
| recommend that the membership
of the several companies be reduced 10
q necessary working force thereby
saving the city IN taxes WHIST would
support one good hose company ana
further the bet iutcre 4 oi the city.
would recommend n reliable sys.
TEN 81 electric fire alarm. The Camel.
well is In use in the larger cities. and
has proved reliable
| would especially recommend tina;
the authority 81 the chief be exsende j
50 n 70 embrace the control OF the en-.
gineer IN charge OF tie steamers. with
power 60 employ and discharge. sub
| jeci to appeal 10 The board al uclegate
as other members OF the department
May Tea-ons can be stated why thi,
sho'ii'i be. ana none why Il shoald noi
| be. With no power % enforce tlisci
| pine, no discipline can ic enlorcei
| With these suggc tons | close my
| report and Dy connection with the
department a. It's chief During tbs
four years 81 my iucumhency. have
| lahored FOR the host Interests 81 the
department and the city How well
have succeeded /. a question each vii
decide for himself I beg. however
20 express publicly my sincere thank.
20 First Assistant l.. +. Ferry, Of
Company No. :, and 90 Second Asst &
ant James Warren, Of Company No. (
| Tor their valuable assistance to ne
! have ever found them ready At hand
cqsal b any emergency. possessing al
[ the qualifications of We.l-trained Ere
men who Know their duty and stand
ever ready e. perform Il,
Very respectfully submitted.
GAHpxKR kEILosG.
Chief Seattle Fire Dept