St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-08
MORE WATER SERVICE.
The Committee of Insurance Men Think
st. Paul Needs 1t.
THE WHOLESALE DISTRICT.
More Apparatus Needed for the Fire De.
partment to Render Its Service
Efficient.

At meeting of the Underwriters
Union of Minnesota and Dakota, held in
st. Paul last March, the great losses
suffered by the companies i'll this city
through fires received considerable at
tentiOn. A committee consisting of j..
j. Mcdonald, John Hewlett, G. w. Pot
ter, a. A. CratZenburg, W. C. Breden-
hagen, John II. Griffith and w. E. Page
was appointed to look over the field
thoroughly and report as to the best
thing to ask of the city to better protect
it. or at least make the insurance bust
ness self-sustaining. The report will be
presented to the city council tonight.
The committee says:
The source of this supply is abundant,
and for present needs existing arrange
ments are sufficient. To provide for
contemplated needs, however, a reser-
voir of 10000, 600 capacity is already con-
tracted for, and is to be completed dur
ing the current year.
The several disastrous fires in the
wholesale districts, where large values
are concentrated, call particular atten-
ton to this locality. The existing water
service is as follows, and in our opinion
is insufficient: Broadway. 16-inch pipe:
Rosabel. 6-inch pipe; Wacouta, G-inch
pipe: Sibley, 6-inch pipe; Jackson, G.
inch pipe; Robert, 6-inch pipe; Mime
sofa, G-inch pipe; Cedar, 12-inch pipe;
Seventh, 1G-inch pipe; Sixth, finch
pipe; Fifth, finch pipe: Fourth, 6-inch
pipe; Third, 6-inch pipe.
In an interview with the water board
it transpires that that body contem-
plates, however, only the following
changes this year: jackson street,
twelve-inch main from Ninth to Third
streets; Third street, twelve-inch main
from John to Jackson streets: two
double hydrantS at each street intesSec-
ton. These changes are contracted for,
and are to be completed before the 1st of
June proX. If the pipe can be secured,
it is the boards intention to put in
twelye-inch main on Fifth street, from
Broadway to Cedar street, this year.
but in any event not later than June
l, 1889. The twelve inch main on
Seventh street is being taken up, and a
twenty-inch main is being laid on
Seventh street, from Seven corners to
Leach street, and all hydrants are to be
the large double size. Additional ny
drantS are ordered, and Will soon be put
in on the corner of Seventh and Robert
streets and other points.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The department now contains four
extra first-class piston engines, four
Second-claSS piston engines, one second
class rotary engine, one reserve rotary
engine, eight hose carriages. two hose
wagons. two aerial trucks, five ordinary
trucks, nine chemical engines, 23,76O
feet of hose in service, 800 feet of hose
in reserve, 100 officers and men, ninety
five horses. Two of the chemicals and
two trucks are at Midway district, and
Of no benefit to the business center.
1t is our opinion that the following in
crease is necessary to secure proper
protection: Two extra first-class en-
gineS to be stationed in the wholesale
district, one automatic pipe, two second
class engines for outlying districts not
now within easy reach by present en-
gines. Your committee inspected the
several engine houses, and witnessed
exhibitions of making ready, ETC. The
discipline is good and the apparatus i'll
first-clasS order.
We have all on more than one occasion
seen the department in active service
under command of its present chief, and
consider their work quite satisfactory.
In Chief Black we believe we have
man of fine executive ability, intelligent
and cool under all circumstances, and
thorough fireman.
Statistics at hand show that, including
the losses so far this year, the companies
have been called upon to pay S2,575,00O
in the past eight years in the wholesale
district, while the premiums from the
same area have amounted to barely 81
000,000. Deducting expenses from
premium receipts, we find a net loss to
insurance companies Of something over
81 500, COO. This abnormal condition is
not the result of
A SWEEPING CONTEMPLATION,
but of many individual fires, and the
lesson it teaches is one of great precau-
ton and preventive measures on the
part of property owners and city Off
Gals, so that the contingency of a
sweeping fire, with which this district
is menaced owing to its high buildings
and comparatively narrow streets, may
be reduced as much as possible. In this
direction your committee would recon-
mend as very important the free use of
| iron shutters on fronts and rearS of
buildings, to lie closed at night.
The existing fire limits should be eX-
tended so as to include all the territory
bounded by the Mississippi river at the
point nearest to the Duluh railroad
| track; thence to intersection of said
railroad by Grove street; thence on
Grove street west to intersection of Can
ada street; thence to intersection of
Bluff street; then on Bluff street to in
tersection of Rice street, the present
fire limits: thence from intersection of
Rice and Summit avenue to College
street; thence on College to West Third,
following present fire limits to Missis-
sippi river.
The report indorses the recommended
| lions of the fire commission for more
alarm boxes in the suburban districts,
and that the telephone and telegraph
wires be put underground. The COM
mittee favors more hydrants in the vi
cinity of the Ryan and Merchants ho-
tells. and other prominent business To-
calitieS.