St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-18
THE FIRES OF A YEAR.
An Interesting Report From Chief En-
gineer Stetson.
A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS.
A Salvage Corps and Necessary Fire
Escapes Receive the Principal
Attention.

The annual report of the chief engi-
neer of the fire department will be sub
mitted to the council to-day, in which
the work of the department during the
past year, its condition and needs, are
reviewed at considerable length.
The number Of fire alarms responded
previous year: the number of miles
run, 2.OO6; miles of hose laid. AZ: feet of
ladder raised, 6,531 ;.gallons of carbOnic
acid used, 11,714. Ten fires have ocs
CURED during the year which have oc-
casiOned loss exceeding $4,000, viz:
April Is, 1887, cooper shop, corner
Twenty-first street and Nineteenth
avenue south, $4,000; May Is, st. Louis
railroad building, $4,000; July 10, ST.
Anthony elevator. S950,000; July rs,
Warner block, SIS, 700; Morrison block,
S950,000; Sept. 10, East side saw mills,
100000; Nov. Z, MOrtimer's block,
$4,000; Nov. Is, 101 and 103 Washington
avenue south, $4,000; Jan. Is, 1888,
Church of the Redeemer, $1,000; Feb.
81, 121 and 123 Washington avenue
north, S21, 900. Church fires have proved
the most destructive, the losses aver
aging over $4,000.
There have been forty-four accidents
to firemen, twelve of which occurred in
one day, July rs, and the Firemen's Re-
lief association has paid out $2,531.21.
Three deaths from burning have oc-
CURED during the year, but none were
members of the department.
The total expenditures amount to
$21S, 306.24, of which $l42, S52.69 was for
salaries.
The equipment of the department now
includes first class engines, q second
class, second class (old) in reserve; IA
hose carriages, hook and ladder trucks,
l supply wagon, fire alarm wagon. 4
chiefs Sleighs, Is exercising wagons and
IL sets of bob sleighs, 1880 feet of hose,
of which 25, $50 feet is of rubber, 1000 of
cotton and $50 of leather. The total val
uation of the department is $453, 7S5.
There are now % flush and
1882 post hydrants in use.
Among the improvements are emu
merated, the building of two new sta
tons. one at Fourth street and Fiji
teenth avenue, and one at Fourth street
and Twenty-first avenue, costing $1s,-
694.75; horse hospital, costing S1,107;
new hose, costing $500
In his recommendations the chief
urges the establishment of salvage
corps; new engine houses at Park ave-
nue. ana lWenCy-IOufCn SCreet,
and at Harrison and Twenty
fourth street northeast; the pur-
chase of three new engines.
hose carriarge, hook and ladder truck,
chemical engine, water tower and
three fuel wagons. He also asks that
two assistant fire marshals be appointed
from the disabled list, and an assistant
superintendent of the fire alarm, two
linemen and battery inspector. 1t is
recommended that all small water
mains in manufacturing centers be at
once replaced with large pipe. More
hydrants are desired in the region
bounded by First avenue south, First
avenue north and Twelfth street, and
in the milling district. The building
and filling of large reservoirs is recon-
mended, and also the putting in of land
ings or platforms for steamers on the
river bank. Attention is called to the
necessity of better protection to school
property, and it is suggested that fire
alarm box be placed in each building,
while especial stress is laid upon the
necessity of compelling owners of
hotels, mills and factories to provide
better fire escapes.