The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-03
An Epitome Of the
City's Condition.
A Splendid Showing Of
Progress.


uriptssf ~ the FDsT-isfIlitekSt ~ !
Touuse Of DAYS ago. The following i
synoysis Of The reports 81 all OF the
other retiring officials. exeeps that q
the health Officer, which has no; set
tees, made. Itis wsII worthy Of care
fol study. and may ie conveniently
flied for reference
Gardner Kellogg. Is CHIEF Of the dc
partmenf, makes report as follows
TO the Hon. Thos. T. Minor, Mayor
81 the City ~ seattle
herewith submit ray fourth and
last annual iS,s0rt a. chief Of the fire
DEPARTMENT ~ the citg % Seattle
II becomes nay duty TO make such
suggestions and recommendation as
il my Judgment are proper for the
better discipline and efficiency q the
Department In thsse suggestions
am aetaass,i by no personai feelings
or motives simply desire that our
department shall ise as honor and g
credit to those wlso have so generously
Foar years have elapsed since the
organization Of the department. In
that time much has been done. bu'
more remains 10 ~ done, The rapid
growth of our city has necesSitated the
abandonment Of our former primitive
methods and the substitution in their
stead Of an organization more IN Keep
ing with the progress OF our town.
Aliases, dangerous alikeio the efiieien-
sy az the organization and the safety OF
hfe aud property, exist, and. knowing
these abuses would be- recfeant IA
my trust should fail 10 call attention
a. them.
srrszsrrs.
The apfaratas for the extingnish.
mert of fires at this time consists OF
one hand engine two steam engines
Of the third and fourth classes; Two
hook and ladder trucks, six hose
carts, with about 1000 feet Of hose in
good order
FlHEs.
During the year the department has
responded to q alarms. Is shown by
annexed fables The losses for the
year have been large in proportion 90
the number OF fires, The heaviest
losses. notably the YeSler mill fire aud
the Central school fire lboth total
IoeSesl, were from eauses beyond the
control of the ere Department. and ~
blame should attach. The losses by
fire for the year amount 10 Sis-,7f 80,
on which there was Insurance OF si9,-
100; amount Of insurance paid. S3i,
0sT IS, making total loss over insur-
anco Of S3i,6sl Is.
wAfgR srrPIY.
Since ms last report change has
been made by the company supplying
the city with water for fire purposes.
The changer suits in increased pres
sure throughout the business portion oi
the city. and IL permanent at 10
pounds al the hvtirant at the ioaei
levels, and il sufficient Tor all practical
bile purposes, provided the pressure. i
maintained. I am certain, however
In event Of an extensive cenilagraiion
and the necessity for many streams
that the capacity ~ the mains nov in
use would not maintain that pres
sure.
uYpRASrs.
several uew hydrants have beer
place,i In the past year at points hav,
ing IN view the greatest protection
bat an immediate nece ssity calls for
protection to the manufacturing por
tions Of the eity. The railroads ana
ing establishments on the ale,
out adequate protection In
former report / advised plug
TO hs set nj these points. Great tron
hle has been experienced and espcns.
incurred In keeping the plugs in re
pair, principally hy reason 81 defect
I've work in The construction
war ALARM
This ilyc alarm system By reason %
induction has proved utterly worth
less Nearly all The boxes were bnrne,
out. and IL has been abandoned ans
most 81 the material stored Ina citl
covering much ground, The necessii,
ot a complete system Of ire alarms {
apparent \ cheap system Is AWAY
al expensive one Ia the end
ES.iISE noCsEs,
The condition Of the engine house.
not ereditahlc 10 our city. necleete.
alike by the city and those having then
in charge.
ram DEPARTMENT.
THIS subject has been agitatet
Ter several years and deserves th-
deliberate Judgment II the citS
council IL Is claimed. aud viii
much propfiety that this city ha,
cutsrown the present volunteer or,
ganiFation, and many substantial roa
sons can he aidutet why il should
give way &C. paid service. One veal
ago. at the request ~ adyoeates ui
that measure, drafted an ordinance
aud Submitted IL to th. council NJ
final acton was ever had on the orii
nance.
Certain ii Is that no part paid and
part volunteer SYSTEM can safely h
iuaugaraicd. The volunteer j. aiwass
Jealous of the paid member. and con
slant clash j. the result IL slnsf DC
all paid or all volunteer.
70 deny that better service cannol
be expected 81 paid department j.
absurd ihr time consumed
~ the volunteer IA reaching
the engine house H. often fafal
o. the speedy eNitnguishm 81
fhc fire Millions oi dollars would
annually hc Sase1 the country ceulA the
department, have ,scon ou hand . min.
ute ~ tive earlier, this arp,ics 60 vol
Gnleer organizations especially. As
more minutes arr expended IN getting
e. his apparatus than seconds arc ex.
Pended by a paid service in getting
thets apparatus On the ruad Klsc,
where ! submit to yoar consideration
the cps; ~ h paid service. aiso a t1su
where the organization .oses none II
the distinctive feature 1T a volunteer
lYgt which hshseBs the burden ~ the
men on the drag. and will rts,sl, in
quicker and mere effective work. The
expense would he less than onc-thiri
oi a full paid department
xHg SEv fgUcK
Az the time OF the contemplated
purchase Of truck ! ea3ssyes-s,i e.
infiuetscv the company IN fsvog ot the
purchase os Bangor Extension
ladder and Truck. bat they were
unanimous in favor Of turn table
truck. sitter the HAYS pattern
and in conformity with
their wishes the council
have provided them one steel turn
table truck Of the most approved kind
and maSe-but in cr,icr 10 make il
available at all times, it would D.
nes'e ssaFy 10 have a heavy team Of
horses attached. driver snd ,sller
man. an expense, aot counting cssst OF
horses and ieest. 1t ~. EeSs thar s.sssg
per Ncsr--a sum eHtsrsly out of pro
psssica 10 the NECESSITIES OF the cas-
There has tSacu best one fre IN Sezti Z
ttne Arls0gton1 - herr the nee trysck
could have fexa Faatic available and
although repeatedly cent fer and
horses furnished. foS some anaccos Mt