The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-24
OUR FIRE FACILITIES.
NOT ALONE MEMPHIS, BUT THE EN-
TIRE STATE BEHIND.
Comparison With Other Cities, Large
and Small, of the South-"A Word
to the Wise is Sufficient" and the
Word Is Here Given.

to the Wise is Sufficient" and the
Word is Here Given.
During the FIRE on the goth inst. while
circulating among the crowd of spectators
an APPEAL reporter heard many express
IONS such rs ''our fire department is en-
tirely too SMALL" "our department has not
kept pace with the growth Of the city"
"the water pressure is wholly inadequate
to supply even the moderate demands OF
our limited department." "the insurance
men would be fully justified in raising
rates under the circumstances, and'they
had better not monkey with the fire item
in the budget or they'll find that rates
will go up all over the city,"
These and many kindred expressions
caused an investigation of the matter by
the reporter for the benefit OF the public.
As the injunction to 'see ourselves as
others see us" it is we'll TO begin by COM
pairing the local fire department with
those OF other cities in the South. Take
first those OF the State of Tennessee.
Nashville claims a population OF $4,000
and has five steam fire engines in use, two
hook and ladder trucks and hose carriages
and hose sufficient for the use of said
engines.
Knoxville has population Of 30, 900 and
has two steam engines, one hook and lad
der truck, five hose carriages and 1900 feet
OF good hose.
Chattanooga claims 10000 population
and has two steam engines, two hose car
riages and one hook and ladder truck, with
1000 feet of good hose
GAINESVILLE has 5000 population and one
steam engine, one hook and ladder truck,
four hose carriages and 1000 feet of good
hose.
Columbia, with a population Of 5000,
has one steam engine, five hose carriages
and 800 feet OF good hose.
Jackson has 5000 population and one
hand engine, one hook aud ladder truck
and chemical engine and 1000 feet OF good
| hose.
Memphis has population Of so, 600 and
has five steam fire engines in use, one hook
and ladder truck and one chemical engine
in service, also 4, 800 feet OF hose.
These are all the cities in the State that
have any steam fire apparatus. Many Of
the larger towns have the old style hand
engine and organized "hand brigades."
which, OF course, don't amount TO much
after the fire gets start. Now consider a
few OF the leading cities OF adjoining
States whose population approximate that
OF Memphis.
Montgomery, Ala, with population OF
22 900 has three steam engines. one hook
and ladder truck, four hose carriages and
5000 feet OF hose.
Mobile, Ala, claims population OF
L. l.
steam engines, one hook and ladder truck
and one chemical engine, with seven hose
carriages and 1900 feet Of good hose.
Little Rock, Ark, has %, 900 people and
three steamers, two hook and ladder
trucks. i've hose carriages and 1000 feet
OF good hose.
Galveston, Tex. has a population Of
10000, and five steam fire engines, six hose
carriages one hook and ladder truck and
$3.50 feet Of good hose.
Houston, Tex, has $1,000 people and
four hose carriages with .. 800 feet OF hose,
also one hook and ladder truck. They
have no steam engines because their water
pressure is driven with force from the plug
sufficient 60 reach the highest house.
Columbus, Miss, has only 6.OOO popu-
lation, with two steam fire engines. one
hook aud ladder truck, one hand engine
and ., 500 feet OF hose.
Meridian, Miss, has II 200 population
and three steam engines, four hose CARR
ages, one hand engine and 2,lj0 feet OF
hose.
Natchez, Miss, has 10000 people, two
steam engines, three hose carriages and
/, 500 feet OF hose.
Vicksburg Miss, has %, 900 population,
with three steam engines one hook and
ladder truck and 5000 feet OF hose.
Charleston, 5. c.. has population OF
63,0O0, with nine steam engines, two hook
aud ladder trucks, seven hose carriages
and 10000 feet Of hose.
Richmond, Va, has 03,0O0 population,
with six steam engines, two hook and
ladder trucks, seven hose carriages, two
supply wagons and 5000 feet Of hose.
Thus might the comparison continue
throughout every city Of the South. but
the foregoing is sufficient to make the
application. One will see at glance that
the entire State Of Tennessee is away be-
hind IN the fire proicc ion Tor which the
people pay aud have a right 10 expect.
Especially is this ~ with this city. Many
other cities Of Onc-half the population
have much larger Fire Departments. and
therefore more effective. II Is conceded
that the department. Tor It's size, Is second
10 none.
There was a time when insurance stocks
In this city were considered good property,
because they had a department that jusii-
licd them In writing much mora literally
than they do now, thereby increasing their
premium receipts; but now the entire
premiums for all companies derived from
Memphis business Is liable 10 be wiped
ont In any one lire. and will 40 continue
until the fire department IL materially in
creased. II is admitted that the city owns
eight Gre engines, but II only five arc in
use the other three count iornnught She
also has two hook and ladder trucks aud
two chemical engines, but only ono Of
each is In use. aud now, since the passage
Of the budget. Mr.. lladdcn' says there can
be no possible increase. So the extra ma.
chimes will be consumed by dry rot when
they should be doing service for the PEG.
pie TO whom they belong. aud who have q
right 10 demand that they be placed In
service, II necessary. IN order to keep the
underwriters from raising the mics Of in.
surancc. - word 10 tho wise Is suGi-
Gent"
=as T
The Prince Of Waldcck Pyrmont has re-
turned TO Casscl with his daughter, Eliza.
beth, after winters snjorrn ut llomburg.
Ills health IL much improved.