The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-04
THE CITYS FIRE SERVICE
THE EQUIPMENTS OF SOUTHERN
FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

SOAAR Will &AOoC "a AFOAS AAOOA
ing Towns-Chief Puder to Ask for
More Paid Firemen and the Estab-
lishment OF Additional Alarm Boxes
In view Of the efforts to increase the
facilities for fire protection. a comparison
OF Savannah's fire-hghting equipment with
that OF other cities is interesting.
There are 80 street fire alarm boxes
in Savannah and in many in
stances they are widely separated.
tinuous duty. There are 81 call men,
including the assistant chief, bat Chief
Puder says at recent night alarm only
4 Of the 81 mon responded. There are 20
auxiliary men, but they do not respond 10
arms north of CASTOR street. They come
out to fires south of CASTOR street and do
effective work, aud the only reward they
get is exemption from jury service.
The chief fireman will ask for at least
8 more fire alarm boxes, Iand he believes
the service pressingly needs an increase in
the number of regular flremen. 1t Is
claimed that there should be at least box
to every 1900 inhabitants, and box to
every 1000 inhabitants would not be too
many.
THE CITY's FIRE EQUIPMENTS.
The city Of Savannah has an estimated
population Of $1,000 with an area Of about
q 300 acres and the fire limit is 404 acres.
The department consists Of five good steam
fire engines and one old engine OF not much
value. 1t Is contemplated to purchase a
chemical engine to be used In that part of
the city Co which water-mains have not
been extended. There is l hook and ladder
truck, and on last week the fire committee
of council ordered an aerial ladder truck.
ThaPa f-o airrbt riunla and dNr1hla hoca
carriages, with $500 feet Of good rub rer
hose, $50 feet of old but fair hose, and 800
feet of old hose too weak to stand the
hydrant pressure There are p horses con-
nected with the department..
By the present water works system the
water is pumped from % artesian wells
with capacity of 100000 gallons daily i,
and the automatic pressure ranges from II
TO 20 pounds. The reservoir holds 200, 900
gallons. There are over $50 hydrants and
So miles of mains.
The city, as is well known, is prospecting
for heavier vein of water on the Spring
field plantation, and it is expected to go
down 800 feet. Between l, 100 and 200
feet is now the depth of the
WELL and flow of $500, 900
gallons daily has been flowing from the new
well for nearly month. A new water
works plant on the Springfield plantation
is contemplated, with three or four other
12-inch wells from which it is calculated
that the city may draw its supply at small
cost.
CHARLEsToN'S FIRE DEPARTMENT.
1t may be of interest to give an idea Of
the fire equipments of neighboring
cities, and southern cities of APP
proximate population. Charleston ap-
proximates Savannah in population. 1t
claims 10000 inhabitants, has 103 paid
firemen, 81 street fire alarm boxes, 8 steam
engines in use and 2 in reserve, 2 hook and
ladder trucks, z hose carriages, with 10000
feet of good rubber hose and % horses.
The water is pumped into stand-pipes, and
they have an automatic pressure of 40
pounds, with iS miles of mains, and over
$50 hydrants. 1t will be seen that while
the mileage Of the Charleston mains is only
about half that of the Savannah system,
yet Charleston has more men, more alarm
boxes, and more equipments for fighting
fires. The expense Of the Savannah fire
department last year was $36 900, and that
of Charleston $4,000.
EQUIPMENTS OF ALABAMA CITIES.
Birmingham has an estimated population
of Is 200, and has a paid fire department
with IL horses, steam fire engines, a HOOK
and-ladder truck, 3 hose carriages with
5000 feet of hose. The system OF water
works is pumping water from creek to a
reservoir. The capacity of the water
works is 100000 gallons daily, and the
pressure is so pounds to the square inch.
The city has 81 hydrants and 80 miles OF
mains. Expenses $4,000 per annum, ex-
elusive of interest on bonds.
The water works of Montgomery are
owned by o company. The capacity of the
works is 5000, 900 gallons daily, and there
are 269 hydrants and as miles of mains.
They have 10 cisterns placed on roofs with a
capacity Of $4,000 gallons daily, with a
pressure of from IS to ITO pounds. They
have but 8 steam fire engines, and 2 chem
ical hand extinguishers are used. There
are t hose carriages, $500 feet of hose and
hook and ladder truck. The department
has IL horses. The population of Mont
gomery is estimated at $1,000. There are
ten alarm boxes and the expenses Of the de-
partment are $4,000 per annum.
MOBILES PROTECTION.
Mobile, with population of 40, 600 gets
its water from reservoir 10 miles from the
city. The city does not own the plant.
The capacity is Loo. 900 gallons daily, and
the pressure is from 50 to 80 pounds. There
are IL paid firemen and 1000 volun-
teers. There are steam engines, q
chemical engine, hook and lad
der truck, Z hose carriages, and
5000 feet Of hose There are % horses in
the department. There are 260 hydrants
25 miles of mains, and SO fire alarm boxes,
A fire patrol is supported by the insurance
companies.
Jacksonville, Fla, owns its own plant,
getting its water from artesian wells with .
capacity of 100000 gallons daily. 1t has
III hydrants, 9 miles of mains. a varying
pressure Of from As to ITO pou Ids. There
is a telegraph alarm system. There are &C
paid men in the department, with 6 horses
l hook and ladder truck, B hose carts and
$500 feet of hose. Annual expenses, $4,000
exclusive of interest on bonds.
EQUIPMENTS OF GEORGIA CITIES.
Atlanta has we'll equipped department
| of So paid firemen, 20 horses, steam fre
engines, hook and ladder trucks, a 2-horst
chemical engine, 5 hose carriages and IL ,0O(
| feet of hose. The water is pumped from q
reserv oir with a capacity of $50 600, 900 gal
| Ions, with a pressure of from 40 to lOt
pounds. There are 3S7 hydrants. 40 mile.
| of mains and AZ fire boxes. The expenses Of
the fire department for 1888 were S44 ,924 so
The steam engines are rarely used, as the
mains have ample automatic pressure.
Augusta gets her water supply from the
river, pumping into a stand pipe of G, OOO. OO(
gallons capacity. There are PAS hydrants
| and 80 miles OF mains, with a pressure OF
| from IS to 90 pounds. There are Al fire.
alarm boxes. There are 81 paid firemen, &C
horses, steam engines, hook aud ladder
| truck, 4 hose carriages, and 5000 feet OF
hoSe to4tef