The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-26
FIRE SERVICES NEEDS.
THE DEPARTMENT BEING THOR
QUICKLY LOOKED INTO.


Committees Recommendation Are
Carried Out.
The report Of the special committee
which was charged with investigating the
needs of the fire department led to quite an
Interesting discussion when it was pre-
scented in council Wednesday night
Al3ermln Cam, chairman Of the special
committee, says that il is time TO put the fire
department on a fair basis. At present, he
said, it is not equipped properly, and it
ought TO be put in the very best condition.
Equipping it properly will tend TO lessen
the danger Of fire losses, lessen the losses
and benefit all those who do not carry in
surance as well as those who do.
Alderman Falligant followed much in
the same strain saying that the fire In
surance companies were taking the oppor-
tuuity to put "a higher rate on insurance be-
cause the city has not a well equipped fire
department de INDUCED in some strict
ures against the insurance companies, but
Alderman Cam said in reply That the hre
insurance companies haven't made any
money for some years.
Alderman Haines opposes the QUO feet
of extra hose recommended by the special
committee, but Chairman Bailey of the
fire committee says If the patrol wagon Is
TO be converted into a hose cart the extra
hose will be necessary. He was unable,
however, to give an off-hand report of the
hose now on hand.
Those familiar with the severe strain on
hose at fires of great magnitude know that
occasionally sections will not always resist
the pressure and it is almost impossible TO
prevent vehicles from driving over 1t and
especially where lines of hose are necessarily
connected with the plugs at remote dis
tances from fire. In rapid and wide con-
fiagrations some hose are scorched, and It IS
the rule in cities where the fire departments
are well equipped to carry more hose than
is necessary for immediate use so that
they may be ready in an emergency. At
the big fire Of April &, the city had to Dor
row hose from the Central railroad
The special committee had Chief Joyner
of the Atlanta fire department here and
conferred with him as to the workings OF
the Atlanta department. Thomas Lally,
chief Of the Fifth battalion of the New Y ork
fire department who was here after the big
fire Of April 6, and Chief r aux O'Neill Of
the Charleston fire department has recently
been here, and both Mr.. Lally and MIR.
O'Neill gave the department the benefit of
their views.
The rumor that Chief Joyner had been
called here to ''reorganize the fire depart
ment" is ridiculed by those who are in a
position 10 speak. Mr.. Joyner was con-
ferred with as 10 the workings Of the Atlanta
department just as Messrs. Lally and O'Neill
were conferred with as to the workings Of
their departments.
The fact that Savannah had disastrous
fire April g, is no reason why people should
get panicky. Those who look at matters in
practical way say such fire is incident
to the history Of all cities of Savannah's
size, ana while that fire has seemed to call
attention to the needs of the department,
the council stands ready to make such
additions TO the equipments as in
its Judgment after full investigation
may be deemed necessary. This it has done
by ordering another steam fire engine, the
La France No. 3, with pumping capacity
of 400 gallons which will be here about the
middle of August, q new hose reel from
Richmond, Va, which will be here in few
days, and the special committee has recon-
nended a chemical engine an aerial truck,
the conversion of the supply wagon at head
quarters into a hose carriage and the pur-
chase of 1000 feet Of cotton, rubber lined
hose.
Chief Fireman Puder, who has but
recently returned from the north, says that
northern cities use about one-half cotton
and the other half rubber hose He saws,
however, that whatever amount of cotton
hose may be ordered for active use, it should
be ordered in duplicate, for it must be kept
well dried OF il " i'll mildew and rot rapidly
He says that the reels can carry twice as
much cotton hose as they now carry Of the
rubber or heavier hose. The cotton hose
must be dried in frames or in towers
While it requires closer attention, it is
much lighter tlan rubber hose. and is more
easily handled One man, Chief Puder
SAYS, can run up ladder with a 50foot
section of cotton hose, but two men cannot
handle 30 feet Of rubber hose as easily as
one man can handle the lighter hose
The department, Chief Puder says, has
{, 250 feet of rubber has on hand, 1000 feet
of which has bsen purchased this year. He
saws that about COO feet Of the stock is not
in the very best condition, but the remain
der is serviceable. With the present
equipment, the equipment already ordered
and that recommended, Savannah will have
an equipment second 10 that of no city of
its size in the country. The following will
give an idea of the equipment Of tie de-
partInent, pains having been taken to COM
pile the data, which it Is believed will be
found correct, and which will serve to in
form those VINO make inquiries as to the
amount of hose on hand:
La France engine, or No. l, Houston and
Broughton streets. Capacity 700 gallons a
minute. No. 1 hose cart with $50 feet OF
hose This engine has an engineer, a call
fireman and seven call men. 1t is required
to turn out at all fires north of Liberty.
Amoskeag engine No 2, Congress near
Montgomery street. Capacity 400 gallons
to the minute. A hose cart with $50 feet of
hose, an engineer, two drivers and seven
cali men. This engine attends all fires north
of Liberty street, the Central railroad ma
chine shops and Robertsville.
Jeffries Engine No. 8. This is known as
the headquarters engine at South Broad
and Abercorn streets and is required to do
duty in any part of the city. 1t has the
Mogul No. 3 two-horse reel with 200 feet
of hose, an engineer, ten drivers.
one fireman and three men. The
hook and ladder truck, fully equipped
with ladders ranging from 40 feet down to
10 feet. The 40-foot ladder was crushed bv
the falling walls of the Miller building
July l, aud a duplicate has been ordered
from the La France company, at Elmlra,
n Y, and IS expected daily. This truck
has three men. In addition a one-horse
reel with go feet Of hose is kept at head
quarters as a reserve. The supply wagon
is provided with 1000 feet of hose for
emergencies.
The La France Rotary No. is stationed
at Barnard and Huntingdon streets. It's
capacity is 400 gallons per minute 1t has q
hose reel with $50 feet of hose, and responds
from Liberty street south and takes in Rob.
ertsvile. There are one engineer, two
drivers, permanent foreman and five call
men.
In addition to the four engines named,
there is reserve Jeffries engine Of 500 gal