The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-16
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
Chief Farrier's Annual Re-
port as to It's Service
and Condition.

At the meeting of the Fire Board last
evening Chief Farrier presented his an
nual report
II can but repeat my former opinion y
he says, "that the buffalo system has out
lived it's usefulness, and the force should
permanently employed, so that their en-
tire time could be devoted to the interests
of the service. If such change cannot be
effected, the method now in vogue of COM
putting the duty performed by the call men
should be changed and the hours of duty
credited, instead of the sixty per cent. of the
number of fires attended. This would. in
a great measure, prevent the system that
seems to have been adopted by some of
the call men, of attending fires where no
duty is required, and absenting them
selves from the working fires"
In talking about engine houses the
Chief says that nearly all the department
buildings are in excellent order.
The quarters of No. engine are not
well adapted. however, for fire depart
nent uses. The house was originally
built for the use of Hose COMPANY No.
of the Volunteer Department, nearly
thirty years ago, and has been altered
from time to time and additions made.
1t is continual expense to keep it in re-
pair.
The quarters of H. and L. Co. No. 5 are
in need of few general repairs, and will
require some alterations for the accom-
mediation of the battalion chief. The de-
partment hospital on Belmont avenue is
in need of general repairs and painting
on the inside.
The hose department and battery room
are in good condition, having been re-
paired and painted the previous year,
The coal depot in Erie street is a disgrace
10 the department, no repairs having
been made to it by the city since it has
been occupied for the purpose. The tin
roof is nearly gone, the floor beams and
floor and the doors afe d6caycd.
''The high buildings being construc-
ted" the chief states, sin this city, ad-
monish us that we must soon make pro :
visions for reaching the top OF them. The
trucks now in use carry only fOrty-dve
foot single ladders, and the extension
ladders are too heavy and clumsy for
immediate use in case they are required
at an early stage of a fire, in consequence
of the companies arriving short handed.
Provision should be made for the pur-
chase of an aerial ladder that can also be
used as substitute for water tower.
There are in the service 1920 feet of
rubber lined cotton hose, and $50 feet of
rubber hose, making total of 1880 feet
of hose in good condition, About 400
feet of hose are in the hose depot in need
of repairs. One-half of the latter can be
used for ordinary purposes.
The past year was a noteworthy one in
regard to fires, and the fire laddies did
some heavy work. There were 251 alarms,
1873 of which came over the fire alarm
telegraph. The losses by fire have been
unusually large, aggregating $407, ,446.
This was covered by 1914, S4S insurance.
IN 1888 there were 277 alarms, an in
crease over last year of 20, and the losses
in 1888 were Ss1, 1874. and the insurance
81 1884, Last years loss by fire exceeded
the previous year by the immense sum of
1896, ,312.
Inspector of Horses w. Ed. Saunders, in
his annual report states he has treated 1913
sick horses. There were seven
deaths among the horses, among
which were Jake" of No.
2 Engine, Kate" of No Truck;
Charley Roe" of No. / Engine, and
''Speck." Three new horses have been
added to the department, which now pos
sesses forty-six animals.