The morning call., 1890-05-15
AS THEY SEE IT.
The Grand Jury on the Local
Fire Department.
Relative Strength and Recommendations.
More Hydrants and Hose - The Water
Company Proposes Little Business.

The Grand Jury of this city and county sub
mitied its report yesterday on the Fire Depart
ment 10 Presiding Judge Murphy. copy OF
the document Will be sent to the Board Of Su-
peryisOrs with a request TO take immediate
action on the subjects therein referred to. The
report is substantially as follows:
The Grand jury of the City and County of San
Francisco. after having made thorough examina-
ton OF the Fire Department of this city. desire TO
call the attention OF your honorable court to the
many needed improvements for the protection OF
the property OF its citizens, made necessary by
They indorse the recent decision of the Board of
Fire Commissioners not to erect any more frame
buildings for the use OF the department for the rea
that il is constant expense to the city to keep
in repair frame buildings that SO rapidly decay.
Many houses OF the department should be rebuilt of
brick as speedily as funds are available for that
purpose.
After visiting the different engine-houses they find
them for the most part in good condition. -
The apparatus OF the department they find in fair
order, owing to the constant attention given to re-
Inc Corporation Yard is in excellent condition,
and the mechanics employed should be commended
The books OF the Commissioners are kept in sim
pie careful and systematic manner.
The size Of our department is much to be de-
plored particularly when we consider our Isolated
condition in not being able to obtain from sister
cities needed help in case of a general coniagra-
powerless to contend with a fire extending
over several blocks therefore the fear OF general
all. Had the FIRE at the High School, de-
structive as it was taken place at the same time as
the fire which destroyed the hay barns on East
street and the St Ignstius property Market
street, important portion of our city would have
been laid in ashes, simply from the lack OF apparatus
TO properly control this element
PERMANENT MEN.
The sparlng of the city from eOniagratiOn is
attributed to luck. the report continues, ana rec
ommends an appropriation for extending the Fire
Department on much larger and better scale
than at present.
The san Francisco Fire Department at present
n en- commanded
26,3OO feet of hose good and Indifferent name ed
by rs permanent and 26S call
When reaching fire the services OF the perma-
nent men are required at their respective engines;
depends solely upon the presence OF the 26S call
men, who may, or may not, arrive in time to prop
erly cheek or render efficient aid.
In dealing with the department and discussing its
needs recommend first that it be placed
upon the permanent basis OF a full paid fire depart
ment. as no improvements or suggestions can be In
troduced that Will apply to any appreciable extent
to the call system. These conclusions have been
rived at not only by ourselves but by the citizens
OF other cities who have given this important mat
ter their earnest consideration. The call system is
standing weakness in any department, and as Ion
il exists important obstacle must remain In the
path OF progress.
HUsE AND MIGRANTS.
The relative weakness of the San francisco
Fire Department In comparison with those OF
Eastern cities Of about the same size and popu-
latlon Is then shown In the report. For instance,
in Cleveland with population OF 100000 in
habItants, the department consists OF Is steam
ers, q trucks, nre-0oat, 1S hose Carriages, To-,
600 feet good rubber and 1G, $50 feet good cot
ton hose, 279 full paid memo call system.
The exhibition of the workings of an engine on
The 18Th of April last before the Grand Jury, the
Mayor and the Fire and Water Committee OF the
Board of Supervisors 10 show the necessity for
more hydTants by making tests with different
lengths OF hose received a lions share of the OBJ
seryations and recommendations OF the Grand
jury.
The following results were then accomplished: