Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-20
CHIEF EVANS REPORT
An Official List of the Fires Last
Year and the Losses at Each.
MORE THANSIX HUNDRED ALARMS.
The Total Damage Was Less Than Half
So q Million of Dollars.
PIrrSBURG MUST HAVE A FIREBOAT

Superintendent Samuel N. Evans, of the
nusl report to Chief J. o. Brown.
The report shows that 625 alarms of fire
were responded to during the year, includ-
ing still alarms, the loss being S44S, 770 10,
the insurance paid S43S, ,612, leaving net
loss of S5,15s 10. During the month of
March the number of alarms was greatest.
there being 81 against Is in June, when
there were fewest. April showed the heaviest
loss, S192, ,661 9S, February (1sS9), the light
est, 81, ,O9O.
The largest fires of the year were: McIn-
tosh & HemphilPs Foundry, loss $31, ,SOT 76,
March q; Walter Ferguson, dwelling. loss
SIS, ,937, March 80; ]. B. Sheriff & Sons,
Brass Foundry, $17, ,291 81, April 4; Hub
bard & Co., az factory, S172, ,1S5 50, April
z; Westinghouse Manufacturing Company
(Gsrrison alley), $3S, 500 81, September %;
Oliver Bros, bolt works (SOuthside), SOL
S56 16, October q; Monongahela House, $45,-
600, December 8. These seven hres aggre-
gated S399, 1896 80, more than seven-eighths
of the entire loss during the year.
THE TABLE OF LOSSES.
The report includes a carefully prepared
table showing the number of claims gross loss,
insurance paid net loss population, loss per
1000 of population, and loss per capita during
the past 20 years in the city. This table shows
that the average gross loss per annum for that
period was SS5 9O4, the average insurance paid
S252 lS5 the average net loss SSS $50 and average
loss per capita only s. "a Omitting the year
1870, during which the paid fire department was
organized, the average loss per capita for the
19 years was only 81 80 per year. This is con-
sidered remarkably good showing. and as the
following comparative statement of eight other
large cities for the nine years between and IN
cluding 1880 and 1888 will show: New York
shows an average per capita loss, nine years, of
s. s.; Boston. 81 SO; Minneapolis S. 81;
I@inns fouis s. 81 Chicago % 8 OS; BROOKLYN K 81 5s
PIttsburg 81 81. Thus it will be seen that
Brooklyn, which is not manufacturing city, is
the only one showing less ratio of loss than
Pittsburg.
In his report Mr.. Evans states: ~ have ex-
pended considerable time this year in arrang-
ing these comparative tables and collecting
statistics, in order that the public may be able
to Judge Of the value of the service they are re-
ceiving as compared with other cities, and
confess to a just pride in the result of my in
vestigations. He then gives tabulated state
ment compiled from the statistics of Il differ
ent cities, which shows that, comparing popu-
latlons, it costs less per capita to maintain the
Pittsburg Fire Bureau than it does any other
city whose figures could be ascertained. A
condensation from that statement folloH rs:
A COMPARISON OF EXPENSES.
Annual expense of Detroit fire department.
$500, OF cost of lSS per capita; Buffalo,
annual expense $4,000, or 81 "a per capita;
Milwaukee, S24O,OOO, or 81 O6 per capita; Pitts
burg, SlS5 OOO or "a cents per capita; Cleveland,
S2ls0Oo, or s6 cents per capita; Minneapolis,
sls5000, or IS cents per capita; Cincinnati. $2S5
0O0, or So cents per capita; Louisville, $40 0OO,
or 81 40 per capita; Rochester, n. Y, 500 0O0
or so cents per capita; Brooklyn, SSlS,423 or 81
per capita: Chicago. S9I9049 or 81 Is per capita:
St Paul s25S, ,344, or 81 % per capita"
During the year two new Iirst-class AmosEeag
engines and ona hook and ladder truck were
added 10 the equipment of the department,
which now consists of the following apparatus:
Two hrst-class and 5 second-class crane neck
double engines; 6 third-class crane neck double
engines; l secOnd'class and third-class hoop
tank single engines: IL hose carriages in use /
not in use and old hose carriages stationed at
different points for special use; hook and lad
der trucks in use and l unfit for service; SO
horses
The report commends the provision made by
Council for four new engine companies, and
states that the proposed locations arr, in sec
tions of the city where further protection is i'm.
mediately necessary.
A FIRE BOAT RECOMMENDED.
Among his recommendations Mr.. Evans en-
phasizes his previously expressed belief that a
freboat would be a valuable addition to the
city's fire apparatus. He also recommends that
the No. engine house should be rebuilt and
rearranged, as the present is a very old build
ing. too small and very badly in need of repair.
The old recommendation in favor of three
inch hose with which five companies are now
equipped, is renewed; Is 900 feet of new hose
will be needed this year. The employment of
mattresses to clean the engine houses, make
beds etc, is again urged. -Four new hose
carriages for the new companies and two new
engines are needed. Some new horses are also
wanted, both for the new companies and to re-
place worn out stock.
In regard TO pay Superintendent Evans SAID:
u am still of the opinion that the fremen are
underpaid. When we consider the risks they
run, and the amount of time and labor they
expend in active duty at fires and the depriva-
ton of home comforts which they experience
believe they are worthy Of a wise and Judi
cious increase of salary"
The benefits of the disability fund are
touched upon and reference is made to the ad-
vantageous co-oepration of the police depart.
ment with the fire department In closing
Superintendent Evans thanks Chief Brown for
the courtesies extended HIM, and returns
thanks to Assistant Superintendents Steel,
Coates and Stewart for their earnest efforts. IN
telligent labor and lively interest in the per-
torrance Of duty during the year.