St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-27
HANDLING THE FIRE.
Criticisms for and Against the
Department..

DcpdFtHlouts
The fire department was the subject
of unlimited roasting because of the
way the fire was handled. Every fire
department snffers the same kind of
treatment whenever big fire occurs.
Fire departmentsiare improved almost
to perfection, and are given the benefit
of science and invention in their labors,
yet destructive fires do occur.
1t certainly seems, however, that the
fire should have been kept out of the
Lumber Exchange. But that it was not
was not entirely the fault of the fire de-
partment. Had the windows of the
building, at least those on the alley
side, been provided with iron shutters
the fire would not so easily have been
communicated to that building. More
over, water couldn't be got to the top
of the building. Here was exemplified
the city's need of water tower,
such as ex-Chief Stetson requested
the city council to purchase
last fall The stream could be thrown
from the street above the fifth floor.
Even when the hose was carried up into
the building tie three upper floors
couldn't be reached. Isn't there some
thing wrong with the water power of
the city when it comes to fighting fire
in tall buildings? Some people say
there is. q. Nj. Foote spoke of the in
efficiency of the pumps at the North
side. Mr.. Foote said they could only be
run at low duty. whereas the contract
under which the city engineer pur-
chased them guaranteed them capable
of running at high duty. But they
can't be run that way, and the result is
there Is not enough pressure.
These was another fault attributable
to the construction of the building.
There was.a stand pipe up along the
fire escape but, of course, it was where
no use could be made of it. 1t was on
the alley side of the building, point
where the heat was so intense that no
living thing could endure it.
All these faults do not, however.
entirely excuse the action of the depart
ment. The men seemed to be be-
wildered, acting without head or
without orders. For example: Within
fifteen minutes after the depart
ment arrived it was foregone
conclusion that the Russell
building was doomed. Attention
should have been turned, it would seem,
toward saving the surrounding build
ings. Yet the roof of the Robinson
building was blazing for fully ten min
uteS before a stream was turned upon it.
The windows of the Lumber Exchange
were OH fire for nearly half hour be-
fore any attempt was made to save that
building. All the streams were turned
upon the fated Rus ell building.
Some people have been inclined to
blame Chief Runge for leaving the city
at this season, wholly without reason,
among them ex-Mayor Downs. Chief
Runge left the city on the invitation of
the council. His absence Is authorized.
The insurance men were regretting
this morning the turn affairs had taken
in the fire department. They refer to
the Stetson management as one of the
best ever bestowed on fire department
in the country, and while they offer no
criticism upon Chief Runge, thay regard
his appointment as political, and say
that the change made by the council
was one of the most ill-advised that
could have happened. The point is
made that the efficiency of the depart
ment has been greatly interfered with
by the change, because the men now
feel that their positions are uncertain,
while under Chief Stetson, the insur-
ance men say. the fremen knew if they