Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-09
Big Fight In the Common Branch Over the
Charges cf Bribery on the Rea
Switch Matter.
SOME MEMBERS WANT INVESTIGATION.
Resolutions Passed Carrying Into Effect the New
Street Legislation.

celNed money IN connection Win Ihe hea
switch ordinance. Almost every man got
up TO assert his own innocence and urge the
necessity of investigating the remainder of
the body. 1t was finally settled. The rcsolu-
tions carrying out the new street laws,
the objects of which were published last
week in The DISPATCH, got through both
branches. Common passed the new Poor
Farm ordinance.
The fire boat question was by far the most
important one considered by Select Council,
and occupied a considerable portion of its
time. 1t the previous meeting it was de-
cided to discuss it as a special order of busi-
ness and when 3 o'clock came all other mat
ters were dropped.
Fire Underwriters Appeal for Protection.
Chief Brown sent to Councils second let
Ter from: the Board of Fire Underwriters
which Mr.. Lambie presented. 1t WAS as fol-
lows:
PITTsBURG. PA, june, 1891.
To J. o. Brown, Esq, Chief Department Public
DEAR SIR-You were kind enough to send us
copy of your letter addressed 10 Councils and we
hereby acknowledge its receipt. We have care
fully considered its propositions and We beg TO as
sure you OF our high appreciation of the careful
manner in which YOU have studied the wants and
necessities of the Fire Bureau of this city. We de-
sire TO indorse your recommendations to Councils,
equal importance, and which we think cannot but
commend themselves TO your Judgment and ap-
First-In reference to the protection afforded by
the engines located in the first five wards of the
city. Herein are located the most valuable build
ings and improvements. in which is transacted the
bulk OF the commerce and traffic of the city, the
public buildings with their valuable contents and IL
j. literally the heart OF the city. To protect this we
have but three engines only two of which are first
class. The same protection was deemed necessary
- wears ago, when the values were less than one
fourth of those of to-day. We are Of the opinion
that not less than five hrSt-class engines should be
located the First district, w hen large IRE OC
cuTs. making II necessary TO call additional engines,
reaching the fire This would in a measure he
overcome If the First district thus supplied.
Our observation has convinced that there should
be an increased number of men assigned TO these
frst-cass engines for the efficient management of
the apparatus. the present number being entirely
inadequate.
Sccond-The large number of high and costly
buildings which have been erected recently and
a measure unprotected, and we therefore urge that
. water tower be added to your bureau. This
powerful and effective apparatus has been added TO
The equipment for fighting fires In a number OF the
large cities and has been found most valuable ad-
junct where the fire has occurred In these modern
high buildings.
Arguments for a Fireboat.
Third-we most heartily indorse your recon-
mendstion for the addition of frebost to the
service. Flreboats have been proven SO invaluable
in the cities where they are now in use, such
Boston, New York, Cleveland, Chicago and Brook
lyn that they are looked upon by insurance COM
panies as essential to the equipment of modern
ire department. Perhaps a stronger argument In
favor Of It's than any you have used, is the
enormous increase 1t would give to the water
supply: In case of large confagratOn 1t would be
of more service than y large steamers and If
failure, from any cause of our present supply, IT
lation.
are an insufficient number Of hvdrants for the
of the department at the time Of fires. There should
be at least plug at each corner and one in the
middle of each block in the First district This ar
yvouid croSSiOQ
the streets with hose which has heretofore OBJ
structed travel during large fires. According TO the
population Pittsburg Is away behind other cities in
tllis respect. Allegheny, with population of 105,.
coo people has 2oy plugs, while Pitsburg with $50
OO people has but ST.. Boston, with 400 600 people
has over G, 900 plugs. Cleveland. with a population
of . 600 less than city has . S94 plugs. Buffalo,
another rcty OF about Pittshurg's size has 2 435
plugs, Without going into furihS comparisons
you viii readily see the Importance of the increase
suggested. ON attention has been recently directed
70 de dchcencles OF the department by the General
Inspector Of the National Board of Underwriters;
especially TO the deficiency of hydrants, of q
water tower and of fire boat.
Fifth-And in addition TO above, permit us TO
pres, the opinion held by our Board of Under
writers thai the most efficiency from the
lire department. which we readily admit Is excel
le:li in many respects and with the added strength
the Councils Of the city and your own excellent
judgment viii provide, that new officer of dlscre
tiOn and cool Judgment should be chosen TO I'LL the
position of Fire Director, an Office which we hope
Will be created, Inc same logic used in regard e
10 The direction of the department.
Need of New Men and Machinery.
The department OF 1870 useful and efficient as it
was, does not meet the requirements of lS9l nor
does the veteran chief who ably directed the de-
parmeUt of thar day, meet the requirements of
the present. His experience and energy will GER
Janly be Of great value to the department in car
ing for the buildings and apparatus, and X
press the opinion that he should be retained in
some such capacity.
The Fire Director should h. relieved of minor de-
tails and be given the time TO study and arrange
the department for its hest and most efficient
service. We have thus outlined to some extent
views. which we respectfully submit for your
hearty cooperation OF the members of Councils in
making YOUR Fire Bureau that which all desire-a
model one. Sincerely yours.
W. q. MCCANDLESS,
W j, PATTERSON.
CHARLES W. GERwIG
Committee Of the Board of Fire Underwriters.
The petition signed by 500 busin ess firms and
citizens, representing the wealthiest people
in the city, asking that fireboat be made a
part of the city fire department. was also
read in connection with the question. Only
q few OF the names signed to the petition
were read when Mr.. Keating moved that,
inasmuch the matter had been fully pub
lished in THE DISPATCH, everybody knew
the standing of the men who had signed the
petition, it would be waste of time to read
the whole list the reading be discontinued
The motion prevailed, and this petition,
with the other papers, was referred to the
Public safety Committee.
Chief Brown urging immediate action on the
petition for Il 1ireboat and such additional
lire apparatus as recommended by the un-
derwriters and as, in their Judgment, Coun-
ellis would decide.
Nj. Heating: "The most important factor
in the question has been omitted, that of
laws governing the erection of buildings.
Without any personal feeling refer to the
No. Engine House of the city, which is q
solid brick building with a lumber pile on
the top. There are other buildings in To-
calities exposed to danger from fire lined
with wood and their.front built up of wood
and glass. 1t is now too late to have any
subject and we had better do the next best
thing"
On Ordinance to Remedy Matters.
To this end Mr.. Heating offered an ordi-
nance to he referred to the Committee on
Public Safety to fill in and prepare, provid-
ing for the acquisition of additional appa1a-
tus and increasing the efficiency of the Bu-
reau of Fire. The ordinance was in blank
form, but viii be filed out before reachicn
the committee, with something in the line
OF suggestion offered by Chief Brown and
the Board of Underwriters.
In Common Council a new feature was pre-
sented in the shape of petition for dam
ages caused by fire. The petitioner is Julia
Devine. She states that she owned a house
on Lewis street, Eighteenth ward, in close
fire broke out in an adjoining house; an
alarm was sent in and the firemen promptly
responded, arriving before her house
caught fire. Owing to the poor condition of
the plugs the firemen could not get water
and her house was totally destroyed. Her
burse her. The petition was referred to the
Finance Committee.