Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-04-24
The Annual Report of the Chief En-
gineer of the Fire De-
partment.
The Fire Apparatus Is in Good Con-
ditiOn and the Companies
Well Filled.
An I%ncendiary Fire in the Fourth
Ward-Slaughter Items
Other Locals.
Fire Department Report.

and standing of the Bismarck Fire depart
ment has been duly made to the mayor by
A. Van Horn, acting and assistant chief
engineer:
To Hon. Mayor and City Council, Bis
marck, N. D.,
GENTLEMEN: In accordance with an Or
dinance for the regulation and govern
ment of the fire department, it becomes my
duty to submit an annual report in the alb
sence of Chief Engineer Frank Law all.
The department was inspected on July
4, 1890. by Chief LAVAL and again on
April 1, 1891, by the undersigned.
At the inspection on April l, 1891, the
department was called out by all alarm
being struck on the fire bell; the depart
ment having been notified that all inspec-
ton would be called in this manner but
the time was unknown.
The companies responded very prompt
ly, considering the means employed in
conveying the apparatus. The inspection
took place at the corner of Eighth and
Front streets, being five blocks from the
engine house. The time of arrival after
the first tap of the alarm was as follows:
Pioneer Hose company No. l hose cart,
6 minutes.
Pioneer Fire company No. 1 hose cart, 6
minutes Is seconds.
Pioneer Fire company No. 1 engine, 7
minutes Is seconds.
Banner Hook and Ladder company No.
l truck, 8 minutes.
This demonstrates that our department
IAN put water on a fire five or six blocks
away from either of the hose houses in
seven minutes after an alarm has been
struck, and the entire apparatus be at the
scene of a fire within nine minutes.
| desire to call your attention to the I'M
satisfactory method employed in convey
ing the hook and ladder truck. 1t fire.
quently occurs that the truck remains in
the engine house fifteen to twenty minutes
after an alarm has been turned in, await
ing the arrival of a team or until the city
team has been ordered to haul it. The truck
should be the first to arrive, as axes. lad
'ders and poles are very Important weapons
to hose-men in fighting a fire that origi-
mated in or has reached the second story of
our frame buildings. ID
l desire to call your attention to the fact
that the collars used on the engine team in
connection with the patent harness are at
least two inches too small. This is not only
cruel to the team, but destroys the effect
iveness OF the apparatus.
l inspected the city engine house, and
find the chemical engine, hook and ladder
truck and one hose cart housed there. The
apparatus is in a crowded condition and
the building in a dilapidated stage, but
kept in good order considering the circum-
stances.
The department is without proper facili-
ties for drying hose. This, I believe, can
be provided at a small cost by enclosing
the bell tower and by the purchase of suit
able hosting apparatus.
The appliance used for ringing the bell
should be improved so that the full tone is
developed.
During the past year the city team and
drivers have been employed three. fourths
of the time on road work or streets. This
is advisable, as it not only affords the re-
nuirnI avaro;cn fnr tI,n tnon, bat
show by the Improvements the benefit de-
rived from this plan.
Before closing on this subject allow me
to call your attention to the advisability of
paying the driver and expense OF the team
from the road fund in proportion to the
amount OF labor performed on roads and
streets, thereby reducing the amount that
is annually debited to the fire department
expense.
The hose house at the corner of Main
n Fourth streets is cOmmOdiOuS with the
exception of a low ceiling, but, in compari-
son with the city engine house, it affords
very suitable quarters for a hose house and
police station.
l found the building comfortable ard
clean.
COMPANIES N CONDITION Oh APpA-
RATUS.
Pioneer Fire company No. ii. D.
Wakeman, foreman; A. F. Marauett, as
Sistant foreman. Members present at in
spection, II; members in good standing on
roll. %; attendance at fires and alarms, IL.
Apparatus-One a.. Babcock chemical
"A foot ladders-conditlon good except one
broken ladder; n u) hose cart, with $50
feet of two and one-half inch hose, condi-
ton good.
Pioreer Hose company No. 1-Joseph NJ.
EdgerIey, foreman; E.. Froemmig, assistant
fnraUoan MpmhnrS 1rncnpf of ircrnntso,
10; Members in good standing on roll, 20:
attendance at fires and alarms, II.
Apparatus-One () hose cart, with $50
feet of two and one-half inch hose. Con-
~dition: axle Of cart badly sprung;r drum of
hose reel broken to that extent that the
cart is almost unserviceable.
Banner Hook and Ladder Company No.
III. w. Grambs, foreman; +. MOorhouSe,
assistant foreman. Members present at
inspection, z; members in good standing on
roll, 10: attendance at fires and alarms, 10.
Apparatus-One (1) truck. with one So
foot Bangor extension ladder; n 4o-foct
extension ladder, one 18.foot extension lad
der, one 16 foot ladder, one 12-toot roof lad
der, one Is, foot roof ladder, four pike poles,
four axes, two lanterns, W crOWbars, two
hooks with rope and chain attached, and
two Babcock extinguiShers. Condition
good.
The department has the following serv-
'iceable two and one-half inch hose:
On hose cart Pioneer Fire company No.
55u feet
On hose cart Pioneer Hose company No.
............ $50 feet
On truck Banner Hook and Ladder
company No. $50 feet
At engine and hose houses .............. $50 feet
Total amount of serviceable hose. :. 2,2CO feet
In addition to the above there is $50 feet
of two-incb hose that needs new couplings
to be Serviceable.
During the past year the department
has responded to fifteen fires. four false
alarms, including two on April LIST, and one
inspection alarm. The average attend
ance Of the department at fires and alarms
has been thirty-six members from a total
membership of seventy-six, this l consider
avery good attendance.
Our hose capacity has been increased
80 per cent. and our efficiency improved by
the purchase of two late, improved patent
shut off and spray nozzles. The building
of the Main street hose house placed 700
feet of hose one ard one half block nearer
and in the most wealthiesC business center
of thecity.
By an appropriation the department was
enabled to send representatives to the
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