The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-23
Totals

This Is a saving Of s40ss2 per month. Add TO
this the amount to be saved by reducing the
force by four men and it win be s7os.s2 per
month.
This plan makes substantial reduction, and
leaves the department in position satisfactory
TO the members generally, and certainly pre-
vents the dissatisfaction caused BY cutting in
discriminatory, and often in places where any
cut at all viii do great injustice and undoubt-
ediy lose members that the department is in no
condition TO spars.
NOW, While not german to the matter sub
mltted TO me- feel Ii a duty that attention be
called to the condition of things left by the new
reirenchment plan in the mayors hand for
signature. That plan reduces the force on the
nfeooat i've men. Outside OF the licensed
oHiesrs and stokers but one man is left The
popular opinion is that she should be made
noatng hydrant, and that the department hose
shonid connect with the boat. using the depart
ment force proper for that purpose VIII any
sane man contend that this is in the interest of
quick serviceY Let us instance fire on West
street The department couples TO hydrants on
Front and West streets, aud carry their lines TO
the fire. The proposed plan means for the de-
paytment 10 run by the hydrants on Front and
West strests, so TO the fireboat, couple our
lines and take them back to the fire
While We are running for the freboas we
could be delivering water on the fire from the
Aydlautc We udfc 10 PASS cilQeT OF WQlCn Will
give us all the pressure we can handle. The
only thing gained is delay OF several minutes,
thought not TO take a practical fireman to see
TIE sbsurdity OF such proposition. The pro-
posed reduction of FIVE men on the hreboat
makes her practically useless and she might as
vel be relegsted out of service. In viewing the
rrenehment bill as passed by the council they
esm 10 have lost sight of the fact that the FIRE
department. is more than self-supporting, that
~ hax~
Ancs companies have paid back in premiums
more Than the cost OF the department For two
years the taxpayer pays into the city treasury TO
support the department $4,000 per year, and the
insurance companies pay back TO the taxpayer
stSeW These figures are correct and can be
verified Such q showing should result in q
Hoeraity to the department as to keep up its
emeieney TO the standard but the contrary is the
case and this department Is cut so as to
materially interfere In its management and
seriously cripple its efficiency This, IL seems
70 me, could have been avoided had the persons
In authority consulted with the fre commits
doners instead of having been duped bv ex.
members Of the department, who having been
snmmsrily expelled from the department for in
capacity, have obtained the ear Of a few having
the matter Of retrenchment in charge and I'M
pressed upon them their opinions how matters
should be done
The chief defends the driver OF chemi-
cal engine No. ,, as TO the accident, ex-
planning that the brakes would not work.
the street car rails were above the level
and the implanted side of the street was
torn up to allow of putting down of
mains
Chief Kellogg explained that if the fire
boat were placed under the same regula-
hons as the engines. it would be 3 saving
and improve the efficiency of the service.
IL would require that if any man should
De Oh on his turn any other man could be
called on out of his usual duty to do SER
vice where required. Then she captain
should be fireman; the present arrange
nent requires unnecessary red tape. The