St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-20
OFFICIAL.
Proceedings Board of Fire CON-
MISSiOnerS.
Regular Meeting.


OFFICE BOARD FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
ST. PAUL, July 13, 1891.
The 6oard of Fire Commissioners of the
City of st. Paul met at o'clock p. m.
Present-Commissione Prendergast, Mar
tin, Mitsch, and Mr. President.
Absent-Commissione Freeman.
Minutes of previous meeting read and APP
proved.
COMMUNICATIONS.
From the st. Paul Press Club
Requesting the Board to have connec
ton made on gong in Press Club rooms with
fire alarm system. On motion the Superin-
tendent of Fire Alarm was instructed to
make the necessary connection as requested.
From The National Association of Fire En-
glneers, asking that the department be rep
resented at the nineteenth annual conven-
ton, which will be held at Springfield, Mass,
on Aug. IL, 1891. On motion the Board IMAM
imously voted the Chief Engineer leave of
absence to attend the convention.
From Joslin, Cudwoith 4 Co., asking that
interest be allowed them on deferred pay
ments for hay furnished the department, I'M
der contract specifying monthly payments,
whereas they have not received pay for bills
of November and December, 1890, January,
February and March of 1891, amounting in
the aggregate to 81, 9S4. As. On motion the ac-
count was ordered transmitted to the City
Council, asking that the sum of S6!.15 inter
est be allowed.
President Warner stated the report
CdlIC " ulUu III SuCu IL IuuuuGE lHdb III
could not be overlooked; that Minneapolis
had much lower insurance rates than st.
Paul. He considered this unjust and recon-
mended thata committee be appointed to in
vestigate the matter, and report at the next
meeting OF the board. Commissioners Mar
tin and Freeman were appointed such com
mittee
On motion it was voted to have the. entire
department turn out for parade Oh W ednes-
day evening at 7:30. The Chief Engineer was
To 10 all
Commissioner Martin recommended that
the Board take some action toward having
the water mains extended on Con-
cord street, from Andrew to Curtice
street, so as to give necessary protee-
ton for fire purposes to the st. Paul Stove
Works. This matter together with the chiefs
recommendation for double hydrants at
northeast corner of Fifth and Robert, north
west corner of Sixth and Robert on Fourth
street between jackson and Sibley; and on
Sibley, between Fourth and Fifth streets;
and locate hydrant on Sibley street, be-
tween Fourth and Fifth Streets was. on mo-
zion, approved, and conference with the
Board of Water Commissioners was ordered
for the purpose of securing this additional
protection.
REPORTS.
From the Chief Engineer
Reporting that on July 6 he had suspended
from duty, and he was discharged No.
engine. while working at Park theater fire,
rod; same has been repaired and engine
placed back in service. The following hose
burst since last report: Two sections OF Vic
tor hose, placed in service August 1890: one
section of 3l2-ineh Eureka, placed in service
December, 1886; three sections of Chicago,
placed in service August, 1890; three sections
of Volunteer, placed in service August 1890
and 1891; and one section of Akron, placed in
service February, 1854: this section has been
repaired and placed i'll service. Also report
ir1orf irao fOll TI1t,n
was received at the following houses at
p. m. Chemicals No. 2 ana Z, Engines No.
and II. July 3, Box Il pulled for fire at
2:23 a. m, double blows in second round.
July .. Box 45 pulled for fire at Ill a. M
the first round came in 145; three rounds
came in o. k; Box 81 pulled for fire at 2:24
p. NJ; first round came in 49, three rounds
o. k. July 9. at S:36 p. NJ, received one
blow on gong from box pulled on West side;
at $40 p. M, Box rs tapped in from alarm
office. June %, Box $40 pulled for q fire at
II 10 p. m; double blow received in first
round, three rounds o. k. June %, Box Is
pulled for fire at 12:20 a. M; received
three blows: box tapped in from office. L
would call your attention to the bad condi-
ton of the floors in barns Of Engine Houses
No. IL and II; some of the granite blocks are
loose and the tar is running out l would
recommend that catchbasn and sewer con-
nectlon be made III alley between No. II en-
CINE house and the Omaha Railway Offices;
uiSO Jlldb QOuDle De pldCGQ db lOEbu-
east corner of Fifth and Robert streets, and
northwest corner of Sixth and Robert
change single to double hydrant at
northeast corner of Sixth and Rob-
,ert Streets on Fourth street, between
Jackson and Sibiey streets, and locate by
drant on SIbley street, between Fourth and
Fifth streets. AT the present time there is
but one single hydrant on the corner OF Fifth
and Robert streets and one single hydrant on
corner of Sixth and Robert streets BY
TA10 a hr6 r1T Mt m Cfr m a
alley, it could be used to get to the rear of
buildings on both sides of Fourth street and
buildings fronting on jackson street. Re
specially submitted,
JOHN JACKSON, Chief Engineer.
Report accepted, adopted, and recommen-
datiOns concurred in.
From the Superintendent of Fire Alarm
Reporting that on June % at 11:15 p. m.
Box $40 was pulled during the heavy light
ming, which caused double blows on last two
blows of nine i'll first round. On June %, at
II % a. m, Box 46 was pulled. adjustment in
repeater on that line slack. so that repeater
failed to release every time line opened. Box
was struck by hand. On July 4 at IL q. m.
Box - circuit was broken while opening the
door and pulling box, striking one blow be-
fore the box came i'll. on July T. at pa p. M.
Box 81 adjustment Jared loose, missing the
second and third blows in first round. /
cleaned, oiled and adjusted repeater and in
struments on the Sd inst, expecting that we
would have a number of alarms on the
4th, so as to have everything in the best OF
condition for the work that was expected.
The repeater as well as lines are tested every
half hour At 40 p. M, July 9, NO signal
opened and remained so while the operator
cut the repeater out, after which he was get
ting blows on that circuit. It being the line
that goes on the West side, we called Engine
No. and asked them if they could see any
fire They located it at or near box 775,
which we struck off by hand Box 763 was
Vrb tViI
claimed that box 715 was pulled. | exam
ined and tested boxes 715 and 763 that night,
ana found they were all right. The next
day found the man who claimed he pulled
box 775, and had him show me what he did
to send in the alarm. He had not pulled the
hook, but, instead, had pushed a shunt plug
for cutting out relay when the outside door
is closed. l have heard complaints of the
market house bell not striking for alarms. 1t
has happened that an alarm is struck by
alone does not have time 10 strike
the bell until he has struck the
four rounds of the box that we
are required TO give the department. and
AFTER that il would be too late to be of any
use TO members of the department outside of
the engine houses. 1 believe you know that
/ am doing the best that can be done with
my force. | am more or less crippled at times;
one Of the operators is home sick and the
lineman has to stand his watch. | have
trimmed trees where found 70 interfere with
fire alarm wires, taken up slack in wires
where necessary, placed gong in Office, there
by giving US a test of striking lines when
sending in an alarm; have tested all alarm
boxes, find them in good order.
specially submitted.
|. r. JENKINS, Superintendent.
Report accepted and ordered filed. Reports
of Master Mechanic and Veterinary Surgeon
presented, read and placed on file.
Resolution by Commissioner Prendergast-
Resolved, That this Board, approaching the
work done by the department at fires on July
4th inst heartily commend Chief Jackson
and the officers, and men under his command
for The efficient work performed at the MI
merous fires on that7 day. Adopted by the
following vote:
Yeas-Commlssioners Prendergast Martin,
Mitsch and Mr.. President.
The following bills, properly approved.
were presented:
P. Y. Dwyer & Bros, S5.75; Archibald
Wheel Company. $4,000: Anton Rossing,
$500; Griggs Bros, S1,53s.17; c.. C. Berkman
4 Sons. 80. 33; Joslin, Cudworth & Co.,
1859 50; W. J. Freaney. $3.50; Aug. Hammer,
So; Chas Friend & Son, $3.50; Jno. Martin
Lumber Co.. S75.22; NieoIs & Dean, $1.74:
Waterous Engine Works, Sl4s6; ST. Paul
Foundry, $685.; G. W. Hackett Hard
ware Company, S27.06; Geo. j. Mitsch. Sf7.10;
i T. Gribben COmDany. xS3: A F. Stewart