The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-06
S S,siS MGS s are QUICKLY MARI


copy ordered forwarded to the honorable
the Board OF Aldermen
ONCE of Board Of Fire Commissioners.
JERSEY CITY, n. j., January %, 1891.
To the Honorable the Board Of Alder
men,
GENTLEMEN
In accordance with law we have the
honor herewith respectfully to submit a
report OF the conditions and operations OF
his department. for the year ending De-
cember 81. 1890, together with the reports
for the same period made to the Board by
the Chief Engineer. the Superintendent
of Telegraph, the Inspector OF Horses and
the Clerk of the Board.
The general conduct OF the department
during the past year has been satisfactory
and successful.
The efficiency and condition of the
equipment of the department has been
in the main all that could be desired,
although in some instances to which we
shalt presently advert there is need Of i'm
provement.
In our former reports we have alluded
to the necessity OF establishing the per-
sonnet OF the department upon an exclu-
sively permanent basis.
We beg leave to again renew our rec
ommendation that the system of main
tanning men at call be abolished aud that
the places of these employees be filed by
regularly appointed men, who shall give
their entire time and attention to the ser
vice. In a city OF the territorial size and
commercial Importance OF ours. and con-
stantly increasing 10 the area of its Inn
proved property. the methods of a cruder
period are no longer adequate to the de-
mands of the present time. 1t is useless
to disguise this fact, and II is equally use
less, and eyen worse than useless, to at
tempt to Justify or defend our deficiency
- M - -
thus urge Will, OF course, entail IN d
tional expense. but we firmly believe
thai our citizens appreciate its value and
necessity aud will not object to any con-
sentative and reasonable expenditure
that Is required for the protection Of their
lives and properties.
With respect to the houses used and oc-
cupied by the department.. we take pleas
ure in reporting that with the exception
of those OF Engine Companies Nos. 2 and
5 they are all in good condition. Engine
No. 8, however. absolutely requires a new
engine house, its present quarters being
utterly unit for the purpose. We some
time ago adopted a proper resolution ask
ing the Street aud Water Commissioners
TO erect a new house for the Company,
but so far as we are advised no action has
been taken by them in regard to this
matter.
The house Of Engine Company No. 2
needs extensive repairs.
The department. coal depot on Erie
street should be either abandoned or
practically rebuilt. as IL Is now so di-
lapidated as to be a source OF dagger.
New engines of the best modern pattern
should be substituted for the apparatuses
OF Companies s, . and 10.
The engines OF these companies are
relics thar have been transmitted to US
from the old volunteer department., and
are Of course Anticipated.
In 1871 they were altered into horse ap-
paratus, but this change could not quite
evidently effect or increase their efici-
ency at the scene OF service. We earn
estly invite our attention to the remark
of the Chief Engineer where he discusses
this topic in his report, and We also
heartily endorse mis- suggestion as to the
imperative need OF a new aerial hook and
ladder truck. The loss OF life that maY
at any time result from the failure of the
department to obtain such an apparatus
may, when 1t is too late, emphasize in an
appalling manner the need and necessity
or IL.
During the past year there were POI
alarms of fire. The total loss was $751;
492, on which there was an insurance
a~ggregating sos, $40, the average loss By
each IRE amounting TO sI26.
We earnestly approve of the recon-
mendations OF the superintendent of tele-
crap IN favor OF the establishment OF a
CtubAd OLAAL 5lSNGm AOA A(N0AFAdk 0AA
transmitting alarms aud OF three gong
circuits independent of the o circuits.
These innovations, together with the
putting up of twenty-five new street
boxes, anu the renewal OF seventy miles
of copper wire Will, as the superintendent
points out, involve an expenditure OF
Sl2, 225, but he asserts That the resultant
annual saving In battery material Will be
more d equivalent to the interest on
this sum-; while at the same time the ser
vice and the public safety viii be vastly
promoted u protected
Tbs forty-one horses owned by the de-
partment are in good condition.
TIL report of the Clerk herewith pre-
scented shows the detailed appropriations.
receipts and expenditures for the past lis
cal year. married the appropriation
was Si06, 299. IS; the receipts from safe of
manure, fees for permits. etc., S539.21.
making a total of $l06. $50. %, while the
disbursements were SlO5. sos. SO, leaving a
balance TO our credit OF $3.50. IL.
We cannot conclude this statement
Without referring 10 the recent terrible
ca lamity which the department. has sus-
tanned In the death of CaieI Engineer
Farrier. For many years he had occu-
pied the post of executive head OF the de-
partment. and had in that position al
WAYS acquitred himself OF his important,
laDorious and dangerous duties with the
greatest credit to himself, 10 the perfect
SIllSIAcLlOu OF his Ot1ll1A oLDCklOtS, a1W
in a manner that obtained for him the
respect and confidence or the COZ immunity.
he wa killed by an explosion at "A lire
on the night of January p He died at
the post of duty.
Daniel Dinan, stoker of Engine Com
pany No. 5, wh.ie driving that apparatus
10 the same fire in the aoseacs of the
regular driver, met MS death in a terrible
| accident, and is moarne1 by all who
knew him as u brave, honest, faithful
public servant
In conclusion we take this opportu-
nifty to commend the employees of the
department for the Zeal, intelligence n
perfect discipline which they have in
yariably displayed in the performance OF
their duties, and We very heartily testify
10 the c are, skill and courtesy with which
our Clerk has executed the functions OF
his Office.
JOHN CONWAY.
JOHN h.. BROWN.
JAMES IL. HENDERSON.
CHARLES E~sTERBRooK, Clerk
Ou motion the Clerk was directed TO
with the Pennsylvania
Road and request that the superiatend-
ent of sand road or his representative be
r-os.,f a. tho naxt maefiuU of the R0aFI