The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-04

day bustling, busy city with buildings four to
nine stories in height, whose architectural
waste hardly were the foundations cold
before workmen were employed clearing
the debris and the erection of
these enormous structures went forward.
Haste to get under cover was the incentive, and
while each was wing with the other TO get
there irst many important matters were over
looked; no ordinance regulating the construc-
ton OF such buildings had been formulated, or,
II so. had been burned, and every precsution
that should have been thrown around such
structures were ignored or unthought of. The
natural result 10 we have q city of brick walls
inclosing hundreds of thousands of feet of in
fammaole, pitchy lumber. Within these walls no
division walls. no bridging, no ling to prevent
the spread OF fire throughout the building in
the quickest time: later on ordinances were
framed only TO be ignored, but by this time the
mischief had been accomplished, and all that
can be done now is TO insist upon every safe
guard possible TO prevent the spreading of fires
in the structures referred TO; this legislation
should not be DELAYED, stringent regulations
under heavy penalties should be framed and
rigidly carried out; the safety of the city and
prosperity of the people depend upon this action
by your honorable body. Do not delay until
repetition of the June fire, only a much
greater scale. such action by your honorable
body should embrace the matter of storing oils
aud explosives; the putting on of shutters, open
elevators, buikheads referred to, allowing extra
hazardous business to be conducted in base
ments or top floors of large buildings in our
business districts, etc. These suggestions are
prehenson, but simply as a measure of safety,
that we consider to be of paramount import
ance; let US forget for the moment our strife for
more, and try and make secure what We have
already got
The report expressed satisfaction with the two
new engines, but advises that the two Goulds
be sold and replaced by more modern engines.
For the year just closed there has been paid
for
saaries s7o,S02 Is
Paid on houses and repairs. 6,547 q
Other items As per detailed exhibits. 1858 90
fetal cost of department for the
year ending september 80, 1891. $l19,753 IS
During the year the department has turned
over to the street department two horses and
sold material which gives credit to the depart
ment as follows:
Two horses, street department., }l25 each. $3.50 90
Sale OF material. Observation-Disclosures III AZ
Received from auditing committee ...... % 90
Total Observation-Disclosures. 1892 p
Superintendent Snow submits a report Of the
fire alarm telegraph in which he SAYS: ave
have now in use thirty-nine boxes, all of the
Gamewell mountaineering style. There has
been added to the system during the year eight
boxes and five miles OF wire and two gongs and
indicators for new stations During the year
there have been eighty-two box alarms, all of
which have been transmitted correctly
would respectfully urge the necessity of at least
ten additional boxes to our system during the
ensuing year. There should be two boxes
placed upon Second street, between Yesler ave-
nue. and Pike street; one at least between Pike
and Battery streets, on Fourth"
Mr.. Kahaley moved that the members of the
board tender the chief their warmest thanks
for his interchangeable labors in getting up the
report The motion was carried unanimously,
and the report was ordered referred to the city
council
Chief Kellogg's monthly report for October
was read, showing twelve runs made and loss
by fire in the city Of s4,155. The chief RECON-
mended the purchase OF $50 feet OF three and
one-fourth inch hose for the fireboat, as that at