The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-04
Total cash for the wear

Total cash for the year. ,753 IS
The report omits no detail. Although signed
by the four commissioners, credit for the work
is no doubt due Chief Kellogg. The fire depart
ment consists of four engine companies, two
truck companies, three chemical companies
and a hreboat. When the commissioners took
control the ireboat consisted of twelve men
and the truck companies of eight men, but the
hreboat crew has been reduced to seven and
only four men on one truck company, which,
the report says, virtually places them both out
of service. The report then makes plea for a
fully equipped department, arguing that any
curtailment in order to save taxes Is more than
offset by increased insurance rates. 1t goes on
to say:
People generally are slow to realize that fire
loss is public loss; that 1t falls directly upon
the people and not upon insurance companies,
as Is generally supposed Insurance companies
are not philanthropic institutions, but are Or
CARNATIONS perfected for the purpose of making
money. They base their calculations ON the
amount OF losses they are compelled 10 pay, and
charge the public for insurance in proportion
to the risks they carry. They are quick to see
to their own interests, and principally do they
critfcise she condition of the fire department.
1he experience in our own city Is unqualified
proof of this state ment
During the year ending September so, 1891,
the department has responded to one hundred
and forty-one (14l) alarms divided as follows:
BY box, 3D. telephone, AZ; still, IL. The losses
for the year are Size, 50725 divided as follows
On buildings 81, 46S % and on the contents s49,
039. The total value OF property involved was
s2,64s, 800, divided as follows: Value of build
ings, SI,2l4050; value of contents, $1,435 $780,
Total insurance on bui dings and contents,
81, 1850. Insurance over loss, $1,000 l62. rs.
Embraced in the foregoing amount OF losses are
figured the losses for fires outside the water dis
trtot and at W hich the department performed no
work. The aggregate OF these amount to t23, 600,
which amount deducted from the total, $780,
507.25, leaves q loss of s102907.25 for fires at
which the department performed work. This
makes an average loss of s729Si for each fire and
loss of one-half of l per cent of the property in.
volved. This is certainly creditabe showing
and compares favorsbly with other larger and
better equipped departments.
In several instances loss of life has been the
result OF fires during the year; with exception
of death OF an infant by upsetting and igniting
the oil of coal oil lamp In the crib In which
the child was sleeping, the deaths have been
cheaply built, three and four stories in height,
with but one exit,a narrow stairway and it is mar
yelous that so many escaped. In other instances
loss OF life has only been averted by the quick
arrival on the ground and the brave work of
rescus done by members OF truck no. 2.
Neither have the members of the department
escaped unscathed; one member of the depart
ment, ppeman on the frebOat, was killed by
being struck by stream OF water from the pipe
which be was holding: several Others have
been badly burnt aud bruised and others pros
trated by tact with electric light wires, but
nothing other than this just mentioned of q
serious nature.
The report recommends several changes in
tDe DululIR OEQluducCs LlAL street car COM
panies be compelled to keep planking flush
with the top OF the rail, and points out the dan
gers due to the mass OF highly charged electric
wires-es To the last urging the council not TO
wait until death occurs before remedying the
evil.
Greater restriction as to the storage of oils
and explosives, and iron shutters are urged It
is pointed ont that the hydrauts continue at
tached TO the small mains, and suggests that
they be removed 10 the new mains and that
more be placed in the business district
The commissioners recommend the appoint
ment of fire marshal, and ask that a secretary
be allowed the department.
Open wooden elevators are conde mned, and
II is advised that owners OF buildings built on
piles and in which infammable materials are
stored be compelled TO build bulkhesds to pre-
vent spread OF fire under the floors.
The rapid growth and building up of the city
since the fire OF June, 1889, has not had a para.
lei in this or any other country. On the eth
day OF June, 1859, nothing but burned waste
covered with crumbling brick walls andcharred
and smoking foundations was to be seen. To-