St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-30
The Business District a Con-
slant Source Of Appre-
hension.
Commissioners Devise Means
to Better Protect the Ter
ritory.
A Labor Bureau to Be EStab-
lished by the Local Trades
Congress.
The Wife Of a Police Officer
Has Her Hateful Bonds
Severed.

The last regular meeting of the board
of fire commissioners was held yester
day afternoon at fire headquarters, all
the commissioners being present. The
recent fire on Third street, in the whole
sale district, which caused so heavy a
loss, has caused the board to view
most seriously the present facilities
which the city possesses for fight
Ing large fires in the business
portion of the city. After a careful eX-
animation, the commissioners have de-
cided that the wholesale district is not
sufficiently protected, and that it Is
absolutely necessary that steps be taken
as soon as possible to increase the facil
titles of the department. The plan which
the board favorS is the erection of
powerful stationary pumps. which will
draw wafer supply from the river by
means of tunnel. From the pumping
house, water mains will be distributed
through the wholesale district, with
hydrantS at the corner of every block.
The commissioners were all unanimous
in expressing an opinion that the whole
sale houses in the clty should be pro-
vided with effective automatic fire
alarms connected with fire headquar-
tiers, and on the motion of Mr.. Freeman
mously adopted:
Resolved That the president of the board
shall appoint committee of three, of which
he shall be chairman, for the purpose of in
vestlgatlng and reporting upon the advis-
ability of providing increased fire department
facilities for the location bounded by Broad
way, jackson. Sixth street and the levee.
Resolved. That 1t is the sense of this board
that Il is desirable, in order TO aid the depart
ment TO locate a fire at the earlieet moment,
thereby lnPrpl n no
came. that the wholesale dealers i'll the city
avail themselves of some fire alarm device to
be connected with the fire department. in
this way securing for themselves and the
city at large an additional and effective pro-
lection.
Mr.. Freeman hoped that the whole
salers in the city would take prompt
action in the matter. 1t was of vital
importance, and he had no doubt that if
the measure recommended by the board
should be adopted, and automatic fire
alarms placed in ali warehouses in the
business district. that it would not only
be the means of saving heavy losses,
but also tend TO reduce the rates of in
Surance.
President Warner, Commissioners
Prendergast. Martin, :Mtsch and Chief
Jackson expressed views in sympathy
with the remarks of Mr.. Freeman. A
petition from number of residents in
the vicinity of Selby and Victoria ave-
nueS, asking for ire alarm box to be
placed at the junction of the avenues,
was referred to the committee Oh ma
chinery.
Chief Jackson's fortnightly report,
detailing the work of the department,
was read and placed on file.
Supt. Hughes, of the alarm system,
reported that all wires, boxes and en-
CINE house gongs were in good condi-
ton. Since his last report four new
fire alarm boxes had been located as
follows: Box 81, Selby and Third
streets; Box So, Jackson and Fifth
streets; Box 23l. Mendoza and East
Seventh streets: Box SIS, Grotto and
University avenue.
A communication was received from
Secretary Forbes. of the Minneapolis
Business Mems union, suggesting IA
cllltIeS for transporting apparatus from
one city to another in case of big fires.
He suggested the building of suitable
platforms for loading fire engines on to
railroad cars.
Secretary O'GOrman was instructed
by the board to reply 10 the letter from
Mr.. Forbes, to the effect that the st.
Paul fire commissioners had made ar
rangementS with all the railroad COM
panieS so that in case of emergency the
train dispatchers would furnish as soon
as possible a special train, placing the
Bame at any one of four platforms in
the railroad depot.
The board audited and allowed the
December pay roll, amounting to S14,-
S45.