The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-13
GRADES OF FIREMEN.
Chief Kellogg Proposes a Meas
ure of Economy.
NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
Committee Appointed to Appear Before
the Council-False Alarms on the
Auxiliary System.

The fire commissioners met last evening,
Mayor Ronald in the chair. Commission
ers Jones, Masel, Foster, Kahaley and
Chief Kellogg being present.
Chief Kellogg proposed to economize in
the department by establishing graded
system of salaries. He called attention to
the fact that the captain of chemical No. 3
drew $50 per month while the captain of
the truck at headquarters received only Ss5,
yet did more work, and was more fire.
quently in positions of great danger. 1t
was unjust for new men to expect to re-
ceive the same salary as an experienced
fireman. He proposed to establish three
grades and have the council fix the sal
aries.
Mayor Ronald said: sit is good -sug-
gestion and a committee should be ap-
POINTED to meet the council at its next
meeting. How long will it take you,
chief. to formulate this plan?"
Chief Kellogg replied that he could do 1t
in a short time.
1t was moved and carried that COM
mites be appointed, with power to act, to
form plan for the classification and grad
ing of the department and tn present the
plan to the council next Thursday night.
The chair appointed the four commission
ers and Chief Kellogg the committee. BY
mutual consent it was agreed to meet this
afternoon and complete the work.
Foster called attention to clause in the
chiefs report relative to three false alarms,
evidently malicious, sent in over the
auxiliary system. He said the auxiliary
boxes were put in all places within reach
of anyone and something ought to be
done.
Kahaley replied. that he did not think it
would be we'll to do anything without due
consideration. The company should be
given chance to discover the perpetrators;
the boxes we're a means of protection to
the city in many ways, and moreover we're
placed by order of the property holders.
sanctioned by the insurance companies;
they tended to lessen the rates of in
surance.
C. A. Matson. of the auxiliary system,
explained that only three false alarms had
come in since last Jhne; that boxes were
located by insurance men and not by the
company.
Chief Jackson, of the police force, said
the company had offered a reward, and
that the guilty parties would undoubtedly
be found and convicted.
Il
committee to investigate the matter
thoroughly.
The committee appointed at the last
meeting to investigate the needs of the de-
partment reported as follows:
At headquarters, two sets of springs for the
front door; material for appliances to open the
doors; bed and spring mattress for substitute.
Battery and Fourth streets, springs for front and
stall doors. Terrace street, springs same as
houses before mentioned. Jackson street, four
three-quarter wire mattresses. Floors for stalls
and stables at headquarters, Battery and Fourth
streets, Main street and Tenth and Terrace
streets; also apparatus floor at Battery street
and Terrace street. At Fremont, one thirty
foot ladder, one twenty-four-foot ladder, two
sixteen-foot ladders, hook and chain for truck,
four axes, two dozen buckets, three spanners,
two lanterns The salt water main, foot OF Pike
street, is out of repair and useless.
The report closed with the recommen-
iation that truck, similar to No. 1, and
light engine be purchased. On Motion
the report was referred to the council and
Jones, Kahaley and Kellogg were ap-
pointed committee to appear before the
council and explain the necessity of the
articles.
Chief Kellogg's report showing the
number and character of fires and losses
for March heretofore published in the
PosT-INTELLIGENCER was adopted.
An account presented by Mrs. II. B.
Ross against H. E. Ross. a fireman, was
referred to Commissioners Kahaley and
Masel for investigation.
Applications for positions in the depart
ment were received from John McLaugh-
lin and Richard NJ. Maidment.
The 5th of each month was chosen as
the time of the boards regular meeting.