St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-15
FIRE LADS DANGER.
Street Railway and Electric
Light Wires Their Main
Dread.
The Commissioners Inaugu-
rate a Move to Abolish
the Evil
By an Ordinance to Give Right
Of Way and Shut Off
Currents.
State Historical Society Re-
solves to Ask for a Lii
brary Building.

The fire board me in regular session
last evening, the only absentee being
President Warner.
The experience of the department in
the recent Hale block fire, wherein
Fireman Kelly came near losing his
life by an electric shock from the street
railway wires, has brought the fire
board to the realization of the fact that
the department is without power to cut
these wires, or to switch out electric
light currents, to clear the way for safe
work at fires. 1t was also found that
the ordinance which was asked by the
board year ago, granting the depart
ment the right of way to fires, the
street cars to stop when the engines
we're OH the way, failed to pass both
branches of the common council. 1t
was pocketed after it went through one
branch.
The following resolution was adopted:
THAT the corporation attorney is request
ed to prepare an ordinance and present it to
the common council for passage granting the
fire department right of way over any road
and all streets of the city when responding
to alarms Of fire; also compelling the street
railway company and all electric companies
to shut off the electric current when notified
so 10 do by the chief engineer or any of his
assistants, on the line Of streets on which the
electric wires are located so that they inter-
fere with the workings of the department al
fires. We further recommend that all cleo
trio companies be required to put in switches
in every block in the business district ana
that the chief and his assistants have keys to
such switches to enable them TO shut off the
current in one or more blocks as they may
see fit.
Owing to the failure of the common
council to put through the right of way
ordinance, it is likely that nothing can
be recovered from the street railway
company for the damage done to Chem
ical Engine No. by the electric car on
the night of Nov. II, and the city will
owe its loss to the negligence of the
council.
A communication was received from
the water board stating that it had
about completed its high service plant
in the Sixth ward, and that the water
will be turned into the system within
week. The communication stated fur
ther that it sis DESTROYS that the fire
alarm service be connected, and gong
be put in our engine house on corner
of State and Page streets" The super
intendent of the fire alarm system was
instructed to make the connection and
place the gong at once.
Chief Jackson stated that there is a
gong now in use which shows on the
completion of the first round of fire
alarm the number of the fire box. 1t
costs S125. He desired the board to
place one in his Office at headquarters.
On motion of Mr.. PIendergast the chief
was instructed to procure one of these
gongs, to be placed on trial.
Supt. Hughes, of the alarm system,
reported that all the circuits are in good
working order.
Master Mechanic Wheeler reported
that all of the apparatus is now in serv-
iceable condition.
mary surgeon, reported that four horses
are unfit for service. They will be sold
at public auction Saturday forenoon at
ii o'clock.