The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-17
OUTRAGE AND DISGRACE
Finance Commissioners Be-
de1l's DenunCiation Of
the Fire Buildings.
MEMS LIVES IN JEOPARDY
What an Investigation of the
Engine HOUSES Disclosed.


specting the Fire Department houses.
''Thar public buildings and property
should be allowed to get into such de-
plorable condition. and be permitted TO
go to rack and ruin for the necessity
the expenditure OF few dollars"
At meeting of the Board OF Finant
held one evening last week Presiden 1
Kern of the Fire Board told the Commits
-sioners in what frightful condition the
fire houses we're. Mr. Kern's remarks
caused much surprise, and the Finance
Commissioners naturally supposed that
the wary Kern was arguing for good
substantial appropriation. Kern, how
ever, was in earnest, and invited the
Fiuauce Commissioners to inspect the
fire buildings aud satisfy themselves as
to the true condition of affairs.
Finance Commissioners Detwiller,
Simpson, Fraser and Bedefl accompanied
the Fire Commissioners and their clerk
on tour Of inspection Saturday. The
party left the City Hall aud then pro-
ceeded to the twenty-one department
houses.
FIRE Headquarters on Bay street was
first visited The roof lesk KS, the plumb
ing is bad, aud in case of storm some
Of lhs attendants upon the Superiptend-
ept or Chief are kept busy moppiug up
lbe floor in the rear of the meeting room
TO keep Assistant Chief Dennead's room
from being flooded. The condition
of the building of No. 2 engine
in Morris street made the Finance
Commissioner shudder A new roof was
put on The building about two years ago,
but 1t was not painted until SIX mouths
laIer AS result there are innumerable
air holes in the reot, through which the
n
quarters of the men aud rottiug the IL "a
bers, making the building damp and un-
fit for habitation The flooring where
the engine stans is so rotten that the fire
Iaddies drive out very slowly when an
alarm sounds for fear they will fall
through. Superintendent Brown ex-
poets to hear of che engine dropping into
the cellar every time it is taken out.
BEST HOUSE IN THE CITY.
Engine No g. IN Mercer street, has the
best house in the city. The roof ieaks.
however. and the stalls lave either bean
kicked down by the horses or have rotted
away, so long has It been since they have
been repaired. No. 4 eugine in First
street is passaDly well aoused. The stalls
are tum5iing down and the root leaks
badly.
The house occupied by engine No. in
Sixth street is i'll a dangerous condition,
aud Tor the safety of the men should be
more than thirty years aud but few re-
pairs have ever been made to 1t. An ad-
ditlen was made TO it some years ago. but
has ceased to be of use. In fact it has
pulled away from the main buildings
aud is tumblipg down. The building is
entirely too small for an engine house.
1t was originally built for a hose COM
pany. This is of no use. is not ut for men
to stay in, and is a disgrace to the depart
ment.
No. engine honse at Henderson and
Twelfth streets will pass. The roof leaks
trihe aud new stalls are imperative. A
little painting would add greatly TO the
appearance of the building.
The house occupied by engine No. z
and chemical engine No. 12. at Summit
and st. PauPs avenues needs new out
sldedoors at once. A new roof would do
away with the necessity of the men Sleep
lug In rubber boots and overcoats when
it rains. New stalls would also prevent
the horses from kl--dng and biting one
another.
ARCHITECT BRooME 5 oMsIIssIoN
The house occupied by epgiue 10. Is
and No. truck. is beauty. 1t Was
built by Pat" Condor and the
Broome. 1t was Broome's conuec-
tiou with the construction of this
br' ,4ding tnat compelled Acting Mayor
i Simpson TO veto his appointments as the
arcnilect of any more public buildings.
Copdon should have dug a cellar under
the building, but he didn't. Broome
didn't provide for a cellar and appar-
emily thinking the matter would escape
public attention certified that the build
lug was completed according TO plans
and specifications The building is only
three years old now. but the roof looks
like sieve. The stalls are falling down
aud things are in bad shape ia every
way.
The roof of No. Trucks House might
as well be removed. for all The good it
does the house. AT every rain the build
ing is flooded, and the ceilings are in
tumbed down condition. A iistle paint
would add greatly to the beauty OF the
building, and new plumbing 10 Its health
fulness.
NO. Truck in Ninth street is in bad
condition. New ceilings, stalls and a
roof are required,
No. Truck House In Wenster avenue
near Franklin street, is TO be en- tirely
stepped in and had q police station
erected adjoining the engine house, and
before the work was completed, cobb
lip everything so that now the truck has
To seek new quarters.
No. truck on Communipaw avenue
is in disgraceful condition. The build
ing has not been repaired in twenty
years, and as a consequences it is virtually
falling apart. The bell tower connected
with it also needs to be repaired or II
Will come tumbling down some day. Al
the house of engine No. on E0e avenue.
No. 8 or Bergen, corner of Ducan ave-
nues, and No. 10. engines III HRlladay
street, Lafayette, new stalls aud roofs are
necessary. In each OF the houses the
ceilings are falling down.
MENACES THE FIREMEN'S LIVES.
The horse hospital on Belmont avenue
is not only an eye sore to residents OF the
avenue, but it is also q menace to the
lives of the firemen detailed to do duty
tnere and passers by. superintendent
Brown expects to hear Of its collapse
every day.
4 The ceilings have fallen and when the
Auilding was erected a brick cupola was
( ullt upon wooden beams. The be ANS havs
ed away for lack of attention and the
capola leans toward the street. 1t is bui
question of time when its weight will
carry away the beams and bring the
building tumbling down upon The head
of the unfortunates stationed there.
The old Newark avenue bell tower i
being taken down today. The officials
feared ii heavy wind storm would shake
The rotten structure to pieces. Another
Important matter under consideration Il
q the establishments of the central alarm
rystem ar Headquarters on Bay street
This can be done by adding another stor.
to The present structure. The cost wouit
pc baby not. exceed 81, 600, whereas tn
flung up of the old building on Newarl
avenue would cost twice that sum. Tht
old Newark avenue buildiug Will prob
~. ,,tfit1ad for yafs st1n0ties