The Monmouth inquirer., 1893-04-27

The active force Of the department consists Of one
hundred and twenty -four men, divided thus
aooE Ks ana Ladder Company p men; Steamer Com
Hose Company No. q % men Hose Company No. 1,
2l men, Total, 124.
One Hook and Ladder Truck In good orderi fully
equipped, IL new buckets about to be added One
second class steamer needing new boiler and in
the year. One second class steamer in good condi
ton to which two new gates have been added since
last report. Two hose carriages carrying: six hun
dred and fifty feet of hose each.
HOSE.
There are fifteen hundred feet of rubber hose all
Of which appears to be in good, serviceable condi-
tion, four hundred feet of which has been added
since last report one thousand feet Of fabric hose
none of which is reliable under steam pressure
CONDEMNED HOSE
One hundred feet rubber, two hund'ed ftes cotton
or fabric.
FIRES AND ALARMS
There have been during the past year nine fires, as
June sth, 1892, fire at CHARLES Trucks harness
store This fire was put out with few pals of water
with trihing loss.
ERRIcKsoNs livery and exchange stables; the build
lngs were entirely consumed with nearly all of the
contents, including 80 horses. The dwelling house ad
joining the stables and belonging to s. R. FoRMAN,
was partially destroyed at the same fire. At the
time OF this fire was out of town. Assistant Chief
NANDERHoEF was in charge, and from his report and
what could learn, am satisfied that every thing
was done that could have been done by the most
experienced of any city or town fire department
The buildings were partially destroyed before the
department received the ALARM
July 2Sth, 1922, about $50 in the afternoon the
barn OF VIM S. THR0CKMoRToN was burned. The
alarm was promptly answered by the department
and the fire extinguished leaving part of theframe
standing 1E
October 9Th, 1892, the barn of JOHN QuEENEY To-
Gated on Institute street. The alarm was sounded
the time Assistant Chief vANDERHoEF reported
prompt response by the department. The building
being old and small and quite distance from the
engine house, it was partially burned up when the
firemen arrived.
November I'd, 1892, alarm for fire in house owned
BY DR.. HALL. on Bovine avenue This apparently
was caused by throwing lighted match on the floor
and going ont and closing the house up. The fire
was extinguished by the next door neighbor with
November 18th, 1898 an alarm was sounded about
$50 In the morning This proved TO be the barn of
sumed but the tirewas prevented from communicat-
ing to other buildings although there one only
about ten or twelve feet from 1t.
January 18th, 1885, alarm of fire in Mrs. NEAFIEs
dwelling on South street this probably caused
by defective fue. The fire was extnguished
promptly with but trifing loss
February ls, 1898, there was alarm for fire in
the barn Of C. B. ELLIS. Although this was about
the middle of the day, it not discovered until
the interior was all on fire. The alarm was very
promptly answered, but by the time the department
had arrived. the fire had burned so the smoke had
suhocated seven horses. The fire was extinguished
leaving the frame and enclosure intact
April 8th 1898, at nine O'Clock in the evening an
alarm was sounded for fire in the iron foundry
owned and operated by COMBS & BAwDEN Al
though it was an extremely dark night the firemen
Qld good service and soon controlled the fire with
loss OF about one hundred and fifty or two hundred
dollars
To all the above calls the members of this depart
ment exhibited spirit and determination to do
their full duty as fremen.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In my last report recommended the immediate
repair Of steamer No / regret very nueh To yenort
that it has not been DONE The fire of July 10th full
y demonstrated the fact that the pressure from the
stand pipe is inadequate to cope with fire after il
| has attained any amount of headway. AS this fire
was about under control the suction pipe Of steamer
No. burst and for the time being and for
several hours after of no service. Now had this
CURED at the commencement of the fire. the destruc
ton and loss would have been much greater. In
view OF this tact again renew the recommendation
of the needed REPAIRS 1t was also shown at the fire
of April Sth that stream could not be thrown to
heighth of twenty.hree feet, stand pipe pressure
One year ago my report called attention to the
fact that the doors public buildings are in direct
violation of State law also as to a fire escape
am informed that on the second floor of ROTHs-
cHILD's shirt factory over three hundred persons
are daily employed, and large part Of them fe
males, and the only escape for them is by two
row wooden stairs. ] now again call your attention
to these matters and trust they will receive your at
tention.
During the past year reported to the Board of
Commissioners that the distance between hydrants
was too great for the supply of hose on hand I
! therefore recommend more hydrants or more hose
Should you choose to furnish hose instead of hy-
drans, the quantity should be not less than six hun
dred feet.
Some time since the resident tax payers on the
East and South side of town asked for better fire
protection. would suggest that one engine and
AiooC
also recommend that the entire interior of the
engine house be renovated and repainted and the
| floors on the second floor earpeted.
also call your attention to the fact that the fire
| alarm connecting the engineers houses with box
on Main street. in front of the court house. is out of
! order and has been for months, although the fact
| has been reported would recommend that more
/ extended system be adopted as to connect the
town with the bell on the engine house with not
less than ten or twelve boxes located they would
be accessible and an alarm be sent and sounded on
the bell at the engine house from any part of the
A n ind Won saws vol 10
time and be great advantage to this department..
Respectfully, JOHN w. HuIsE,