The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-29
TO FIGHT FIRE.
The Department Must Be
Re=enforced.
MORE MIGRANTS NEEDED.
Ten Steamers and Ten Chemicals
Wanted.
SOME PERTINENT COMPARISONS.
Chief Sullivan and a Committee of
the Underwriters Have an Inn
portant Conference.
Re MIGRANTS NEEDED.
SOME PERTINENT COMPARISONS.

Ihere was IN important conference held
on Wednesday morning between Chief
Sullivan of the Fire Department and the
Fire Committee of the Board of Under
writers, of which the well-known insur-
ance man, Robert Dickson, is chairman.
The conference was the result of an invita-
tion extended by the board to the new
Chief, and its purpose was 10 learn the
prOpos ed recommendations relating to a
greater efficiency of the Fire Department
and enhanced protection to the outlying
and rapidly developing districts of the city
The report of the Chief was, to say the
least, alarming and surprising even to the
underwriters themselves, who are supposed
to keep pretty well informed on such sub
jecis, and justified the stringent indorse-
ment of the changes and addition which
II was understood to be the intention OF the
Chief of the Fire Department to urge upon
the Fire Committee CT the Board of Super
visors for their encouragement and APP
prOval.
CHIEF SULLIVAN TALKS.
Chief Sullivan recommends that an addi-
tiOnal ten steamers be purchased, with five
chemical engines ard five trucks, and that
1000 new hydrants be located and placed in
new and unprotected districts, and also
that tho number be largely augmented in
what is known as the mercantile quarter"
which, according to the opinion OF the
Chief, is still without the number of n.y.
drants that an assurance of safety demands.
Chief Sullivan was interviewed upon the
subject Of additional fire protection and
with characteristic frankness gave his
views. II have no DESIRE" he said, Ito
court unnecessary publicity in this matter
but it is right that the public should know
the truth OF the whole OF this important
subject l have no personal ambitions to
serve, neither would / realize the slightest
personal benefit from large increase of the
department. My only am bitiOn is TO serve
the city TO the best of my ability in the posi-
tlOn | have the honor 10 hold, and | feel a
profound Responsibility for The safety of the
property in our charge and which looks to
us for protection. But | am convinced shat
the condition oil the city in so far as protec-
ton from eonfagratiOn is concerned is far
from bsing what II ought to be, even we're
San Francisco in less favorable financial
condition than IL is now, and | was glad to
avail myself OF the opportunity TO meet
committee OF underwriters and confer with
them upon the urgent necessity which con-
fronts US OF q substantial Increase in the
means we now have fUT coping with con-
tagration. Now" said Mr.. Sullivan, let
US take map OF the city and look in sue
cessi0n at those portions which are without
adequate facilities for the extinguIshment
of the fires that may occur. Take the i'm
pOTtant district included in North Beach,
which is the location Of large manufactur-
Ing interests and the seat Of great lumb
trade. In that whole district there Is one
hydrant 9n Bay street, near the wire works.
aud but one more II anywhere near close
proximity. These hydrants are from 700
to 500 feet apart and nothing could save the
buildings II FIRE became well started. l
regard North Beach as a wholly unprotected
district.
RICHMOND DISTRICT.
la fcFt, 4
portant portion Of the city, which S perhaps
more rapidly being built up than any
other section. | also regard IL as practically
unprotected. There is one chemical en- CINE
out there, but the nearest steamer Is No. 10
al Oetayia and Laguna streets and n long
distance away. Richmond is also without
an adequate number OF hydrants, though
there IS abundance of water to draw from
II hydrants were provided.
The case of Ashbury Heights is one that
is liable 10 be duplicated Mt any time Here
Is a section OF the city with 500 dwellings,
occupied, most of them, by their owners,
and built at heavy expense, yet before the
last conHagratious only five hydrants were
available and no apparatus. Now the num-
Der Of hydrants has been doubled and
chemical engine purchased but the nearest
steam hre engine Is now at McAllister
and Buchanan streets, which with good luck
aud without accident could not possibly
reach the scene OF a fire under 20 to %
minutes. AT the last fire | had to make n
lead of 200 feet Of hose with a chain Of
engines before could get a stream on.
NOE AND EUREKA VALLEYS.
west OF Dolores street, most important
district, embracing Noe and Eureka valleys
is another portion of the city without pro
tect on, There IS no engine nearer than
No. 13 al Twenty fifth and Valencia streets,
and the next nearest is No. IS On Duncan
street, near HapchrZ. A chemical at Sixth
aud Folsom Nso included in the district,
hrtf L. nh Of Ia
the most elevated in the city. forbds rapid
progress in case of an emergency. This
district should have an engine of its own
and The number of hydrants should be
greatly increased. AT present there are no
hydrants In ME- Valley and but an occa-
sonal one in Eureka Valley.
sUSNYsIDE AND OCEAN VIEW.
"At Sunnyside and Ocean View there is
no fire protect whatever, and but very
few hydrants."
The extensive and valuable district in
cluded in South San Francisco and the
Potrero has Two steamers long distance
apart, with but few hydrauts. IL can hardly
be believed that the truck located at Elev-
enth and Market streets is one of the appa-
ratus designed TO protect South San Fran
cisco and the POtrero, and that in case of
necessity this truck could only get to either
place by long detour by the way of San
Bruno road.
The foregoing are some of the districts
attention,
There are many others that need it bad
enough, and which we call partially pro-
tected, and If water facilities could be
increased would be reasonably safe except in
cases OF extraordinary emergency; but there
cannot be said to be single section, not
even excluding the mercantile district, that
can be said to be protected as it ought to be.
MORE HYDRANTs NEEDED.
II advocate an increase of 1000 hydrants,
as absolutely required. In the business
districts hydrants should net be over $50
feet apart, and in outside districts OF over
AGO TO 500 feet apart. To get proper work
from any steam fre-engine it ought not to
draw from greater distance than 200 feet.
On these long G00-feet Market-street blocks
there should be one hydrant in the centers
AS well as at the corners, and on all the out
lying blocks there should be from one to
three, dependent upon the size of the block
and the value IT the. property to be pro-
tected. have carefully estimated the num-
Der OF hydrants, ana ain of tue firm belief
that 2000 in addition to the 1900 already in
use should be placed"
Mr.. Sullivan was asked as to the water
supply in case 2090 additional hydrants were
added, and replied;
mo difficulty need be anticipated on
that ground. In case Of an emergency the
whole supply Of Spring Valley could be ap-
propriated, and there is no settled section
of the city where there is not plenty of water
at an ample pressure, provided hydrants
were provided"
INSURANCE VIEWS.
Robert Dickson, chairman Of the fire
committee of the Board of Underwriters
and manager OF several important insur-
anee companies, was interviewed on fire
protection and the needs of the city for ad-
ditional apparatus, and stated that "the
committee of the underwriters were very
happy to meet Chief Sullivan and discuss
with him the plans which, IL is understood,
he Is to submit to the Board of Supervisors
for the rehabilitation of the department.
Both as a citizen and as an active in
surance man." said Mr.. Dickson, II
am strongly OF the opinion that the
present facilities for extnguishing con-
fiagrations are inadequate to the actual
needs of the city. | live. for Instance, at
the corner of Baker and Haght streets, and
l have estimated that in case of fire it would
take the nearest engine from twenty to
twenty-five minutes to reach us. And there