Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-09-06
THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Its Semi-annual Inspection
by Members of Council.
ALL THE UTENSILS IN SERVICE
Every Company Well Fitted
to Battle Flames.



panies made its semi-aunual inspection
of the fire department Wednesday. The
committee was accompanied by some
guests and the inspecting party NUM-
bered II persons. Six coaches were
used in conveying them to the several
engine houses. The inspection began at
s o'clock and was not concluded until
after midnight. All the fire apparatus
was reported to be in service and the
department was found to be in an excel
lent condition. At each engine house an
exhibition of stitching up" was given,
but the proceeding was not timed. The
party was cordially received by every
company except the Fame. The Water
Witch, Weccacoe, Liberty and Phoenix
strikers were sounded, large gatherings,
including many women and children,
assembled in the vicinity Of the Water
| Witch, Weccacoe and Liberty houses
and nearly all the dogs around the
Forty Acres howled. The bowling,
however, was not due to the presence Of
the visitors but to the ringing of bells.
The reception received at tine Fame
House could not have been more icy.
Only one member of the company and
the driver were present to receive the
party anu the engine room was dimly
lighted. This cool reception is supposed
to have been intended as an insult to
the officers Of the department but it did
not hurt anybody's feelings.
The inspecting party was composed
of Mayor Shortlidge, Councilmen Per-
kins, STATS, Meauey, McNulty, Vain
wright, Dannenberg, Dohohoe, Ma
guigan and Smith, Chief Engineer
Walker, ex-Chief Engineer Shields,
Assistant Engineers WEIGH and Sasse,
City Treasurer Adams, +. j. Donnelly
and press representatives.
1t was driven first to the Friendship
engine house and thence to the Water
Witch, thu Weccacoe, the Fame, the
Liberty, the Reliance, the Washington,
the Delaware, the Phoenix. Refresh
ments wele served at the Weccacoe,
Liberty AMI Phoenix houses and singing
and speeches were had at the last.
named house.
The following information respecting
the several companies was obtained:
Observation-Disclosures of property
$2S, 900; feet of hose, 900 new and SOC
of medium quality; number of members
50. Since the preceding inspection q
Belgian block pavement has been put il
front of the engine house.
Water NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of property
$4,000; feet of hose, 1900 in iirst.clas!
| condition and 200 in fair condition
: number of members, 13l active and III
t honorary. Since the preceding inspec
7 ton the company has completed it!
stable. 1t is 32x2l feet, has cemen
pavement and is wainsCotted to heigh
of Z feet. A finer and larger stable can
, not be found in the department Tn,
a engine house has also been completed
but as yet the upper stories are no
furnished. One the horses owned b,
q the company delights in chewing to
4 baccO.
e Weccacoc-Naluation of property
@ $20,5O0i feet of hose, 500 good aud 80
Il medium; number of members, 30. Sine
S the preceding inspection the compan
/, has bought two horses at cost Of 500
q Fame-Valuation Of property, $22 ,50t
IS feet of hose, 900 good and 800 medium
number of members, 225.
Is DISQUALIFICATION of property
il $l7,225; feet Of hose, 500 new and 80
n good; number Of members, 80. Tn
# company recently presented to Assistsr
10 Engineer WEIGH, who is member {
l. the company, Il set of fine equipment
N RelianCe-Naluation of property
Al $4,000; feet Of hose, / 100 in tirst.clat
ic condition; number of members, Go. Tn
i. company is greatly pleased with il
% Silsby heater and some Of its member
,e claim that it is the safest and best in ii
e. department. They are particular
4. pleased with it because 1t has safet
l. valve.
r. Westinghouse Valuation of propert,
RS $22 $50; feet Of hose, 1900 good an
Of 1000 medium number of members, Ii
ID The company will soon receive GOO fe
III Of new'hose.
Decentralization of propert
b. $4,000; number of members, 65. II
lie company recently adopted a system f
le unhitchlng horses, which system vi
C. originated by the driver.
st Phnnix-V Valuation of propert
"a $14,625; feet of hose, 1000 in lirst.cla
id condition and zoo medium; number
tie active members, 3D.