The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-08
THE COST CUT DOWN.
Reduction in Estimates for
Fire Department.
PREVENTION OF FATAL FIRES.
General Inspection OF Hotels and Lodg-
ing Houses Ordered stoker
Mcdonald Discharged.

The board OF fire commissioners met last
night. and Comptroller Will H Parry
stated that the city tax levy was to be
fixed next week, and he thought it advis-
able that the estimate of the expenses of
the fire department be cut down as low as
possible, so that the levy for the fire de-
partment could be fixed as low as posi-
bic. consistent with efficiency. The levy
for the fire department. last year was $40
of mill. which yielded about $4,000 for
the general expenses of the department.
The salaries were paid out of the general
fund.
The comptroller and the commits
sloners then took the various ex-
penses of the department up seriatum,
aud reduced them from So, 500 to about
SIS, 600. This will form the basis on
which the tax levy for fire department for
the year 1895 will be fixed. Salaries are
not Included in the above, and reduction
of over 30 per cent less than last year has
already been made in them by the present
administration
Chief Hunt submitted report showing
that the expenses of the fire department
for October for all purposes were $5.0s7o7
against S. Ga. As for September. The esti-
mated expenses for December were
IS. 2o4 Co.
communication was received from
Hugh Tierney and others asking that q
fire alarm box be placed on or about the
corner of South Twelfth and Norman
streets, and was referred to the chief
Kahaley reported from the committee
appointed 20 examine crowded buildings,
such as lodging houses. with q view to
learning which were provided with fire
escapes and other facilities for the escape
of guests in case of a confisgration. In
order to avoid possible discrimination the
committee desired further time in order
that hotels as well as lodging houses might
be examined.
Mayor Phelps said he would like to
have the committee report as soon as
possible. The loss of life in the West
street fire was owing 10 the faulty con-
struction of the binding, and he wanted
the matter of providing against repetition
of such events brought before the council
while the West street disaster was still
fresh in their minds.
Chief Hunt thought the CITY council
should pass an ordinance providing TOR the
creation of an inspector OF OIL A low
grade of oil was sold here. This was evil
denced by the fact that four OF the fires in
October were caused by lamp explosions.
Mr.. kahaley was instructed to report on
that matter TO the city council when he
filed the report on the condition of hotels
and lodging houses.
The chief reported that John Mcdonald,
the stoker of the iirepoat. had not been
reinstated, as an additional charge had
been filed against him. He had threatened
the life of the chief engineer.
As Mcdonald had been IN trouble be-
fore. the commissioners dismissed him, on
motion of kahaley. seconded by Jones.
p. C. Connolly was appointed to fill the
vacancy.
Chief Hunt reported that the department
responded TO thirteen alarms during the
month of October. The most destructive
of these fires occurred On October l. when
the Famous clothing house, corner of
Front and Cherry streets. was Quilted.
The loss was largo and the insurance
SIS, COO. The next largest fire was at the
West Street hotel. where sixteen lives were
lost and property worth about $4,000
destroyed, which was fully covered by in
surance