The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-16
TOO MANY RECOMMENDATIONS.
Chief Hale Wanted Too Many Things
Done in the Fire Departm ant.


Chief Hale Wanted Too Many Things
Done in the Fire Departm ant.
The committee of the whole will prob
ably make some report at the next meet
ing Of council upon Chief Hale's report
upon the condition of the city fire depart
ment. Mayor McBonough has instructed
Chief Puder to make a careful estimate
of the cost Of complying with Chief
Hale's recommendations for the improve
ment of the fire service
The general opinion of those of the city
officials and others who have studied the
report closely is that Chief Hale was en-
tirely too liberal in his recommendations
a rough estimate of what it would cost
the city to comply with the Recommended
tons is somewhere between $4,000 and
100000. This is more than the city is
able 10 afford just now, though some of
the recommendations will undoubtedly
be complied with later on.
Mayor McDono1gh said yesterday that
one of Chief Hale's recommendations GER
tainly will not be complied with, refer
ring to the recommendation for the pur-
chase of q fireboat.
"a treboat will cost in the neigh Dor
hood of $50, 000," said Mayor McDonough,
"and its maintenance would cost the city
about 81, 900 annually. There are sell
dom more than one or two fires a year at
which fireboat can be used, and hardly
think the city is justified in going to
such an expense when the advantage to
be gained IS so light. We will probably
make some arrangements TO secure i'm
proved fire protection for the river front.
A communication has been received by
the city from the Savannah Towboat
Company, stating the desire of the COM
pany to make proposition to the city to
furnish fire service along the river front
from its tugs. These boats are all
equipped with appliances for throwing
streams, and though they cannot throw
as large stream as regularly equipped
tireboat, they can do great deal of SER
vice. Besides, the number of these boats
would be an advantage The company
will doubtless be requested to make its
proposition"
Mayor McDonough was not ready to ex-
press an opinion upon the other recon-
mendatioBs of Chief Hale, and will wait
until Chief Puder makes his estimate of
the cost of the Improvements recon-
NEEDED. These include two heavy
engines. costing $4,000 each, and
two new hose wagons at 81 600
each. This is not so much in
itself, but the establishing of two new
hose companies, purchase of lots and
horses, erection of houses and hire of men
is where the cost comes in.
Chief Hale does not recommend that
two new engine companies be established.
His idea seems to be that the heavy en-
gines should be used to replace two of the
lighter engines down town and the old
engines be kept in reserve for emergencies
in case of an accident 10 any of the
engines in use. The only extra cost
about this recommendation is the first
cost of the engines, as the same force of
men and horses would suffice for the
heavy as for the light engines. Chief Hale
recommended that the force of the engine
companies be increased to ten men each,
and of the hook and ladder to seven each.
This would require total increase of
seventeen men, which would be a perma-
nent expense of over $1,000 a year There
is some difference of opinion as 10 the Bay
street main
Mayor McDonough thinks that the
present six-inch main is large enough for
all purposes, and that all that is required
Is to replace any portion of it that may
be corrOded. He also thinks that an ex-
animation of the water works engine
might show where it is possible to in
crease the pressure from that point. To
take up the six-inch main on Bay street
and replace it with a Pinch main is esti-
mated would cost about 81, 600. Council
will do considerable figuring before it
adopts any Of Chief Hale's recommended
tions. 1t is true that if adopted they
would give Savannah u model fire depart
ment, but the question is, can the city af-
ford it?
The insurance men have not taken any
action with regard to Chief Hale's report,
as yet, but are waiting to see what the
city will do with it.