The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-01

warded to the Honorable, the Board of Al
dermen:
Office of the Board of Fire
Commissioners.
JERSEY CITY, N. j., Jan. II, 1894.
To the Honorable Board of Aldermen:
GentIemen-In accordance with law we
have the honor to herewith submit report of
the condition and operations of this Depart
meat for the year ending December 81, 1893,
together with the annual reports made to our
Board by the Superintendent, the Superin-
tendent of Telegraph, the Inspector of
Horses and the Clerk of the Board.
The personnel of the Board has been
changed since our last report. The term of
James H. Henderson expiring. John Bren-
nan was appointed in his stead by His Honor
the Mayor for a term of three years.
For details relative to the manual force,
apparatus and equipment of the Department
we respectfully refer you to the report of the
Superintendent.
For years past we have recommended the
adoption of a full paid Department and the
abolition of the men at call: while, as we
have already stated in a former report, the
correctness of our views in regard to this
matter cannot be disputed. we have been
unable TO carry them into eject.
An act was passed by the last Legislature
giving this Board power to increase the per-
manent force SO that the total number of
men allotted to each company should not ex-
coed eight. and abolishing the men at call
when this increase was made. The Board
has taken the necessary action in the matter,
but the Board of Finance refused to appro-
pirate the money necessary to put this reform
into operation.
There are in service twelve steam fire en-
gines, four one-horse hose wagons, eight one
horse tenders, two two-horse double-tank
chemical engines, FIVE hook and ladder trucks,
five officers wagons, one supply wagon, one
telegraph wagon and three coal supply
wagons.
All of the engines are in the best of condi-
ton. with the exception of engines Nos. s
and IS, which are in fair order. These last
two are single engines and should be re-
placed with third size double engines Of not
too heavy a calibre, in order that they may
be used for service in any section of the city.
We have in course of construction a new
second size steam fire engine, when this is
completed we will have one spare third class
single engine in fair order.
There has been placed in service since our
last report four new hose wagons, and an ap-
preparation has been made for the purchase
of two additional new ones.
The experience of the department with
these wagons has been limited, and it will
require another years service to demonstrate
their superiority over the old style reel
tender.
All the nook and ladder trucks are in good
condition, some additional Improvements
mentioned by the Superintendent, however,
are necessary to fully complete their equip
ment.
A new engine company has been organized
and located in the house of Hook and Lad
der Company No. 3.
New and larger quarters should be pro-
vided for these companies. the present ones
being entirely too small for the proper ac-
comodation of them both.
Some time ago this Board requested the
proper authorities to dispose of this property
and to purchase a suitable plot of land and
to erect thereon a suitable building for the
use of this department, but no definite ac-
ton has yet been taken by them in this mat
ter.
are in a very dilapidated condition, there is
not one Oh lllCIl Dul WildL ID III HCCu Oi4iC
pairs, and some of them are in such a con
dition that they are not fit for man or beast
to live in.
The fault for this condition of affairs, how
ever, does not rest with this Board.
The Board Of Street and Water Commits
sioners have by law full charge of the re-
pairs to public buildings.
An appropriation has been made of ten
thousand dollars for the repair of Fire De
partment buildings, and we are in hopes that
the above Board will soon m work
upon them
We again renew our recommendation OF
last year that the law should be amended so
that the control of all the buildings used by
this Department be placed in the hands OF
this Board.
There were received during the year three
hundred and eighty-three 1888 alarms, with
a total loss upon same of one hundred and
ninety-seven thousand four hundred and
eighty-two dollars ($197, 482I, on which there
was an insurance of -four hundred and sew
enty-nine thousand eight hundred and sew
enty-six dollars ($479, S76l. The insurance
paid on loss amounted to one hundred and
fifty-three thousand four hundred and ten
dollars ($153, 40.
The average loss to each FIRE amounted to
about five hundred and fifteen dollars.
The efficient work performed by the De
partment during the past year is shown by a
comparison of these figures with those of pre-
vious years.
The loss for 1898 is less than one-third of
that for 1892 and less than one-half of that
for the year 1891.
For the year 1890 the loss amounted to
one hundred and eighty-nine thousand four
hundred and ninety-two dollars, only eight
thousand dollars less, and with one hundred
and twenty-five less fires.
In 1889 the loss for the three months Of
April, June and July aggregated three hun
bred and thirty-eight thousand seven hundred
and s~ixty-six dollars (S338. 1850, being one
hundred and forty-one thousand two hundred
and eighty-four dollars ($141 .2S4) more than
for the entire year of 1898.
We have heard it intimated during the past
year that the underwriters contemplated in
creasing the rates of insurance, swing, they
claim, to the lack Of efficiency of our Fire De
partment. 1t is, therefore, with feelings of
pride and satisfaction that we refer to those
figures.
Facts are stubborn things, and the record
of the Department for the past year speaks
well for its efficiency.
1t would appear to us that instead of an
increase in the rates a reduction should be
made.