The record-union., 1894-08-07
NEED OF A CHEMICAL FIRE ENGINE.
So Says Chief Guthrie in His Re-
port Just Filed.
What 1t Costs to Maintain the Depart
ment-Losses by Fire During the
Last Seventeen Months.

Chief Engineer H. A. Guthrie has SUBJ
mitted his report OF the doings of the de-
partment to the Board of Trustees from
March l, 1898. to July 81, 1894.
The report shows that the cost of main
tenance of the department during that
time has been S55.649 So. The Chief esti-
mates that the cost of maintaining the
department for the ensuing year will be
S33, 900. and requests the Board of Trus-
tees to levy a tax sufficient to raise that
amount.
The total amount of insurance on fires
from March l. 1893, to July 81, 1894, has
been S350,9SO 16.
The total loss on buildings has been
$40, 4l6 SO; total insurance paid on build
ings, S34, go %; total loss on personal
property, Sl44, ,525 80; total insurance paid
on personal property, S34.I45 Il.
Chief Guthrie earnestly recommends
the purchase of a chemical engine for the
department.. He also recommends the
purchase of two hose wagons for Engine
Companies Nos. l and 2, which lie re-
ports as well worn in service. The Chief
considers the hose wagons q saving on
hose and horses. He also recommends
the disposal OF the Clapp ~ Jones relief
engine. as it is claimed that the engine is
too light for the service demanded OF 1t,
and that heavier engine be purchased.
1t is also recommended that the water
mains be extended and hydrants be at
tached thereto in that portion of the city
lying east of Twenty fifth and south of
q streets to Twentieth, and east of Twen-
tieth. Owing 10 the scarcity OF mains
and hyGrants the department expert
ences difficulty in securing water for fires
in that locality.
The Chief calls attention to the neces-
sity of constructing a system of cisterns
at various points in the business portion
of the city. The cistern located at Third
and X streets is considered useless, and
needs repairing.
There are at present 6, 200 feet of hose in
use, of which $500 feet are in tirSt-class
condition and 1900 feet il second-class
condition. Three horses have peen sold
for 500
The discipline of the department is re-
ported as having been excellent.
The casualties included in the report
were those OF p. II. Coffey, koseman of
Engine Company No. l, who was seri-
ously injured by falling through sky
light onto a lighted lantern, which ex-
ploded and burned his leg so bad that
IL had TO be amputated. Coffey was as
slstlng police officer in search of pris-
oner on the night of February 2l, 1898,
when he met with the accident.
On the afternoon of October "a, 1898, on
X street. between Seventh and Eighth
Chris Caseberg was severely burned
about the arms and hands by the ignition
OF gasoline stove.
On April II, 1894. child of w. Fl. Me-
Clure, at l022 Fourteenth street. was Sc
verely burned about the body by its
clothing catching fire from the careless
handling of matches.
On June IL, 1894, Walter Measures was
seriously burned at I27 j street by the
ignition OF gasoline which he was using
to clean his clothes.
The fatalities were as follows: On De-
cember 9, 1898, w. 3. Hill was so terri
bly, burned on K street, between Seventh
and Eighth, by the explosion of lamp
which he had filled with gasoline instead
of coal oil, that he died from the effects
OF the injuries.
On December 10, 1898, two children of
ii. ID. Latham, aged and 4 years, re-
spectively, were so badly burned at
their home at 400 J street by their
clothes catching fire from stove that the
former died and the other child suffered
a long time before it entirely recovered.
On April .. 1894, Mrs. Mollie Cooper
was fatally burned on L street, between
Third and Fourth, caused by the explo-
sion OF kerosene lamp.
Mrs. Sarah Rowland was burned so
badly by the explosion of lamp at her
house OH Front street, between o and p,
on May s, 1894, that she died few days
after.
One death occurred in the department.
J. ID. Visker, hoseman of Engine Com
pany No. l. after many years of faithful
and Jealous work in the department, died
on April Is, 1894.
The total manual force in the depart
ment consists of fifty-tWo men-(,hiet
Engineer, Assistant Engineer, Superin-
tendent of Fire Alarm and forty-nine
engineers, drivers. tillermen and extra
men.
There are at present in reserve one
Clapp d Jones engine (second-classl, two
hose carts, one hose carriage and two
hand hose carts.
Chief Guthrie's report includes reports
to him from the Assistant Engineer,
superintendent of Fire Alarm and the
various foremen, engineer and tiller-