The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-26
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Chief Sullivan Submits His
Report for the Past Fiscal
Year. -
AN INTERESTING DOCUMENT.
Important recommendations Made
for Proper Equipment and
Efficiency.

The Board of Fire Commissioners met
yesterday, when Chief Engineer Sullivan
submitted his annual report. Among the
many things referred to were the losses by
fire for the past fiscal year, which amount
in the aggregate to $S49,97O q; amount OF
insurance on the property destroyed, 3d.
$40. O46 80: amount of insurance paid
$415, 1876 81.
The appropriation for last year was
$685. 900. of which $514, s14 IS was expend-
ed, leaving a balance of $11s5 IS.
The total valuation of property belong
ing to the department was as follows
apparatus, $225, 600; horses and harness,
SAG, 900; furniture and supplies, $10,500;
hose and couplings, $4,000; machinery
and tools, SIS, 400; hydrants in use (2367),
$193,171 Grand total, $1.1S6,071.
The following recommendations were
made by the Chief:
I renew my recommendation that the de-
partment be reorganized into fully paid sys-
tenn with the entire force continually on duty.
The force should also be increased to at least
thirty-ive steam fire engines, nine truck COM
water-tower companies and one fire-boat CON-
pany. light draught, high power fireboat of
good speed and large pumping capacity should
be provided for the protection of the harbor
front and shipping.
Proper laws should be enacted to compel all
electric, telegraph and telephone wires to be
placed under ground, which would prevent
the danger of fire from wires strung on poles
and over the roofs of houses. The office OF In
spector of Wires should be created, and a COM
petent person appointed to examine and
in buildings; ii this be done it would remove
one of our greatest dangers of fire. Certainly
nothing more could be done that would be
more welcome to this department.
The latest Improved keyless doors should be
placed on the fire alarm boxes In the mercantile
district as a means of saving much valuable
time in turning in alarms of fire.
The water supply throughout the City should
be increased by removing all three, four and
six inch water mains, and replacing them with
eight, twelve, sixteen and twenty-four inch
mains in all portions OF the City not already
supplied with mains of large and sufficient
capacity.
The cisterns should be repaired, and one
hundred more underground reservoirs, with
capacities of 100000 gallons each, should
be built on the corners of streets in the hotel
and mercantile districts, and should be fed by
six or eight inch pipes with gate valves at
tached directly from the street mains. By this
means many more engines could be sta toned
closer to fires, and their streams united into
one large one would enable the department to
fight fires more effectively. The fire of June
81 last has convinced me more than ever of the
the protection OF the City against fire.
further recommend the passage of a new
building ordinance, as the one now in force is
wholly Inadequate, with provision therein
compelling the construction of fireproof roofs
in certain limits of the City, to avert the dap.
ger from fire now frequently caused by sparks
from chimneys and large fires.
The board received recommendation
from Mayor Sutro asking that an engine
company, or failing in that, chemical en-
CINE company, be stationed at Sutro
Heights for the protection from fire of
property in that locality. The commune
cation was placed on file.
The resignation of Thomas Shields, hose
man of engine 8, was accepted and Will
liam Bailey was appointed to fill the va.
cancy. G.. ii. Watson was appointed jani-
tor and messenger for the department
vice Black.
Chief Sullivan asked and was granted
two weeks leave of absence.