Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-01-25
The Chief Engineers Report.

Il SNuCi EHE3IUOCI hOPOtNs
Chief Engineer Tiffany has nearly com.
pleted his report for the year 1894, of
which the following is synopsis of the
principal parts: The total assessed
value of real and personal property in
the district is $1,C00,00O, and the esti-
mated real value between$4 100000 and
| S5,000,O00. During the year there were
| five box alarms and eleven still alarms.
The total estimated losses during the
year by fire was $500, The total expense
of the Department during the year was
between $4,000 and 5000. This includ-
ed water for hydrants, purchase of a
new hose cart, new hose, and other Incl
dental expenses. The Chief says:
The Fire Department at the close of
this year | find in first-class condition.
We are amply supplied with hose and
apparatus. our fires during the past
year have been comparatively small with
what we have had To contend with in the
past years. Our large fires in 1898 neces-
STATED the purchasing of more hose and
apparatus, which came in as eXpendi-
lures of 1894, which accounts for the
large amount of money spent this year.
There has been agreat deal said in ref.
erence to the expenses of the
Fire Department, but if you kindly con-
suit the foregoing carefully, you will
note that what has been expended, you
have done for the welfare of this Depart
ment, "fOr in times of peace prepare for
war" Although the money expended
seems large, we want you to take into
consideration that not one dollar of this,
excepting the Sl25 voted the Department
to each company respectively, is used
personally by any of its members. That
Is, the Department personally does not
have any financial gain, as this money
voted to them is used in defraying the
necessary expenses to maintain their re-
spective companies. Whatever is done
the village derives the full benefit there
| from.
Since my last report, the Hook and
Ladder and Hose No. = have taken up
their quarters in the new building,
which, with the hose tower and washing
machine connected Herewith, makes a
very complete department house. The
improvements that have been made to
Hose No. building, also Stations No. 2
and 4, make the department of this viii
lage one of the best in the State. We
haYe added to the Department one new
fire statio2, Eagle Hose, No. /, and it is
a good protection to the east end of our
| village.
In order that the Department should
maintain its proficiency, the following
will need attention the coming year.
| The steamer needs a neT suction pipe
and new set of CRATES. These | spoke
of last year and certainly should not be
neglected, for at times it is absolutely
necessary to depend upon the steamer
in the outskirts of the village.
He also suggests the purchase of a new
hook and ladder truck and longer lad
ders. The longest ladder that we have
it only Il feet, which certainly would
not be long enough for some of our high
est buildings and residences. Our vii
lage is growing. buildings are being put
| higher, and it becomes serious queS-
ten when you have not a ladder long
enough to reach. Station No. is in
need of a perfection nozzle, the same as
is in use by the other hose companies.
They are very essential as they enable
the firemen to handle our powerful
stream of water, as well as safeguard
against electric wires following the
stream of water back to the hose.
The proficiency of this Department
will explain itself by the following: On
the night of August 26th an alarm
pulled in from box 81 by the Waterman
of the Aldine Knitting Company, at five
minutes past one; by actual time kept by
the Waterman, from the time he pulled
the box to the time OF the arrival of two
hose companies ana hook and ladder
truck, and stream on, was eight minutes.
The fire alarm system is in good con-
ditiOn and receives careful care. We
have added two new boxes, Nos. 81 and
% respectively, which still more adds to
the proficiency of the Department.
ic cti1l ictY ;oh
should have box located in it. and that
is at or near Grand View Terrace, there
being IA great amount of money laid out
in private residences, and they are GER
tainly entitled to protection in this re.
spect. The fire alarm has never failed
to work when called upon.
New hydrants have been added to the
service during the past year, which also
tends to increase the proficiency of this
Department.; and / would say that |
think now the same as last year, that we
are not receiving, mean the village at
large, the lowest ate of insurance that
we ought. We are being classed with
other towns in the State, of this size,
that do not have the fire protection that
this village enjoys. This is a financial
question with each and every one of us.
and should be looked into more thor
oughly.
The Department now consists of the
following: Four hose carts, one hook
and ladder truck, one steamer. twelve
fire alarm boxes, nine miles of wire, a.
cells of battery, one bell-striker. five in
dicators and gongs, and everything nee
essary for the complete equipment of
each company.
The hand of death has been in our
midst during the past year, taking from
Hose No. 4, Mr.. VIM. Fitzgerald AL
though young in this Department. the
loss is missed, especially by Hose No. 4,
of which he was member. Also Mr..
Edward L. Norton who was an honorary
member at the time of his death of Stark
Hose, No. /. He had long been connect
ed with the Department as an active
member, and his loss is keenly felt by us
all.
In conclusion, would say that our
Department is in first class shape, and
that my successor will take the Depart
merit in good standing. My principal
aim having been to make this one of the
best volunteer Departments in the Sta e
of Vermont, and am proud TO say that
we have it right here in Bennington.