Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-02-27
FIRE App4n4rUs ISspEcrrp.
The Semi-nnnnal Tour Commenced u,
Council's Fire COMMITTEES.

|
Fire Department was commenced Mon
night by City Councils fire commit
tee, Messrs. Stevenson, Meaney, Nc
Nulty, Staats and Zebley, who were
accompanied by Mayor Jefferis. CITY
Treasurer Adams, Councllmen Smith,
Leary, Watson and Robertson, Clerk
Morrison, Bailiif Ryan, Chief Engi-
near Walker and Assistants WEIGH and
Sasse and representatives Of the press.
The Fame, Friendship, Water Witch
and Weecacoe houses were visited, At
each of the engine houses everything
was found in good shape, and at each
| place creclitable exhibitions of hooking
up the horses were given. The nom.
bers of the several companies were COM
plimented by tho inspecting party,
who were we'll pleased with tho con
dition of affairs.
Friendship-Building valued at S22,-
600; three horses, 81, 600; one LaFranee
engine, $4,000; one Silsby carriage,
| with a capacity for carrying 1000 feet
of hose, 500; 1,500 feet OF good hose
and ], 100 feet of second-class hose;
tvs, Cooper hose jackets, ana two three
| gallon hand extinguishers. The com
pany has 45 active men on the rolls.
Water Witch-Real estate valued at
$40, 600; personal property, 81, $50; three
horses, $500 each one Clapp g. Jones
engine; one American hose wagon
| l, $50 feet of good hose and $50 feet of
ordinary hose. The active member
ship numbers 1877.
| Fame-One three story building; one
LaBrance engine; one Silsby carriage,
with a capacity for carrying 600 feet
of hose; three horses; /, 500 feet of good
hose and 500 feet OF second class hose
personal property and real estate valued
at S2i. 600. The company has an active
membership of $50.
Weccacoe- Three story brick build
ing valued at Sl2 coo one Clapp & Jones
engine, $1,000; one hose wagon. $3.50:
| |, 200 feet of good hose, 81, GOO; 500 feet
of medium hose, $500: four horses,
$1,000; furniture, 81, The mem
bership numbers l10
improvements to the apparatus were
noticed at all of tho engine houses
Tho Weccacoe hose, which is on tho
wagon and ready for service, is pro.
vided with new swivel reuucer, a handy
thing in making rapid connection with
q plug. 1t is tho invention Of John
Maguigan, one Of tho members. Law.
renee Mullin, one of the members of tho
Fame Co., has invented an extension
pipe holder, which is in use by the
Liberty, Fame, Washington, Friend
ship and Weccacoe companies. The
Water Witch Co. is in need of funds
for furnishing the parlor. Otherwise
the company is well equipped.
The inspectionwas completed Tuesday
night, when the five companies on the
eastern side Of the city were visited by
the tire committee and other members
/ Of ftity finttpntl Tho poo,tIf "a
thoroughly satisfactory and the com
mittee will make a fiattering report to
Council. As on Monday night, when
the west side companies were visited,
everything was found in excellent
shape. The inspecting delegation was
| well received at each one of the com
papy houses visited and nothing was
left undone to demonstrate the value of
the equipment. The members of tho
several companies were congratulated
upon the appearance of things generally.
At the Delaware truck house some
thing new in the equipment of a fire
house was noticed. Lit was a hospital
donation box, which had been placed
in conspicuous place, and as it was
for worthy cause, the visitors con-
tributed literally. One of the members
explained that il was put up about Il
week ago, and that ii will be opened
at stated times aud the contents divided
between the Delaware and Homuo-
patbic Hospitals. The Delaware boys
deserve credit for contributing their
mite to institutions whore tiremen are
cared for in case they are injured. Other
improvements aobut tho building and
apparatus were also noticed. Tho re-
port of the secretary showed that the
membership of the company is 60, and
the equipment is as follows: One
Hayes truck, carrying 257 feet Of lad
ders, valued at $4,000; three horses
500; four chemical extinguisher
building, IS, 500; total valuation of
real and personal property, SIS, 600.
At the Phoenix engine house i'm
provements were also noticed. Driver
j. j. Patterson has put in a trip Of
his own invention, which turns the gas
up in the engine room when an alarm
strikes at night. 1t works automatically
when the gong sounds, and IL quite an
interesting device. Tho company has
IS active members. Tho report of the
secretary showed the following: One
brick building, one Clapp & Jones
engine, one hose carriage, three horses,
500 feet of good hose, 500 feet OF
medium hose and 800 feet negotiated
for, and two Cooper hose Jackets. One
member, William Konney, died during
the past six months.
The members of the Reliance Co.
take special pride in their stable, which
is indeed credit. Under each Of the
horses is a sliding floor. each stall il
underdrained and in the rear of the
stalls the floor is cemented which
makes everything clean ana dry The
new heating arrangements about the
house were also favorably commented
on by the visitors. There are CD NOM
bers in the company. According to,the
report of the secretary, the company
owns one brick building valued al
$40, 600; ono Silsby engine, So, 500; one
Silsby hoss carriage, with carrying
capacity of 1000 feet of hose, $3.50
1000 feet of good and 300 feet OF
medium hose three horses, $3.50.
Tho brilliantly illuminated engine
room at the Washington house showed
TO advantage the pretty chemical engine
and the general equipment in the room.
In addition to the fire apparatus, the
new telephone, No. 1913, is also in the
engine room and has connection with
the bunk room in the second story.
Tho membership numbers l15. The
secretary 3 report showed the following
Ono Amoskoag engine, ono hose car.
riage, with a carrying capacity oil
LOCO feet of hose; one Holloway chemi-
cal engine, carrying two G0-gallor
tanks; 1900 feet Of good and 600 feet
of medium hose, five horses; valuation
: of real estate, SIS, 600; personal property,
IS, 900.
Tho councilman were fayDrablv i'm.