Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-06-04
FIRE DEPARTMENTS WORK
The Annual Report of the Late
Chief Engineer.
VALUABLE SERVICE PERFORMED
Many Alarms Responded to
During the Year.



CITY Council Thursday his second an-
nuaI report and tho 2Sth annual report
of tho department. The report is
comprehensive summary Of tho work
ings OF the Fire Department during
the last year Of MIR. Walkers term. 1t
Is an accurate record, and in addition
contains several suggestions for the
consideration of the city solons. In
making out the report the chief has
dono himself credit
He states that during the year there
were Ill alarms rs from boxes 2G still
alarms, . auxiliary tests, 7 telephone
calls and by telegraph.
The losses amounted to Sl0l, 639. %,
as against $40. 263. 81 for tho preceding
year. Mitchell Il Thomas loss was
sos, O56. 60, which exceeded the aggre-
gate of the previous IL months
Box No. 80, at Maryland avenue and
Cedar street, was struck seven times,
more than any other box in the city.
During the preceding year box No. "a,
which was struck six times, held the
record.
Auxiliary boxes were added to Nos.
"a, So G3, n, 12i and 127 during the
year, and now there are eight stations
which are auSiliarized.
In speaking of an auxiliary tost
Chief Walker gays that on August lat
he struck an auxiliary to box No. D, at
Fifth and Adams streets, and by the
time he had gained the main box, on
the street corner, ne having come from
the fourth floor, the Weccacoe appara-
tus, which was four blocks away, had
arrived and was ready for service.
Alarms were responded TO by com
panies as follows: Friendship, 81; Re.
lance, H3; Delaware, so; Phoenix, 30;
Water Witch, y: Fame, AZ; Washing.
ton, 46; chemical engine, 81; Wecca-
coo, 80; Liberty, 10 There were only
two occasions when the entire depart
ment was in service.
There were two serious accidents.
one resulting in the death of horse
and tho other in injury to fireman.
On August LIST, while the apparatus
was responding to the test of the auxil-
larry box at Fifth and Adams Streets
one of the Delaware horses was killed
in u collision at Sixth and West Streets
George l.. Shuster, member of the
Water Witch Co., had his right ankle
broken, while responding to an alarm
from box No. 43, on May 9th.
Pursuant to orders given, seven fro
escapes were erected on large buildings.
Three hundred cards, on which were
printed portion of the Ere ordinance,
were distributed during the year.
Sixteen now fro hydrants were added
The valuation of the Fire Department
property is as follows: Real estate,
sos, 800; personal property, S7i, $40.
Distributed among the several com
panies are 10, 100 feet of first class hose.
There are 81 horses in the service.
There are also Sl4 active and 276 hon
orary members in the department.
l.t BOA 49,.
OF the report is that portion containing
the recommendations. The chiof advo-
Gates tho Introduction of telephones
into the several engine houses and
points out the good that would result.
An additional chemical engine and
truck are also needed. Tho sugges-
tion il given that provision be made
for another chemical engine advantage
ously located and tho organization of
another truck company in the western
part of the city.
Underground wires are recommended,
and in advocacy of such move the
chief makes the statement that iiremen
cannot do their duty when they arc
hammered by overhead wires
He feels assured that tho law relating
to the storage of combustiblo materials
is being violated. ami suggests that
lars of merchants so as to guard against
the evil and also tho storage of rubbish
in boxes IN cellars, which has on many
occasions caused tho tiremen to iniufe
themselves while moving about in the
dark.
Semiannual tests are also favored.
They would cost nothing and would in
crease the efficiency of the department
1t is also suggested that foreign in.
surance companies doing business in
Wilmington be taxed for tho purpose
ofa partially defraying the expenses of
the department Tho recommendation
il made that Council urge the passage
of a law providing for such taxation.
Attention is also called to the necos-
ity OF proper guards for skylights, as
fircmen have been hurt on several &c.
casions by falling through skvlights
which wore not properly guarded.
Attention is called to certain por-
tions of the city building regulations.
The discipline OF the firomen, tho
chief says, has been excellent, and all
orders issued by him or his assistants
have been complied with in a cheerful
manner. To this feature is probably
due the fact that in efficiency the do
partmont is second to none. Iie feels
exceedingly proud Of the department of
the members
Thanks are extended to City Council
for the many courtesies, TO Mayor Jef-
foris for his declaration in favor Of a
continuance of tho volunteer system,
to the persons connected with the sew
eral insurance companies, through
whose courtescs he was enabled TO got
correct accounts of the LOSSES; to the
" Police Commission for adopting koy-
less boxes for stations Nos and II,
which were used within month after
the change; to Chief Dolan and Capts.
Kane and Chambers, and in fact, to
the entire police department for the
efficient service rendered WHOM occasion
n required; to the press, for tho correct
ness Of the ropurts and the credit given
the tiremen; to John w. Aydun, super
intendent of the police and fire alarm
telegraph. ana Liueman Frank Hyand,
10 whose assistance tho efficiency of the
department is greatly due; to the citi-
zens for their support; TO the members
Y of the several companies for their dis
E ciplinc, and to Assistants Welch and
Sasse, for the manner in which they
have performed their duties
A pago is also devoted to the memory
4 fof sevon members, who died during the
year. Tho names of the deceased are
as follows; William Ii. Sherer and
Yacob Stevenson of the Friendship,
yohn Hayden of the Reliance, William
Bannar and William Mckinney of tho
1h@nix, Conard G. Ilulton of tho
Mater Witch, and William Brackshire,
MI. d.. 4 q -