The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-05
Iir Chief Me trnm's X port.

! Missoula, May 4.-Following Is the
report of the chief of the fire depart.
ment for the past year. 1t makes an
excellent showing, and there are few
| cities in the country that receive such
good returns from the money that is in
vested in the fire department. There
has been no heavy loss by fire in the
city in the past year, but there have
been several instances where the tale
would have been different If there had
not been a prompt and efficient depart
ment at hand. The report is:
Missoula, Montana, May 4, 1896
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council of the City of Missoula,
Montana:
At the close of the municipal year 1t
becomes my duty to present to You for
your consideration, my annual report
for the year just past.
AS near as practicable / have en-
deavored to acquaint you, in this re-
port, with the actual condition of the
fire department of this city, as we'll as
the cost of maintaining the same. You
will readily note that very material
reduction has already been made in
the expenses of conducting and equip
ing the department, which was deemed
necessary on account of the citys fin
ances, while this has hampered us to
some extent yet we have managed to
get along in a tolerably efficient man
ner, and by increased exertions ON the
part of the members of the depart
ment, to meet all emergencies which
have arisen.
In the matter of expenses, 1 have
taken the pains to ascertain the run
ming expenses of the departments of
the various cities throughout the state
and find that our department has been
conducted more economically than any
other l know Of There are always
certain expenses which cannot be dis
pensed with in the maintenance of
fire department which cannot be
avoided.
In the matter Of efficiency / may
safely say that we compare most ia
vorably with any other city in the
state.
1t is perhaps needless for me to
again rehearse what our departments
consists of, or the manner in which the
expenses are borne. All these things
were fully set forth in my last annual
report and there has been no change in
this respect calling for mention
FIRES.
AS the tabular report will show, there
were 10 fires in all, as against 81 for
the preceding year.
These were caused as follows: Bon
fires, two; incendiary fires. FIVE; defec-
tive fiues, seven; lamp explosions, two;
unknown, three.
Then follows an itemized statement
of the expenses of the department for
each month in the year that has just
closed. The most expensive month was
October, when the purchase of extra
supplies brought the amount of the
monthly bills to s294.25. The average
cost to the city per month of the de-
partment has been less than $3.50.
CONCENTRATIONS
AS heretofore stated, the department
Is in good condition, but l would rec
ommend the purchase of 500 feet of fire
hose. We have now only 1,S00 feet of
hose. This additional amount of hose
will become absolutely necessary. We
also require a bell striker.
For the benefit of those who may not
know / will state now that my salary
heretofore mentioned, includes that of
fire chief and health marshal. Re-
spectfully submitted,
r. S. Mentrum. Chief