The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-11
EIRES.0F LAST YEAR
COMMISSIONERS SUBMIT THE FTF-
TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF
DEPARTMENT.
EFFORTS OF CHIEF JACKSON
RECEIVE MOST FAVORABLE MEN
TTON AT THE HANDS OF THE
BOARD.
SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS MADE.
Comparative Figures Showing the
Losses in st. Paul, Minneapolis
and Milwaukee.
EFFORTS OF CHIEF JACKSON
SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS MADE

and Milwaukee.
The fifteenth annual report Of the
board of fire commissioners. accOmp-
ar1ed by reports of the chief engineer.
superintendent of fire alarm. master
mechanic and veterinary surgeon. were
considered at a meeting of the fire
board last night. The reports were
ordered sent to the council and 500
copies will be printed. The reports
are for the twelve months ending Dec.
81, 1896.
The report OF the commissioners was
as follows:
ing the year was 4S3, being SO less than last
year Inc losses by fire amounted to S375.-
5000. The insurance was 81, 2O7 1903 So The
expense of maintaining the department for
the year was 1882, S95. SO. The department
consists OF 100 men, including l chief. Q
assistant chiefs, l superintendent fire alarm
! master mechanic, Is captains "a lieutenants
20 truckmen and pipemen, II engineers of
steamers, Y stokerS, 80 drivers, l Waterman
piaCksmth, z Hnemen for fire alarm service
ana operators for same department. The
apparatus IN service consists of u engines =
chemicals, L water tower, 2 aerial trucks s
ordinary trucks, 10 hose wagons. hose
carriages, l two-wheeled hose cart q sun
ply wagons 10 hose sleighs, hook and ladder
Sielghs, chiefs buggieS and sleighs liz
horses, $3.50 feet hose, 164 fire alarm boxes,
steam lire engine and chemicals in re-
serve. All OF the above apparatus are in
During the year 5000 feet of 2b inch en-
glne nose has been purchased, 1000 feet of
chemical hose, 10 horses, 2 hose wagons and
supply wagons at a total cost of 81 S93
The value of the property in charge Of
me department is estimated as follows
Real estate .....,...,...... ON 7OO M
Fire alarm boxes and system ...... Al 429 SO
furniture and supplies and other
property '.'' ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 55 061 90
Total ,:.......... .............$5 $3.50, $50 50
During the year salaries Of the employees
were reduced so that a saving of S11 900 was
maze M ana without impairing the efficiency
OF the department. The report of the chief
engineer, superintendent Of fire alarm and
master mechanic shows the department to
De IN good condition for thorough and eff
IecuVe WORK New apparatus in the fire
alarm system is much needed, but owing
TO the lack of funds it is deemed wise not
70 undertake any change at present.
Inc several large fires during the wear in
Yolved large losses by fire and water hut
they were handled by the department in a
skillful and efficient manner and kent within
as marrow bounds as possible under the cir
cuHstances. We are glad to report that the
department. as at present organized has con-
tinued to maintain it's high standard for
promptness and efficiency and is In every
respect worthy OF the confidence reposed in IL
1t Is with pleasure that we are able to re-
port that after paying all expenses, the
department had on hand Jan. 1, 1897, a bal
&nce OF $12,S0O, representing a saving of
that amount during the year and showing
In the face Of a reduced appropriation the
great economy praCticed in the expenditures
OF the department.
To the faithful and intelligent efforts Of
Nhe1 jackson and his assistants and Supt
Carey. of the fire alarm system the present
excellent status Of the department is largely
que, ana we wish to record our appreciation
OF Chelr services, and also to commend the
faithful performance by the men of the de-
partment during the past year.
The report Of the commissioners closes with
Ihahks 10 the mayor council and to the DO
ice department for cooperation and assist
ance rendered during the year
The report Of Chief jackson gave a
detailed statement Of the operation or
the department for the year ending
Dec. 81, 1886, and the following is an alb
stract Of the report:
Alarms responded to. 4S3; box alarms. 22S:
still alarms, 233; special 10; mercuriaI T:
second alarms, 2; third alarms 2; general
alarms, /. The fire losses during the wear
on buildings amounted to 1920 767. As: on CON
tents, $l55, 80. The total loss $375 SIS. O5.
Inc value of property involved was So 283-
1880 OF which $2,806,360 was on buildings
ana $4T 1880 on contents. The amount of
insurance carried on property involved was:
on buildings. $17S5, 1880; on contents, $422,-
114l.S6; total insurance carried, g. 2O7 1903 sc.
Inc principal fires of the year were: Twin
CITY car barn, Feb. q, loss, $50, $50; Yerxa
Bros; building, March 2S, loss, $46, 351. 90;
": T. Merriam's residence. April 10, loss
S40, 800; Northern Pacific freight house July
g. loss SIS, 1854; st. Paul elevator, Nov 27
loss. H7.472.75; Ryan hotel annex, Dec. 10,
loss, $50, 1862. The department Travelled
during the year ISIS 3-S miles; laid POS 600
feet of hose, and used 172 $50 feet; 8131 feet
of ladders were raised. 1852 gallons of chem
zeal fluid were used, and the members and
employees of the department worked at fires
LBS hours. Inspections Of buildings made
during the year by company officers numbered
1850. Ten members Of the department were
injured while in discharge of their duties
and one death occurred in the department dur
ing the year.
Under the head of causes of alarms there
were SO unknown, 40 incendiary, 80 chimney
fires, 26 gasoline, q hot ashes 20 kerosene
oil lamps, II supposed incendiary IS defective
chimneys, 10 accidental upsetting of oil
lamps, u electric wires, u carelessness with
matches, II kerosene oil stoves II false
alarms, 8 spontaneous combustion s fireworks
ID children playing with matches. The num-
Der of fires with losses less than 500 was 302
The report of Supt. Carey Of the fire alarm
system, explained that the 164 boxes were in
good condition and that miles of wire had
been placed underground during the year.
The property valuation Of the entire system Is
placed at $41 429.69. The largest number of
alarms turned in during any one month in
the year was 81 in December.
j. w. wheeler, master mechanic, reported
100 days put in by members Of the depart
ment, beside 1862 days Of his individual time
making total of All days Of extra work per-
formed. Tools and supplies in the department
are mentioned at 81. G5S.10.
The report OF NJ. w. Berkman, the Yeterip-
airy surgeon, shows 98 calls responded to-
beside the regular inspections and visits
A comparison of the fire losses of ST.
Paul with the cities of Minneapolis and Mil
waukee during the year 1896 shows the fol-
lowing:
CT paul co-- oo1 ~
~. .9of0,oZ0 10
milwaukee ............... 220.33S 81
Minneapolis (eStimated) ............. 800 1865 "a
There was but little routine business tran
sacted aside from the reports at the meeting
The report Of the secretary shows disburse-
mentS to date since Jan. 1, 1897 S46,017. So and
balance on hand 1913 $3.50
The report Of Chief jackson for February
was as follows: Alarms, 90; insurance on
buildings, S46,S50; insurance on contents,
SIS, $50; total insurance involved $65, 800; loss
on buildings, $1,478.79; loss on contents,
$2,151.72; total loss, $3.630.51; insurance over
loss. SEE, 169 49,
The comparative figures submitted by the
chief for January and February, 1896 and 1897,
gives the total loss for the first two in 1896
as s65 350.32 and for the first two months Of
this year as So. 210.99. a decrease Of S57, 80
IN favor of this year.