The herald., 1897-01-28
Two OF the Boys Disciplined by
the Commissioners
VERY LIGHT FINES IMPOSED
The City Council Asked to Raise the
Salary of the Electrician
Another Effort to Secure a Change of
the Truck Specifications-Hos Sold
to the Street Department

Two members of the department were
ION the carpet" at the meeting of the
fire commissioners yesterday morning.
Foreman John Lahdell of engine COM
pany No. was up to answer for violating
the rules in regard to drinking, and En-
gineer James Velsir of engine company
No. was charged with taking an alarm
incorrectly.
Mayor Snyder presided and all the
members Of the board were present ex-
cept Commissioner Wells.
Landell frankly admitted that he was
drunk, but stated that he had been off
duty for forty-eight hours and had just
returned to the house. He was preparing
to go to bed just as the alarm came in,
and from force of habit made a rush for
the sliding pole. He missed the pole and
fell to the floor below, getting quite a
shaking up.
AS Landell is one of the best men in the
department, he was let off easy-that is,
he was fined s5 and reduced to callman.
Engineer Velsir gave his explanation
of how he mistook the alarm, but as it
was his second offense, Commissioner
Vetter thought the mistake was due to
VI at itdsl tlldl tic eli
gineer did not pay proper attention to
the gong, and he was accordingly fined
$40.
The sreet department had in requi-
sition for 600 feet of hose to be delivered
to it from the fire department at 80 cents
per foot. This hose originally cost so
cents, but it Is now condemned because it
couldn't stand the necessary water pres
sure. Chief. Moore reported that the de-
nartmpnt could Qllnn1y the
hose at the amount named, and on Com
missioner Vetter's motion the chief was
instructed to supply the street depart
ment with the hose asked for.
The petition of Henry Elliott, asking
the commission to abate the danger of
the sash and door factory near his prop
erty at 1853 First street came up. 1t
developed that Mr.. Elliott had located his
dwelling there after the establishment
of the factory, and the commissioners
therefore Informed him that it could af-
ford no relief.
The report of Chief Electrician Francis
was filed. Like action was taken with
applications to erect boilers at the fol-
lowing points: From b. Gordon at lis
South Spring street; from II. Bell at ABB
Commercial street.
Applications from Edward l.. Parker
and o. F. L. Dunn to be appointed as
callmen were ordered to be filed.
A communication was read from At
torney =. Dyer notifying the commits
sion of certain amounts due to various
claimants he represented from Callman
George w. Olpherts. Referred to the
chief to investigate.
Another communication was read from
the Fire Extinguishing Manufacturing
company asking whether the commits
sion would not permit change in their
contract with the department authoriz-
ing them to build the truck ordered with
a semi-truss base instead of full truss
base The chief was instructed to notify
the company that the commission and
department would hold it to its contract
and specifications for a full truss base
as ordered.
Commissioner Kuhrts called up the
necessity of ordering more fire boxes,
and on his motion the chief was instruct
ed to at once make requisition for twelve
new fire boxes.
Mr.. Kuhrts also asked the clerk to
notify the property owners of Company
No. 5 that the approach to the house
should be put in repair.
A communication was read asking
permission from the commission to get
up a fireman's ball for the benefit of the
fireman's fund. The promoters prom
ised to get up good ball and turn over
one-half of the net proceeds of the ball.
INClciitu " tiiC NlliCl IOl lANCStlS
Commissioner Vetter introduced the
following resolution. which was adopted
and ordered sent to the city council:
I'VE respectfully ask that your honor
able body will so amend the ordinance
fixing the salary of the city electrician
as to allow him $125 per month in
stead of sS5, as at present.
we make this recommendation in
justice to the skill and experience of the
present incumbent of the office, as shown
by the high standard of excellence to
which he has brought the alarm system
and other electrical equipment of the
department. Besides this, the electric
lighting fixtures of the city hall and po-
lice station were constructed under his
able supervision and numerous duties
outside of the department are constantly
imposed upon him.
For your further information on the
subject we submit the following as
showing the number of boxes in use and
salaries paid for similar service in cities
of the Pacific coast: San Francisco, 225
boxes, s225; Portland, 104 boxes, 5000;
Seattle, 80 boxes, $3.50; Oakland. SO boxes,
$3.50; Tacoma, 65 boxes s125; Spokane, As
boxes, $125; Sacramento, 35 boxes 800;
San Jose. 30 boxes (spare time), $751; Los
Angeles, 122 boxes, $685."
WILL HAVE MORE ROOM
The building committee yesterday
adopted the following report to be pre-
sented to the city council Monday:
Your building committee to whom was
referred the request of the city treasurer
for additional Office room, would respect
fully report that upon investigation we
find that the work now performed in the
treasurer's office is done at great dis
advantage. and in the opinion of this
committee it is highly desira BILE to pro-
vida additiOpa room for thic Or9ice
We would therefore recommend that
the room now used by the city assessor
as private office be connected with the
present treasurer's office and made a
part thereof.
We would also recommend thae pri-
vate office be partitioned off from the
southwest corner of the assessors main
Office to be used as private office for
the assessor. All as per plans of super