The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-30

Headquarters.
Last nights conference among the
members of the Joint fire department
committee of councils the board of
fire engineers and Chief Hickey of the
fire department was the beginning of
a decided innovation in making up the
estimate Of fire department eXpendit-
mes for incorporation in the annual
appropriation ordinance. Heretofore
the heads of all city departments have
made their estimates independent of
advice and have submitted the same to
the city controller to be by him sub
mitted i'm turn to councils for Consid-
Grafton by the joint estimates COM
mttee.
While Chief Hickey has had no such
intention it is probable that his new
and OPEN handed manner of making up
the estimate will not only give the
members Of councils comprehensive
idea Of the fire departments needs but
will also encourage unusual support in
providing for the items in the eSti-
mate. l.. +. Xeidler chairman of COM
mon councils fire department commit
tee. was chosen to preside over last
nights conference. which was held in
the common council chamber.
Each person present was provided
with detailed estimate compiled by
chief Hickey OF the 1898 expenditures.
It involved S4i.O2557 for general and
current items. all considered absolutely
necessary, and $6l, ,742.49 for recon-
mended increase in the department s
efficiency by the purchase of additional
apparatus. the employment of more
permanent men, new fire quarters, etc.
The recommendation were cut about
$1,000, which made the total of the
general estimate and recommendations
about s9S. 900.
THIS YEARS APPROPRIATIONS.
This year 4l,540.2O was appropriated
for fire department purposes Chief
Hickeys general estimate for 1898,
which was but slightly changed last
night, is for s44.O25.57, an increase of
but S2.4Sj.3l. The increase is much
smaller than is usually asked for one
year as compared with that immed-
ately preceding and in the present case
applies to only such details in the way
of equipment and repair as would be
expected i'm the growth of the city and
the effort of the department to keep
pace with it.
The feature of interest in the fire de-
partment estimate will he its recon-
mendations involving over S53.000 in
addition to the general estimate" IT is
not eXneCted-in fact il is impossible
without the proposed bond sSue-that
| many of these items can be provided
! for. The largest was for $50, 900 for the
purChas" of the present site of the
| crystal Hose company, on Linden street
now owned by the Blair estate. This
item was reduced and changed so as
| To involve an expenditure of but 49,.
| 600 for the erection of a fire and police
! headquarters building and a home fol
| Crystal company on the city's plot III
| the rear of the city hall.
Less than three years ago plans fot
| such building We're adopted. The
! structure was to be connected hy an
| overhead passageway with the present
office of the chief of police. 1t was to
! contain stalls for the police patrol
! horses. four fire department horse :
| and a hospital stall; space cor 4 fire
engine, hose cart. chiefs wagon and
petrol wagon; quarters for the per.
! nlsnCnt men Of one fire COMPANY
Offices for the chiefs OF tn" fire and
police departments, bath rooms; dry
| ing room for hose Il storage room and
| other facilities tor the two depart
ments,
WOULD PROTECT THE HILL.
one of the arguments advanced fO,
the erection Of such a building is that
| il would furnish better fire protection
/ for the hill while not lesSening the
protection of the growing business dis.
tict IN the vicinity of Linden street
| and Washington avenue or of the lu,
| Cality around Spruce street and wy.
| uming avenue which can be quickly
reached by the Phoenix and Nay AUG
companies.
Another large item is Sl2, 1000 for the
lure hase of a site and building for thr
Century company. Fog the purchase OF
th" fire alarm system which is now
rented from the GameWell company
| $3.50 is wanted. If the whole OF thi.
item cannot be appropriated it is pos
sihlc that part of it will be set aside
for the purchase of the boxes if the
Gamewell company will consent to sci
d part of the system.
The additional permanent men a.
yearly salaries of $500 each. a total o
$4,000 are needed, and the purchas,
of combination bose ana chemical Wag
Ons for Nay Aug and Exc Celsior com
panies are recommended. The two
wagons would cost $500, and Sl.44O fo
chemical engines would have t. be pro
vided.
While not anticipating any particular
diSDOSitiOn by councils of The eSt a I a.
and recommendations. chief Hickey
The fire department committees anC
the board of engineers are sausfe,
thot they are going to ask nothing he
NOnd reason. If every item was grant
Cd, they say SUran:on's fire depalt
ment would Lee well equipued hut no
So Well fortified as many other citie
| of lesser area.
THE NEW COUNTY OFFICERS.