The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-22
BETTER FIRE SERVICE
The Picturesque Buffalo"
to Become a Thing Of
the Past.
INVESTIGATED BY INSURANCE MEN
The Republicans Will Have the
appointment of II Perma-.
nent Fire Ladies'.

part of the meeting Mr.. Thomas Gopsil
| spoke at length upon the Importance OF
having a full paid force of firemen and
| he then handed the clerk of the Board a
communication from the National Board
of Underwriters, which read as follows =
Thomas Milburn Gopsill, No l Exchange
place.
Replying to your favor of April 20, !
take this opportunity of urging upon you
the desira bility of getting your Board to
make strong fight with the Board of
Fire Commissioners to secure from them
an Improvement in your fire department,
so that it will be a full paid service. Ii
is surprising that a city of the size and
Importance of Jersey City should have
anything short OF the best. service The
members of this association cannot do
otherwise than take this fact into ac-
count in estimating the fire risks. They
can, of course, reimburse themselves for
such increase of hazard as result from
second rate fire protection, but the best
interests of fire underwriters are protect
ed by announcement of such improve
ments as these that we SO strongly adj
wise for your city.
Jersey City still, in spite of many i'm
provements, holds an inferior rank as a
fire risk and pays rates accordingly. 1t
would be long step towards a better
recognition as to good rank to secure a
full paid fire service. and trust your
Board will be successful in such efforts.
Yours respectfully,
4. RUE, Manager.
Clerk Fsterbrook then read commnni-
cation which he had received from Mr..
H. K Miller, secretary of the Executive
Committee Of the Eoard OF Underwriters.
This read as follows:-
To Clerk Esterbrools:-
Will YOU favor US with answers as TO
what improvements have been made in
your Board and water supply since the
last inspection made by this Board De-
cember f3 1892. Your reply will be duly
appreciated. Yours very truly,
II. K. MILLER.
The Commissioners then took a recess
for half an hour and uron going into ses-
sion again Mr.. Mills introduced reso-
luton to fill the vacancy now existing in
No. engine house for hoseman-at-call.
He nominated Henry o. Bissell, who was
appointed to fill the vacancy.
Mr. Brennan then introduced resolu-
tion which provided for abolishing hose
men-at-call and putting eight regular
iremen in every fire house. Mr.. Bren-
mans resolution read as follows
Resolved, That this Board hereby de-
clares it's intention to take advantage of
the provisions of an act entitled An act
relative to the fire departments of cities
Of the first class in this State" approved
March n, 1898, being Chapter 264 of the
laws of that year, and to put the same
in operation in this city.
Resolved, That in pursuance of said act
the number of permanent men attached
to each company from and after May /,
1897, shall be eight, one of whom shall
be designated as captain.
Resolved, That the following itemized
statement of the amount of money re-
quired to enable this Board to carry into
effect the provisions of this act for the
balance of the present fiscal year be for
warded to the Board of Finance by the
Clerk of this Board.
Cost of Increase
Fifteen engine companies each,
$l,z15. .0l... ........ S1S,375 Is
Five hook and ladder companies
each, 81, ,779H.... ............. 1886 IS
Total. ........ ...... ........... .s27,27i co
Less amount to credit of appro-
priation of salaries, moneys ap-
propriated for new engine COM
pany No. Is, unexpended De-
cember J. 1896, to May /, 1897. 2,520 SO
Balance-... .............. $24, $50 II
Resolved That from and after May 1
next, when said increase as heretofore
provided for shall go into effect, the po-
sltion or appointment of all men attach
ed to this department and known and
designated as foremen hosemen-at-call
and truckmen-at-call shall cease and de-
termine, and
Resolved, That the Clerk of this Board
be directed to notify each and every
foreman, hoseman-at-can and truckman-
at-caH that his or their position or ap-
pointment as such shall cease and de-
termine on May /, 1897, as hereinbefore
provided.
When the clerk had finished reading
the last resolution, Mr. Cone spoke at
length. He said that this was a very
hasty measure. He charged that it was
being rushed through owing to the re-
suit Of the last election, and he urged
the Board to delay action upon it until
the next coming administration
Mr.. Mills said he did not think that that
would make any difference, as he sin
eerely hoped the courts would decide
that the present administration should
hold on until January l, in virtue of the
Macarthur Act.
Mr.. Gone went back at him, saying
that II Mr.. Mills had any such expecta-
ton, he could well afford to wait until
after May !, when the question would be
settled.
A vote was then taken. Mr. Mills and
Mr. brennan voted for 1t, and Mr.. Gone
adversely. Mr.. Brennan declared the
resolution adopted. Mr.. Brennan then
moved for adjournment until next Friday
night.
What was reported this morning as
having had considerable to do with the
abolition of the buffalo system was the
receipt of the following letter from the
National Board of Underwriters
We beg leave to advise you that your
city was recently visited by the General
Inspector of this Board for the purpose
of examining its fire department and
water supply. His report is now before
us, and we take the liberty of uresent-
ing for your consideration the within
summary of his recommendations
In submitting these suggestions will
you permit us to say that they reflect
the judgment of an expert who is we
believe, especially qualified for the work
in which he is engaged. Should your
own views coincide with his, we cannot
mended will have the full weight of vo1Ir
official and personal influence in favor of
their adoption.
1t should be understood thar the Board
is now making these inspections general
ly throughout the United States at i'm
portant points, and in doing so. ii homes
to aid in the adoption of means To rhecll
the fire loss of the country. which has
become a very serious tax upon the peo-
pie Primarily, our own members are of
course interested, but not less SO are the
property owners of each place visited.
whose interests are really at one with
those OF the Underwriters in all matters
relating to fire protection.
VIII you permit us to add that our sug-
gestions are made entirely in friendly
spirit. with the sole wish Of urging only
such improvements as our Inspector
deemed important and reasonable ana
which, We believe would be disadvantage
to the entire community, as well as to 1