The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-25

subject to the call Of the chair On mo-
G.. P. ROBINSON,
Clerk.
BOARD OF FIRE COM MISsIONERS
toficiaI Proceedings.A
Adjourned regular meeting, of the Board
of Fire Commissioners held at Depart
ment Headquarters Thursday evening,
The roll was called at $40 O'Clock.
Present-President Brennan and Com
Absent@Commissioner Gone.
READING OF COMMUNICATIONS.
From Thomas Fl. Hyatt, rendering his
Company No. 2, to date from January l.
1897.
Received. and on motion accepted.
From Frank Meyers. truckn1an-at-call
of Hook and Ladder Company No. 5,
Ienaering his resignation to take effect
February 1, 1887.
PRESENTATION OF CLAIMS.
Claims were presented, received and
disposed of as follows:-
Telephone Co, $3.50.
Referred to Committee on Telegraph
and Fuel.
Theo. Smith & Bro, s127. 81.
Referred to Committee on Apparatus
H. shufflebotham, s27.22; Mahlon speick-
Referred to Committee on Department
Buildings and Repairs.
H. -Shufflebotham, $3.50; John w. Laws,
S16.35.
Referred to Committee on Supplies.
Richard Jackson, $27.50.
Referred to Committee On Horses and
Harness.
The weekly reports of the Chief Engi-
neer, Superintendent of Telegraph and
Inspector OF Horses were presented, re-
ceived and ordered filed.
The monthly report by the Medical Elk
aminer OF the sick OF. the Department
Communication from the Chief Engi-
neer, received and ordered spread in full
upon the minutes
Oflce of Chief Engineer.
Jersey City. N. J., Jan. Is, 1897.
To the Board of Fire Commissioners
Gentlemen-I respectfully report that
Thomas j.. Leddell, tr1ckman-at-call Of
Hook and Ladder Company No. /. while
engaged in discharge of his duty at a fire
at Nos. 81 and Sc Canal street, at about
1920 p. NJ, January 25, 1887, received in
juries from which he died at $50 this
The deceased was an old and valued
call man of this department, and in his
demise the city has lost one Of its most
valuable servants.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN CONWAY,
Chief Engineer.
The annual report of the Board to
read and on motion ordered spread in
full upon the minutes, and a cop for
warded to the Hon. Board of Aldermen.
Office of the Board og Fire Commits
sioers, Jersey, City, Jan. %. 1897.
To the Hon. Board of Aldermen
Gentlemen-In accordance with the re-
quirements of law we have the honor to
herewith submit a report of the condition
and operations of this department for the
year ending December 81, 1896, also a full
ard complete statement of the receipts
and expenditures for the fiscal year ending
November 80, 1896.
There has been no change in the per-
sonnel of the Board since our last re-
port. The tern. of Mr.. John Brennan ex-
piring on April q, 1896, he was re-apposnt-
ed by His Honor the Mayor for a term of
three years.
has been increased during the year by the
appointment of a medical examiner, the
need of such an officer has been long felt
in this department, and the sick reports
show in the decreased number of men off
duty by reason Of sickness the wisdom of
his appointment.
The number of apparatus in use re-
main the same as at our last report, but
We are pleased to say they are all in good
condition; all needed repair having been
attended too promptly.
1t has been our aim to keep the appar-
atus and equipment of the Department
in first-class condition, and everything
necessary for that purpose has been done
by this Board. The Department was
never SO fully or web equipped so far
as apparatus and tools go as it is at the
We respectfully refer you to the report
of the Chief Engineer for full details as
to the condition of the houses. hose. ap-
paratus. etc, and for other valuable
information relatNns to the WORKINGS Of
the Department for the past year.
tb we na navg rr on year to year advocated
men-at-call. n nave each year for sew
eral years past requested the Board of
l Finan s,eft, 70 appropriate for or use, a
ment on a permanent basis, but without
avail.
3 While hi the law in our opinion gives
we feel that we should not entail this
addltlonal expense upon our city with
na3 e fb the c alnancial Board whose duty
it is to provide the necessary funds and
who are better able to judge as to fhe
anIilty OF the city to stand the expense.
Although we remain Of the opinion as en-
pressed in a former report that our cifi-
zens would not object to any reasonahio
expenditure required to promote the e.
ficlency of this department when the Ell.
~vartages to be gained are considered, Viz.
Increased protection for life and prop
erty.
The houses of the department arc i,
good condition. all necessary repairs hag.
ing been made thereto during the wear
Fire Department Headquarters has been
altered and thoroughly renovated An
additional story has been pIsced IN tha
building, making it three stories in aIJ-
the wooden wall on the e~asterly side has
been taken down and a twelviAinch brick
wall substituted: the whole front of
building was torn down, and h new front
of pressed brick and rock face brick. win
granite trimmings substituted. New vel
low pine floors laid on first and second
floors; all of first floor and small rooms
on second floor and entire halls and third
floor have been ceiled with pine ceiling.
A new metal ceiling has been placed +,
the Chief Engineers and Commissioners
rooms on the second floor. This latter
room has been repapered and decorated
and furnished with new fu4rIiture.
The building is heated throughout by
steam and lighted by electricity. and Ter
sey City can now lay claim Ia hayine
assfine, If not the finest, headquarters Of
any city in the State. The telegraph and
harness repair are located Oh the third
building with the chief and Assistant
Engineer, which facilitates The business
of the department.. and aids these Officers