The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-14
QUESTION Of FUNDS
WIRE INSPECTOR NEEDED, BUT
FIRE BOARD OBJECTS TO PAY
ING HIM.
ACTION DELAYED ONE WEEK.
BOARD OPENS BIDS FOR FURNISH
ING THE DEPARTMENT WITH
NEW HOSE
ACTION DELAYED ONE WEEK
CONTRACT GIVEN ST. PAUL FIRM
Reports for March Showing Insur-
ance and LOSSES With Compare
tive Statement.

The ordinance passed recently by the
council, providing that the chief of the
fire department shall be ex-officio the
electrical wiring inspector Of the city
was brought up at a meet
ing of the board Of fire COM
missioners last evening. The ordi-
nance further provides that it shall
be the duty Of the fire board to ap-
point, in conjunction with the chief
engineer, an assistant who shall be an
expert electrician and shall receive
such salary and compensation as the
board Of fire commissioners shall fix.
This particular part Of the ordinance
is what causes the delay. The mem
bers of the board, as we'll as those of
the council admit that it is necessary
for the benefit Of those who have to
pay insurance that there shall be
wire inspector, but when it comes to
the question Of the fund from which
the assistant shall be paid, there is a
diSa greement President Freeman, of
the fire board, stated last evening that
J. w. Lancaster, local compact man
ager, had informed him that he
would do all that he could to assist
the board in securing the services Of a
competent man. The insurance under
writers insisted on such an official be-
ing appointed, and Mr. Freeman said
it was of considerable Importance that
action should be taken soon, as the
failure to appoint such an official might
result in insurance rates, being in
creased.
Commissioner Mitsch; thought it was
wrong to saddle the expense of the new
officer on the fire department. The
board were now trimming the employ
es down and, if the taxes did not come
in, there would probably be a shortage
in the fund President Freeman said
the council had an idea that a part of
the saving Of $4,000 made by the board
last year might be we'll expended in
paying the salary of the new officer
After some further discussion action
on the selection Of the assistant was
laid over to be considered at a special
meeting next week.
The board spent the greater part OF
the evening considering the bids for
the purchase of 1000 feet Of hose. Ad-
Vertisements had been made to the
effect that the board would purchase
that amount of hose and trade. as part
payment, two chemical engines, to-
gether with cash. Bids were received
from the Waterous Engine Works COM
pany and the Crane & Ordway com
pany, of St Paul, and the Gutta Percha
and Rubber Manufacturing company,
Of Chicago. The lowest bidder was the
Waterous Engine company Of this
city, who offered to sell 1000 feet of
Maltese Cross rubber hose at 81 per
foot and allow the board 81 900 for the
two chemical engines. The Crane &
OrdWay company made the same kind
OF proposition, except that it offered
only $3.50 for the two engines in the
way of the trade. The contract was
awarded to the Waterous Engine COM
pany. ,rz. az.
Chief Jackson reported lthat Engine
No. Z, with force OfsCSeVen men, had
been sent to Fargo az the request of
the mayor Of that city, A letter he had
received yesterday, was TO the effect
that the engine and men would prob
ably remain there for week or ten
days longer. Htg i.
The chief reported that NJ ]. Byrne
had been appointed pipenan in Engine
Company No. 2, and that J. c. Nc
Carthy had been promoted to truckman
Of Hook and Ladder. Company No. 8.
vice William Hurley Diseased
The report of the Secretary showed
that disbursements to- date amounted
to $50, 1879, leaving a balance on hand
of SIG, 67193. r.
The summary Of firesi for March was
as follows: Number ofsalarms. "a; total
insurance involved $21015O, of which
S134, 400 was on buildings and SIS, $50 on
contents; total loss amounted to s15,-
75454, of which 81, 1885 was on con-
tents and 81, 1859 on buildings A COM
parative statement for the first three
months of 1896 and this year, gives
the loss in 1896 as 19,147.9l. and this
year $23, 1856. SO.