The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-16

Ine inspection Oh tue llTe
houses of the city was completed yes
terday afternoon by the city officials.
The houses visited were Liberty, Mia
CARA, Excelsior and Cumberland, of
Providence; General Pmnney, OF Green
Ridge, and Relief, of Petersburg, and
in the inspecting party were Mayor
James G. Bailey. Chief Of the Fire De-
partment p. J. Hickey, Select Council
men Durr and Burns, Common Coun-
cilmen Zeidler, n Dir, Wenzel Gordon,
Flanagban and Reese, City Engineer
Joseph Phillips, Building Inspector
John Nelson and DR.. Sitterly, the vet
erinary surgeon who has charge of the
horses of the fire department.
All of the members of the inspecting
party expressed themselves as highly
pleased with the condition of the de.
partment. The buildings bore evidence
of having good care taken of them,
and the discipline of the men was gem
orally commended.
The first place visited yesterday was
the house of the Liberty Hose company
on West Market street, Providence. 1t
is a two story brick structure
owned by the city, and was erect
ed about seventeen years ago. 1t
is occupied Jointly by the Liberty and
Niagara companies and in the base
ment is the North End police station.
The sanitary arrangements of the whole
building are bad, but the police station
is in a particularly deplorabc condi-
ton, as it receives large quantity of
the dirt that comes dripping down from
the floors above. The stone runways
leading into both houses is in such a
condition that some danger is attend
ant on the removal Of the apparatus
from the houses.
CHANGES RECOMMENDED.
The members OF the fire department
committees of councils decided to have
the runways repaired and make some
other necessary improvements about the
building. They will recommend that
one of the companies be removed from
the building and the police station NOV
ed up to the first floor. The present po-
lice station is a disgrace to the city.
1t is not likely that any change of con-
sequence can be made until an appro.
priation ordinance provides money for
the work.
Valentine Birtley is the permanent
man of the Liberty company and the
company has two horses and a hose
wagon which needs repairs. On the
test exhibition Mr.. Birtley got the
horses and wagon out of the house in
23 seconds. William Eldridge is per-
manent man of the Niagara company
and has two horses and a hose reel to
care for. The latter is a somewhat an
tiquated affair. Mr.. Eldridge got the
apparatus outside of the house in 24la
seconds. Faster time would have been
made in both houses if the doors had
opened more rapidly after the auto
matte spring was pulled.
The second stop made by the inspect
ing party was at the Excelsior hose
house on Oak street. 1t is two story
brick structure and is owned by this
city. 1t is kept in first class condition
and the parlor and general meeting
room on the second floor are very taste
fully furnished. Michael May is the
permanent man and he has two hors
and hose reel under his care. He got
them out of the building on the officia!
test in % seconds, but az one of the
springs OF the door did not work prop
erly he was allowed to make another
| trial and succeeded in getting the ap-
paratus out of the house in 1917 seconds.
| Twenty-Five seconds was the official
| time, however. The company is the
| largest in the city and has on It's roll
| forty active and forty-tive associate
| members. Michael Clark is foreman
| of the company and Thomas Duggan
! and NJ. j. Walsh assistant foremen.
SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
The Excelsior company wants a
| combination hose wagon and chemical
engine and it was the opinion of the
inspecting party that it should have It,
| 1t was decided to place a hot water
heater in the building as soon as pos
sible to heat it and furnish hot water
for the bath rooms. The committee
will also recommend that the stable
which is now in the building be re-
moved to an annex to be- erected in the
rear. The company has a team OF
black horses which was placed with
it by Horse Dealer Frank Cobb pend
ing the securing of a suitable team
| That was more than year and halt
ago and the black horses are still with
the company, although they have not
been accepted by either the city or the
company. Councilman Gordan pro-
poses to make strong effort to compe
Mr.. Cobb to at once furnish horses that
will be satisfactory to all persons con-
cerned and remove the team of blacks
Up on West Market street near the
city line the next stop was made al
the barn-like structure occupied by the
Cumberland Hose company. 1t is 6
two story wooden structure owned by
Michael Healey and is about as com
fortress as could we'll be imagined
James Hopkins is the permanent mar
and hose reel and one horse consti'
tute the outfit of the company. Or
the trial test yesterday Mr.. Hopkins
got the apparatus out of the house il
twenty-three seconds.
The city owns a lot 59x120 on tn,