The herald., 1897-01-21
Defects Brought Out Before the
Fire Commission
A STRIKING CASE IN POINT
An Effort Will Be Made TO Cure the Most
Glaring Deficiencies
Reported by the Chief and Con-
firmed by the Board

1HC ACCCSSlty IOI d pdAN ANPdAt y
ment was again emphasized at the meet
ing of the fire commissioners yesterday
morning. The beard met promptly at
10 o'clock, with Mayor Snyder presiding
and all members of the board present.
The chief reported that Engineer lie
Count of company No. failed TO prompt
ly respond to an alarm from box No. 90,
and the engineer was brought up to eX-
plain how it happened. lie Count stat
ed that the regular driver of the engine
was absent at his supper and that he
had to hitch up the team. take the num-
ber of the box and do everything else
without assistance, after which he had
waited a minute or two for the driver to
return. Assistant Chief Engineer Smith
corroborated lie Counts statement, and
then a long debate followed, in which
the weak points of the call system were
fully brought out. 1t was shown that 1t
would work a hardship on call men TO
have to practically give all of their time
to the department when they We're paid
but $25 per month, and the whole mat
ter was finally disposed of by instructinG
the chief to reprimanu lie Count and
also to Investigate whether or not II was
practical to have one or more OF the call
men report at the engine houses to re-
main while the permanent men were at
meals.
The chief also reported that Charles
Jenkins, driver of chemical No. re-
spondeo to bex No instead of No. Go on
the 14th inst.
The driver was called and explained
that he was alone at the heuse when the
alarm came in, and he misunderstood
the number of taps. A motion was made
that this take the same course as the
former.
Chief Moore reported that he had test
ed the fire eXtingushing apparatus of
Hazards pavilion and found the same in
bad condition, and he had had it repaired
and put into shape.
Terry McConVil!e was granted permis-
sion to erect and operate blacksmith
shop near Alhambra avenue and Mission
road, on the chiefs recommendation.
The chief reported the following ap
pointments, promotions and transfers,
subject TO confirmation by the board;
Appointments and assignments as call
men: George Comeiey, L. W. George
and E. L. Barker to engine company No.
8; John Thompson to engine company
No. 5: John Strohm to engine company
No. 8; A. Jackson Springer, hook and
ladder company A.
Promotions: NJ Young from call man
to foreman, and assigned to engine nem-
pany No. 3, vice O'Dounell, promoted;
Samuel A Lennon. from driver to cap
! tain, and assigned to engine company
No. s.
Transfers: John Landell foreman.
! from park hose No. to engine company
No. 8: Joseph Simmons, foreman, from
! engine company No to engine COM
} pany No. 6; T. ]. McGinley, permanent
! fireman, from park hose to chemical No
! Q; A. L. Smith. driver from engire No.
| to 10. 6; George W. Cernack. driver,
| from engine No. to No. ); W. W. Hoaa
driver, from engine No s to engine No.
3: Harry Meath, call man. from engine
! No. to engine No. G, A, Valencia call
man, from engine No. to No. 3; F. f.
Hendel, call man, from engine No to
| No. ..
The men who had not been confirmed
were brought before the board, and after
an inspection by the commissioners,
changes, promotions, etc, made by the
| chief.
The commission approved the chiefs
| action on the above.
Chief Electrician Francis report was
filed
Like action was taken on the c9mnun-
| ication for the Gutta Parcha and Rubber
Manufacturing company
| Also applications for appointment to
the force from F. p. Willougnby and A.
| a. Guzman.
Henry Elliott protested to the com
| mission against the location and opera
| ton of d planning mii al SIS East Sec
! ond street. Referred to the chief fer in
vestigatlon.
| Communication from the Seth Thomas
| Clock company to erect a large clock In
| front of the Nadaau Referred 70 the
council as the commission had nothing
| to do with the matter
A communication from DIR. NJ. Haga1
was received AMI referred to the chief.
i Offering to let .he lot a >3J South Sr"ing
street for fire dapartmrnt service when
| the Ninth street engine cO,npany's !oca-
ton is changed. or offering to build an
| engine house Oh :he same to rent to TIE
| department for q long terf. Of wears; also
like proposition for his lot near Tworty-
| third and Main streets VIXEN the lease
! of the engine house IN Main street he
| tween Twenty-titth and Twenty sixth
| strets expires.
Demands and acquisitions were ap-
proved
The payroll, s4755, for December was
| approved.
| Commissioner Vetter brought before
the board the number Of false alarms
| turned by malicious Parties. He rec
ommended taa. such instances be
brought by the chief before the commits
sion and thar every effort lie made 20
put a stop to this evil.
| Mr. Wells moved that hereafter the
| chief notify the police department Of the
| false alarms and that the department
use every effort to bring the offenders
| to justice.
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