The herald., 1897-02-04
A FIRE MARSHAL WANTED
Merchants Ask for the Crea tion
Of q New Office
THEY THINK 1T A NECESSITY
Ex.Chief Moriarty Recommended as the
Man for the Place
The Commissioners Recommend That
the Request Be Granted-Signals
for Hill Street Engine House.

| At the meeting Of the fire commission
ers yesterday morning all of the mem
| bers of the board were in attendance
except Mr.. Wells, who was absent on
account of sickness. Fire Chief Moore
was also in attendance as usual
The principal matter before the board
was the proposition to create the office
of fire marshal A numerously signed
petition Of Spring street merchants was
presented. asking to have the office Gre
ated, and recommending ex-Chief Mo-
riarty, who was crippled while in the
discharge of his duty, for the position.
1t was asked that the lines of the pro-
posed officers duties be defined, as is
the case in other cities-that is, he is to
examine into the origin of all fires, to
examine and report on all portions of
the city where there is likely to be dan
ger from fires, and to see that all fire
rules and regulations are strictly en-
forced.
The communication gave rise to con-
siderable debate, and while the members
generally conceded that while there was
room for such an officer, it was a ques-
ton whether it was eXpedient to create
any new places at this time. Finally
Mr.. Kuhrts got the matter down to a
business basis and made motion en-
bodying the main points of the commun-
ication and fixing the salary at SIS per
month, which passed the commission
and was sent to the council with the rec
ommendation that it be adopted. Com
missioner Vetter placed himself on rec
ord as being opposed to any more SIS
salaries, and shortly after the first mo-
ton past it was reconsidereda and on mo-
tion of Mr.. Vetter the salary was placed
at 500 per month.
Electrician Francis weekly report was
received and filed, after which Mr..
Francis appeared and explained to the
commissioners his invention for notify
ing the street traffic that an alarm had
come in and to be on the lookout for the
departure of the engines from their
houses. The invention is specially in
tended for the new engine house on Hill
street near Fourth. In the day time
there will be an automatic signal con-
sdsting of a red board that resets itself
after a full alarm has been turned in.
At night a series of red lights will take
the place of the board. The plan was
approved by the board and $40 was ap-
propriated to put the signals in proper
working order.
The mayor called attention to the fact
that the milk inspector of the city must
be a graduate of veterinary college,
and that he should be able to attend to
injured or sick horses in the fire depart
ment. Chief Moore explained that
practically all the sick and injured
horses could be cared for by men within
the department and that an outside vet
erinary was only called in cases of emer-
gency Mayor Snyder remarked that he
. ttap II ha
the veterinary of the health department
took care of all injured animals.
Monthly reports from the various engine
companies were received and filed.
The following routine business was
transacted, after which the board ad-
journed.
The usual acquisitions and demands
were approved.
The chief reported, recommending that
B. Jordan be allowed to erect a steam
engine and boiler at the Royal bakery
on South Spring street. Granted.
Also reported in favor of H. Bells
petition to erect and operate ten-horse
power boiler at 453 Commercial street.
Granted.
A. Edwards was granted permission to
operate a blacksmith shop at Also and
Vignes street on the chiefs recon-
mendation.
TIE chief further reported that the pc
tition of S. Reed to give firemen's ball
should be declined. So ordered.
Also that he had notified all property
owners who have not provided their
buildings with suitable fire escapes to do
so at once under penalty of the ordi-
nance.
Also reported that on the 31st of Janu-
ary at 1880 a. m, engine company No.
and truck A had practice drill a Third
and Broadway and that 1000 feet Of Vic
tor Jacket fire hose, furnished by Harper
& REYNOLDS Co. was found satisfactory.