El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-12-09

i 1 further call your attention to tn
fact that the suggestion of the mayo
to abolish the drivers and teams ant
all apparatus, except the steam fire en-
gine, would be equivalent to thorough
ly Gripping the department.; for, hav
ing in the business part of the city ,
very fair water pressure from the by
drants, the hook and ladder truck ant
its Babcocks, and the hose wagon ap6
| it's Babcocks, would be far more eff
cient in putting out q fire, than the
steam fire engine without any hose OF
ladder. The BsbcOcks and hook and
ladder truck have several times during
this year saved buildings from destruc-
ton under circumstances when neither
the engine nor hose could be so prom Ut.
ly or efficiently used, and it ia more
truck should first be at a fire than any
| other of the apparatus.
The figures above given show that
the most necessary branch in the city
/ government tnr the protection of prop
erty and saving of money to its oiti-
zens, is the efficiency of the fire depart
ment, aud that the maintenance of this
department in it's full efficiency is an
actual saving to the people of more
l.
that anything that Injuries the eff1cien-
cy OF the fire departme Mt will practical
ly incre ase the taxation which already
overburdens our people and deters
capital, at a time when the city of Ell
Psso is anticipating great prosperity
and should hold out every inducement
in her power to encourage Investments
within her limits. In addition to this,
the volunteer firemen of this city are
Ylf hro nd off
ready to give their b st energies and
risk their lives in protecting life and
property without pay or hope of re-
ward other than comes from the appre-
citation of duty we'll performed.
1t is perhaps true that the insurance
companies have formed trust and
combined rates uplawfully, but we are
powerless to prevent this and must sub
nit to the rates as they are now fixed,
as no agent doing business in the city
or state can represent any company,
unless it abides by the rates herein set
forth.
do not wish to be understood that
some plan OF economy might not be
adopted by which consid era BILE expense
of the department would be reduced,
without effecting it's efficiency, but
that matter as stated In the early
part of this report, Is one for the board
OF directors to take up at its next meet
ing and determine the best way and
means to accomplish this object.
In conclusion wish TO say that when
took the Office of president, had had
no experience that would enable me to
properly perform the duties of the Of
fee, and 1 have endeavored to learn
those duties and to perform them to
the best of my ability, and if any sue
cess has attended my efforts, owe it to
the kindness, courtesy and prompt as
sistance of eve~y member of this de- |
and I heartily thank you for
the support you have given me during
my term of Office.
Respectfully submitted,
PEYTON F. EDWARDS, President.
A motion was made tina. the report |
of the president be filed and that a
copy be furnished the newspapers for
The report of Chief Copnors
was then read and the same course pur
sued.
CHIEF CoNNoR's REPORT.
To the officers and members of the |
Fire Department of Ell Paso, Texas. |
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my annual report
Of the workings of the fire department
to date, for the fiscal year ending
December 31st, 1897.
En- boz led herein are the statements
Of al fires and alarms and the causes
hereof, as near az could be ascer-
tanned. Also the amount of losses, and
the amounts of insurance paid; the
number of miles trsve'ed by the de-
pertinent In responding to the various
= ARMS; the number of feet of hose laid
and the number of feet of ladders raised
1t fires
The year to AZ alarms. By months they
an as follows: