The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-28
IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICT.
FIRES FROM THIS CAUSE TO BE
REDUCED TO A MINI
MUM.
FINANCES OF THE FIRE BOARD.
commissioners VIII Have Enough
Money to Carry Them Over the
Year.


times, will undoubtedly end the pres
ent fiscal year within its financial ap-
preparation. This belief is based upon
a computation at yesterdays meeting
of the board of fire commissioners,
whereby it is known that, after de-
Quoting the amount of the pay rcll
for the four remaining months of the
year, ending Nov 80, there will be at
the disposal of the department about
5000, an amount deemed sufficient to
meet all the ordinary expenses OF
maintenance. This deduction includes
a balance left on hand from 1896 of
$12,751.72, and, while it is apparent
that there will be no such substantial
reserve left over this year, it is likely
that, if the necessity for unusually
extensive expenditures does not arise
during the remaining four months,
there will be balance in some amount
for the department to commence next
year upon The report of Secretary
Hall as presented is as follows:
Balance on hand from 1897. $12,751 70
Amount received from gen.
eral fund ................. 50,UUU w
Eighty per cent of $780,
Geo. balance tax levy OF 80
1897 ..... .............. l5z'Ooo w -, 70
Amount of disbursements
10 date of last report,
July 10, 1897 ;..... $lOS' 626 At
Bills allowed yesterday 20 i i99 81 80
July pay roll .......$...... 13, 400 40
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES - liZ'-O3 90
Balance on hand Observation-Disclosures. $57, 542 O6
The report shows an increased eX-
penditure to date for the present fiscal
year than for the corresponding PERIOD
of last year of $3,03706.
The first report of Assistant Electro
cal Inspector Varnum was presented
to the board yesterday, and henceforth
the ordinance regulating the wiring
of buildings will be strictly enforced.
Inspector Varnum has prepared set
of rules in accordance with the re-
quirements of the ordinance, which will
be distributed, when received from the
printer, and in the future it will be
necessary for contractors or electrical
companies putting in dynamOes and
VIKINGS to secure permits as provided
by the law. All Of such work will be
under the inspection Of Mr.. Varnum,
who will see to it that every safety
is observed as a preventative to the
fires which have been caused by de-
fective electric wires. Both inside and
outside wiring will come under the SUI
perVision of Inspector Varnum, and
dead" or defective wires running
about the city will be Immediately or
dered removed. In the report of Chief
Jackson especial attention is called
to the report of Inspector Varnum, and
the chief, together with the fire COM
missioners, is determined that the
law shall be strictly enforced.
In his report Inspector Varnum sets
forth that he has been in service since
July Z, and, though his department is
hardly in full working order. he has
already inspected that portion OF the
business district lying between Wa
basha, Sibley, Seventh and Third
streets. as to the condition of outside
wires. He found 112 dead" wires,
which will be ordered removed. During
the time he was not occupied in in
speeding this district, Inspector Var
mum was formulating the set of rules,
certificates, blanks, permits, ETC., nee
essary for his department. To render
his work thoroughly efficient, Inspector
Varnum recommended the purchase of
some necessary apparatus. The pur-
chase of this will be considered at the
next meeting of the board.
Chief Jackson, in his report recon-
mended that Engine House No. and
Chemical No. be furnished with gas
pipes and fixtures, in order that the
oil lamps now in use might be done
away with. Gas mains have been laid
to the place of connection of these
and only the expense of the building
equipment is necessary. The recon-
mendation was referred to the COM
mittee on buildings, with power to
act.
Superintendent Carey reported the
fire alarm telegraph system to be in
first-class order. Every box in the
city was tested during the month and
found to be in good working condition.
The request of the State Fair asso-
citation for an engine and men at the
fair grounds during fair week was
granted and the matter placed in the
hands of Chief Jackson.