The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-02

- R@Ak - stAt NAt t'(
Inaue to this Board by the CHIEF tngi-
peer, superintendent OF Telegraph, IN
spector or Horses, Medical and
cork of the Board.
fine personnel of the Board remains
the same as at Our last report. The term
of Mr.. Thomas ID. Mills expiring on April
y, 1891, he WAS re-appointea by His Honor
the Mayor for a term of three years.
During the year we have put into oper-
A act relative TO the Fire Departments
OF Cries OF the first class in rnis State,
approved March q. 1893, thereby abolishing
Inc system of men al CAL and replacing
them with men who devote their entire
time to the interests OF the Department,
and new rules and regulations for the
government of the force were adopted.
This great reform vent into effect May
l, 1891
The good results Of this change is
shown IN the decreased amout of loss by
fire.
me Chief Engineer reports that during
the twelve months ending December 81,
an increase over the preceding year OF 81
Notwithstanding the increase the loss
by fire amounted to but stS1. 234, being
$243, W. less tnan the previous year, or a
decrease of about IS per cent.
This showing speaks well for the efa-
cheney OF the Department. and that we
are not alone in this opinion is evidenced
BY the fact that a voluntary reduction OF
10 per cent. IN the rates of insurance for
the city has been made by the Fire I'm
derwriters.
We have organized in the year past a
new engine company, known as No 10.
This company is located temporarily at
the Horse Hospital, on M avenue.
Negotiations are now pending for the
| purchase of a suitable plot of ground in
the Marion section, and as soon as posi-
BILE a new house will be erected for their
use.
We have increased the number Of our
apparatus since our last report by the
addition of one new AmOskeag Steam
Fire Engine, and one new hose wagon.
both of which have been place. in SER
vice
All of the engines. wagons and hook
and ladder trucks are in good condition,
all repairs having been promptly made
to same when needed.
The condition of the hose of the de-
partment could not be better. Forty-four
hundred feet of new 2h-inch cotton. rub-
Der lined. having been procured during
the year and placed in service.
The department is well equipped in
every way with the latest devices for
fighting fire; and nothing has been left
undone by this Board to keep it in first
class shape
Comapny No. 3, was finished in May last
and is now occupied by that company
This makes % houses that are now in
full charge Of this department. They
| haye all been well ooked after during the
year. and all needed repairs promptly
attended to-
We are erecting on Belmont avenue.
in rear of the house now occupied by
Engine Company No. Is. a brick building,
| which. when completed, Will be used as
a Horse Hospital.
for Engine Company No. Is the house
now occupied by them will be. vacated
We are in hopes to secure by that time
the necessary appropriation to enable US
to organize and place in service there
a chemical engine mpa
Our city is rapidly increasing. both N
P p,EIdinas ann and ,ncT IN me e,r n1 infection % is IS
demanded by our citizens. AS the Chier
| pertinently remarks, the Department mas
not kept pace with the rapid extension o.
He recommends that a new truck COM
| pany be located on the Hill in the yicin-
additional company in lower Jersey City,
| and an increase in the Department M
known as Greenville and West Bergen.
| While We concur in the recommending
| lions made by him, we are powerless 10
| effect any Of these improvements. unless
| the necessary amount of money for that
officers of the city. In May last our De
partment responded to a call for assist
| ance from the city of Hoboken. 4
A confiagration was raging there. ana
| the assistance asked for was promptly
| given. The Board of Fire Commission
| ers of that city duly acknowledged the
| same by a vote of thanks to this Depart
ment for the service rendered.
The report of the Superintendent o.
| Telegraph shows the changes and inn
| provements made to the fire alarm tele-
| graph during. the year. Four new gongs
and two fire alarm signal boxes. so that
IN case of fire there need be no delay IN
| procuring same TO send in the alarm.
| This is a great Improvement. The SUI
| perintendent states that the condition OF
| the fire alarm telegraph is something the
| city can be proud of; that not in one IN
| stance in the past three years has ar
| alarm been delaped more than 30. seconds.
and even this slight delay has only oc-
/ CURED on two or three occasions. owing
| TO two boxes being pulled at the same
Imoment for the one fire
For further details relative to this I'M
| portant arm of the service, you are res
pectfully referred to the Superintendent
l report.
The Inspector of Horses report that
/ the 66 horses of the Department, with
J the exception of two that aresat the hospi-
al, under treatment, are in excellent con-
dition. and fit to do full duty whereever
| placed.
The Clerks report shows in detail the
receipts and expenditures for the fiscal
year commencing December !, 1895, and
ending May 80, 1857
| The appropriations e.....-...-.$ l94, $50 II
Moneys received from all
sources 1855. ........--.....-. 100 ~
Total expenditures .......- 19stHs 81
Leaving q balance of ....--.. s.. 722 o.
OF this amount, 81. 403 will be- required
ture on Belmont avenue, for which con-
tracts were entered into before the close
OIL the 1Scai year.
All claims contracted for during the ifs
cal year have been promptly audited
with the exception as above stated, and
when this work is completed and paid
for, there will still remain a balance &c
our credit. In concluding this report we
desire to Express our appreciation of tbs
good conduct and discipline of the De
partment during the past year, and 70
commend the officers and men for the
, skill and efficiency displayed by them
in the discharge of their arduous duties
Respectfully submitted,
t. D. MILLS. President,
JOHN ]. CONE,
JOHN BRENNAN,
Board of Fire Commissioners.
CHARLES ESTERBROOK,
Clerk.
Motion by Commissioner Brennan and
| ADOPTED
That tho annual report of the Board to
the Board of Aldermen. with the reports
accompanying, be printed in manual
| form.
Motion by Commissioner Brennan and
adopted
That when this Board adjourns it ad-
journs to meet on Thursday evening.
February 10, 1898, at eight O'Clock.
ACTION UPON CLAIMS.
The following resolutions were pre-
sented by committees in payment OF
claims heretofore REFEREED
By Committee on Apparatus n Re-
pairs
Resolved, That the sum of S41.S5 be paid
Brinknan & Hauck. for repairs to ap-
| paratuS, January, 1898.
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