The San Francisco call., 1898-08-26
FIRE CHEFS.
 ANNUAL REPORT More Engines Should Be
 Provided. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FULLY PAID DEPARTMENT IS STRONGLY ADVOCATED. Water Supply Should Be Increased by the Removal of Small Mains
 and Larger Ones Sub-
 stituted.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

At the meeting of the Fire Conmis- sioners yesterday afternoon Chief Sulli- van submitted his annual report, which contained some valuable information.
 The appropriation for the past fiscal year was $626 000 and the expenditure $625, ,975 10, leaving a balance of $24 90. The total losses by fire amounted to $S7S,- 259 72 the total insurance on the prop erty $4,S17 ,721 76, and the total amount paid on insurance $679,7S6 72. There had been gil alarms of fire, including still alarms and sixteen and four-StxthS miles of pipe had been laid.
 The chief made the following recom- mendationS:
 I renew my recommendation that the de- partment be reorganized into a fully paid sys- The force should be increased to at least thirty five steam fire engine companies. nine truck sk companies. six chemical engine companies, Iwo water tower companies, one nrepoat company and two monitor battery companies.
 The engine-houses now occupied Dy englne company P and truck should be torn doWn and a new modern structure erected in its place. A suitable lot should be purchased in the vicinity of Point Eobos ana Masonlc avenues and a new engine house built thereon, and engine company P transferred there rom ron it's present location on Post street. near Eli more as said district is in need of better pro- lection. A lot and house should be purchased and erected in the vicinity of Sixth and Bran nan streets and new truck company stationed thereat. This is in the heart or the milling uls, trict where numerous fires have demonstrated the necessity of better protection further recommend the purchase of suitable lot and the erection of d new building for the water tower
 In view of the immense value of shipping interests of this city better protection should be given 10 the water front, and l thereI3re earnestly recommend that a nght-draught, high-power fireboat of good speed ana ana. large pumping capacity be provided Tor that pur. pose Hundreds of thousands of dollars might be saved to the community by the expenditure of comparatively few thousands in this direc-
 A new steel drill tower should be built in the rear of engine-house 2S. All engine-houses appliances employed for that purpose. The silent system of signals and new sWllch podEas should be provided in all frehouses Of the de partment. The latest improved Keyless aools @ should be placed on the fire boxes in the mer- cantile districts as a means of saving much valuable time in turning in alarms of ire.
 I again recommend the immediate removal of the fire alarm office to some suitable place in the City Hall and the purchase of proper plant for the conduct of this important branch of the Fire Department. In its present location the office is in great danger of being destroyed by fire. together with its valuable appliances, and should be located in a safer position
 I also recommend that the water supply throughout the city be increased by the re- moval of all small and inadequate water mains and replacing them with eight, twelve, sixteen and twenty-four inch mains in all portions or the city not already supplied with mains or large and sufficient capacity, and more fire hydrants should be set in all districts that are not sufficiently provided herewith. I further recommend that all cisterns now available for fire purposes be repaired, and that 100 addi- tional underground reservoirs with capacities of not less than 10, 900 gallons. be built on the corners of streets in the hotel and mercantile districts. and fed by eight-inch pipes with gate valves attached directly from the street mains. By this means many more engines could be advanced into one large stream would enable the department to fight fires more effectively.