The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-07

FEBRUARY %, 1000.
Total fire alarm and fire de-
partment expenses ....... 81. fo.4I
Total fire alarm and fire de-
partment improvements -. 1.393.3o
S5,S42.71
There were thirty-siX alarms of fire in
the city for the past year, and the net
losses from fire amounted to only Sill
The total losses from fire We're S1,24l.o3
On the same insurance was paid to the
amount of S1.197.03. OF the thirty six
alarms, five were false, and two were
out of town. For a detailed statement
we refer you to the report of our OK
cellent chief, Mr.. l.. A. Mahler, which
accompanies this report. Your commit
tee thinks it only just to say that the
record of our fire department shows
that it could not be better, and that it
is first class i'm every respect. We
would recommend that the board who
will succeed us be as liberal as our
finances will admit of, in giving them
all that may help them TO keep up the
department to its present high standard.
Your committee also wishes to call at
tention of our Chamber of Commerce
of the fact that Raleigh is paying for
insurance for other towns. We do not
know what the premium receipts are,
bur that they are considerable. about
SIT, 900 when the total loss for the year
was only S1.197.03. Raleigh is protect
ing the property owners with one of the
best equipped and best managed ire
departments in the South. Why should
not Raleigh's business men organize
insurance companies for the protection
of their property-like Charlotte. Greens
boro, Newbern and other places? They
are all doing we'll and making money,
thus keeping their premiums at home.
One thing is certain. If the proper eff
fort lis made. Raleigh could secure "A
new rating and have her rates lowered
All of which is respectfully submitted.
G. c. MDONALD, Chairman
JOS. =. CORRELL.
q. Nj. SPENCE.
The report of the Committee on
Lights will furnish interesting reading
1t follows:
COMMITTEE ON LIGHTS.
10 the Honorable Mayor and Boarl
of Aldermen
Your committee on lights beg leave 10
submit the following report for the year
ending February 20, 1899:
We now have seyenty-tive arc Lights
and 100 gas lights. and we think We
have the best lighted city in the South
lwhen the lights are burning). Our lights
have been very unsatisfactory for some
time. Complaint WAS made that the gas
lights We're not lighted early enough
and We're turned out TOO early. The
city pays for these lights from dusk till
dawn, the company's attention WAS
called to these facts, and as we have
heard no complaint of late, we suppose
they have remedied the trouble. The
company has been very prompt in COM
plying with every request of your COM
mittee. Your committee requested,
through the press, that if any lamp
should not be lighted that citizens be
requested to see that same was done. or
no report same to your committee, and
they would have it attended to at once.
Your committee also offered a reward
of 1910 for any one who should be con-
yicted of breaking any gas globe or cleo
tric globe. This was done IN simple
justice to the lighting companies, as a
considerable number of their globes had
been reckIessly broken by thoughtless
persons. Our arc lights have been un-
satisfactory for Il considerable length
of time. Your committee has protected
the city as well as they could by deduct
ing for all lights when not burning
This, however, does not give satisfaction
to our citizens, as they pax taxes. for
lights and want them. We think. how.
ever, it justice to the Electric Company
TO say that they have wonderfully inn
proved of late. and that they have put
i'll new machinery, and We trust from
now ON will comply with them. contract
and give us what we want, better
lights. We have paid out during ths
past year as follows: Street arc lights
S4,342.76; incandescent lights, $4,000