The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-19

losses during the year amounted to $20o,-
637 and the insurance paid out was $780,
229.5 SO. The insurance on stock, etc.,
amounted to $527, $40, leaving $3l9, 733 insur-
ance over losses.
There is an increase this year over
that of the previous one in loss of $24, 403.
The Pennsylvania Railroad has its own
insurance, consequently the losses IN gen
eral to the insurance companies amount
to $77924 or $S8, ,656 less than last year
There have been nine deaths by fire, six
of which occurred at the Reich hre on
the Heights
In his report Chief Conway recommend
ed having the chemical engines dispensed
with and in their place SIX combination
chemical engines and hose wagons, to be
IL and 10. This would give chemical
engine to every section of the city
He continued:-"No. Chemical could be
made an engine company, which is badly
needed in the lower part of the city. To-
day there is one engine company less IN
this part of the city than there was %
years ago. Chemical Engine No; II /
would make truck house, as feel there
should be two truck companies to answer
every alarm of fire, and by doing this 1t
could be accomplished. There should be
House on First street to do duty in the
lower part of the city.
This would then give us a battalion
| chief in the Old Bergen and Greenville
district We would then have bat
TALON chief on all first alarms and in
the lower end of the city the Assistant
Engineer and Battalion Chief. This
would relieve the Chief Engineer from
answering first alarms and give him more
| time to attend to his other duties con-
nected with the department.
Il would recommend the appointment
| of a clerk or man detailed to act as clerk
to the Chief Engineer. This would also
relieve the Chief and his assistant OF part
of the office work and give them chance
to look more closely after the interest
of the department.
Chief Conway mentioned the rapid
growth of the city especially in Green
vile and north of the Erie Raiy0a tracks
! and stated that the Department Is not in
| creasing as it should. He thanked the
officers and men of the Department for
| their good conduct and their promptness
| IN answering alarms in the past year He
asked to have tappers placed in each en-
gine house which would greatly benefit
/ the Department..
Superintendent of Telegraph John
| Speicher stated in his report that the de-
/ partment was as near perfect as possible
With the exception of the forty-Seven old
| style boxes which are yet in use. He
asked to have a small dynamo placed in
| the battery room to be opera ted by gas
| or water motor, so that in case a sleet
storm should affect tn workings of the
Jersey City Electric Light Company, who
now supplied the power to the wires, it
could be used without delay. During the
past year six new boxes have been placed.
Thirty-one new poles have been erected
! by the New York and New Jersey Tele-
phone Company for the benefit of the de-
partment.
| the attention of the Commissioners to
| the condition of the Bell Tower at New
/ ark and Railroad avenues, which, he said,
| is very old and liable to fall at any time;
| He further stated that it would be good
| thing to abolish these structures as they
are now out Of use, and are only USED
| to strike the nine o'clock blow.
The repeater and transmitter used by
the Department for the past twelve years
and which is owned by Mr.. Speicher, is
one of the best in the country today: The
/ Superintendent has let the city use it and
he now asks the city to buy it outright or
pay stated sum each year. for it's use
DR.. Arrowsmith, Superintendent of
| Horses reported that during the past
year he has treated 1856 cases and all
were returned to duty with the exception
of three, which are still at the hospital.
/ There have been no deaths in the depart
ment, and the Superintendent called at
/ tention to the decrease in lamenss which
/ h said was due partly to the better man-
| ner in which the horses were driven and
| also the use of rubber pads during the
1 winter months All the horses on duty
4 now are in first-ciass condition.
/ After a recess the following resolution
| was passed and ordered sent to the Board
| of Finance for their APPROVAL
! whereas, In the opinion of this Board
/ it is necessary for the increased protec-
tion of life and property that an engine
company be located in that section of the
| city known as the Twelfth ward
| .'Whereas, In order that this may be
! accomplished it is necessary that a suit
able site be purchased and a suitable
building erected thereon for the use OF
said company.
Therefore, Be it resolved, that the
Board of Finance be and is hereby re-
/ quested to appropriate the sum of $12 .00O
for the purchase of ground and the erec-
| ton thereon OF a new building for fire
i department purposes, and said sum to
be raised in accordance with the proyi-
/ sionS of an act entitled "An act authOriZ-
ing cities of the first class to purchase
land and erect buildings thereon for fire
department purposes, approved March
| that year.
/ The Board then adjourned until Thurs
day, January rs.