The Portland daily press., 1899-04-13
FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS.
An Interview With
Chief Eldridge.
Recommends Locating ENGINE at
West End.
Also Combination Truck
On the Hill.
Deering Can Get Along without
an Engine for Present.

ment was ssep yesterday by a PRESS re-
porter and asked the following question:
"What do you recommend as an in
Desring territory and the city OF Port
land can be adequately protected at the
least possible cost?
Chief Eldridge replied to this question
In substance as follows:
"In the first place wish to say that
do not think the city Of Portland has a
fire department large enough to adequate
ly protect itself against big conflagra-
ton should fire get good start In any
one of a dozen places in this city. / do
not believe that the citizens of Portland
really understand the smallness Of our
department and the work it might be
called upon to do. In the past 90 years
has not been n corresponding increase in
the fire department. We are SO situated
here that it would be impossible for us
to secure help from any neigh Doring
cities in case of a big fire which would
amount to very much. We must rely up
On our own department to furnish the
protection against Zig fires, and 1t is nee
essary that in the years. toy ome our de-
partment should be materially increased.
II do not favor tn Is Increase being
made ut once.s, but i would recommend
that the additions to the department be
made by degrees and as the city can
best, afford it. 1his year the necessary
arp will ha no vi ban vx,iI
be in succeeding years. for we have
very much larger territory to protect and
the sooner we give TO this section the
protection it is entitled to, the better it
will be. l believe that a beginning should
tie made this year and l would make this
beginning on this way:
First, l would recommend that a COM
bination ladder truck be placed on Mum
joy hill. This is absolutely essential in
my opinion They have no ladder truck
on the bill at the present time and there
are many buildings there which might
prove death traps to their inmates if lad
ders were not available. This ladder
many years, Tut this year with the build
ings recently erected and about to he
erectad it is mole essential than ever.
1.-The claim for "a fire engine at the
West End is also one which should Q
granted if possible. Something must he
done in this section Of the city at once to
improve the condition of affairs. Ths
house now occupied by Hose q is a5so-
lutsly unit to keep man or horse in
a day longer than Is necessary. The house
is in an unsahitary condition and Is not
suitably located. l would recommend
that this house be vacated and hou. o
large enough for an engine and hoss
and that one CT the spare engines be
placed in 1t as soon as possible. l have
only this to say about the locations FRO
posed: That triangular piece of land
proposed for an engine house by Council
man Milliken, is by far the best location
for an engine as it is nearer the point
where an engine will he badly needed
some time From this location it can
also quickly reach the other sections in
this part of the city. But / am afraid
that it will cost too much to build
house at this point. The honse now occu
pied by what we call hoss IA, can be
made available at perhaps less cost
Which location should be seected
is question for the city government to
decide, but an engine should certainly
be placed in this section this year and a
beginning made there.
1.-The claim of Deering Centre for q
ladder truck is also one
which should be carefully considered.
All that will be required is the building
of a house ON the lot suggested. We have
a ladder truck which can he readily made
into mpination chemical at small OK
pens,, and 1 would recommend that 1t
be placed at Dsering Centre in u suitable
house at once.
4 ~ would also recommend that temper
arg arrangements be made for horss
and permanent man at the house at
Woodfords l do not consider it advisa-
BILE at present to locate an engine there
or to permanently rem odel
the present house. Some arrangemen
can be made at this place so as TO pro-
vide temporary quarters for driver and IA
horse anu this should be done as soon as
possible.
"Eor Oakdale where they have good
house, l should recommend that a perma-
nent driver and horse be located at once.
with the additions and changes l have
outlined l think we will be well prepared
to handle fires in Deering for the present
and l do not think the expense of these
changes W i'll be a very large one.
'For tho maintenance of the fire de-
partment last year it cost Portland about
so, 000 This was for the necessary ex
penses for running the department not
including tho salaries. l should say that
for $4,000 increase on this amount