Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-20
WORK OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
chief Sasse's Report to Council for the
Year Ending MAY 15th, 1890.

chief sasse's Report to Council for tho
Year Ending May 15th, 1890.
The 3lst annual report of the Fire
Department for the year ending May
18th. 1899, was submitted by Chief
Sasse TO City Council at Its meeting
last Thursday, and 400 copies were
ordered printed. 1t is Chief Sasse's
first report and one Of the most interest
ing ever complied, being comprehensive
and containing much valuable data
and some timely suggestions.
1t shows that during the year the
department responded to 1873 alarms.
The losses aggregated $50, 449. 6i, and
as tho insurance amounted to S6l3, 700
it exceeded the losses by s533, 250. 36.
The fire loss is placed at S1.07 per
capita. The apparatus Of the depart
iuent consists Of three LaFrance, three
Clapp Il Jones. one Silsby and one
AmosSeag steam fire engines, two
double 6O-gallon Holloway chemical
engines, one Hayes truck, one Chicago
Fire Extinguisher Go. combination
truck and chemical, one Holloway com.
bination hose wagon, three four-wheel
Silsby hose carts, one four-wheel
Amoskeag hose cart, one four-wheel
hose cart built by the Phoenix Fire
Co., two American Fire Engine Co.
hose wagons, one Gleason & Bailey
hose wagon and one ambulance. The
equipment consists of 10,950 feet of
first class hose, 81 gallons capacity Of
chemicals, 4SS feet of ladders and the
necessary equipment of one first-class
and one second class truck. There are
81 horses in the department. There are
nine companies and nine firehouses.
There are 60 fire alarm boxes and five
tower bells are connected with the fire.
alarm telegraph. Five boxes were
erected during the year.
During tho year three deaths resulted
from burns, but there were no deaths
in the Fire Department.
Favorable mention is made of the
telephones in the several enginehouses
and the value attached to that service
and also the ambulance operated by
the Phoenix Co. Concerning the water
supply the report says: at is greatly
due TO the excellent water facilities Of
this city that enables me to present to
you, in connection with an efficient fire
department, n loss of less than SS1, 600
on an assessed valuation of real estate
of $4,000, QUO. There are 726 fire
hydrants, 26 being added during the
year.
The chief, in his report, favors
abolishing the present system of in
speeding the apparatus ana equipment
at the enginehouses by the members of
Council and establishing system of
| semi-annual tests. He recommends
that the salary of the chief be increased
to such a figure as to allow him to
devote his entire time and attention to
the work, calling attention, in this con-
nection. to the demands made upon
him by the growth of the city. ITO
our citizens" he says, SIS due the
fact of the existence of fire depart
ment second to none in the world, and
their liberality, courtesy and good
feeling toward us is gratifying indeed, -
An invitation is extended the public
to visit the tiFehouses at any time. The
recommendation is made that white
light be placed alongside Of red light
at night where there is an obstruction
in the street, to show which is the safe
side of the street for travel. The
placing OF wires under ground is also
recommended. The chief extends
thanks to the city officials, his as
sistants, the firemen, press and public
for their cooperation, good will and
support.
Extended notice is given the fire at
Salisbury, Md, last March, when, in
response to telegram, the Fame and
Washington companies and 80 mon
went to that city and did excellent
service in extinguishing conAagration
which had assumed alarming pro-
portions. This chief speaks Of the
manner in which Chief Grier of the
Salisbury Fire Department and the
firemen and people of the city had
shown their appreciation Of the services
of the Wilmington firemen.