The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-17

In response to Mr.. ROche's resolution
calling upon Chief Hickey to report to
councils whether or not the city is
properly equipped for fighting fires in
tall buildings, select council, last night,
received a lengthy communication in
which the chief answers the question in
the negative and makes u number of
pertinent recommendations
AS at present equipped. he says the
department cannot effectively fight a
fire above the fifth story. The tall
buildings he goes on to say, should
have stand pipes with connections at
each floor. Elevators should be con-
tinually kept in running order so thai
the tiremen could carry a line of hose
to any floor at any time of the day or
night. The city should have water
tower for fighting large conflagrations.
Large buildings should have water
tanks on the roof and all buildings in
closely built districts should have fire
walls, fire shutters and the like.
a tower for thawing out and drying
hose is an imperative necessity, he
says. The Franklin and General Phin-
ney engines are unsafe and should be
replaced and a lighter and less cumber-
Ladder company. The limits in which
buildings shall be constructed of nom
combustible material should be extend
ed and a new building ordinance adopt
ed The present one is antiquated and
fit only for a hamlet, he says.
Frozen fire hydrants. the chief says,
can be obviated by erecting the plugs
on a brick base with a drip beneath
a frozen hydrant is not efIicacious, he
says, for it unN freezes the harder af-
terWardS.
The report was listened to attentively
and was referred, on motion of Mr..
Roche. to thu fire department commit
tee with instructions to report on its
recommendations by ordinances or
resolutions.
COUNTRY CLUB LINE.
The railway committee reported
favorably the ordinance allowing the
Scranton Railway company to extend
it's lines out Wyoming avenue and
Washington avenues through North
Park to Fairfield avenue. Mr.. Roche
submitted petitions from the Country
club and property holders along the
route asking that the ordinance be
passed. The measure was referred fOI
printing.
Proposals for paving East Market
street with vitritied brick were received
as follows:
Mears & Flynn--Paving, $l.7S pei
square yard; new curb, SO cents; cirCu-
lar curb. "a cents.
NJ. Fl. Dale--Paving, $179ia pei
square yard; curb, "a cents; circular
curb, 81 cents.
For constructing the North Main
avenue and PhilO street sewer two bids
We're received: Donahoe Il O'BOyle
offered to do the work for 81 200. anG
\. II. Koons. of Kingston. proposed tC
do it for S32, 900. All four bids We're re-
ferred to committee.
The following communications were
received from City Engineer Joseph p
Phillips:
SANDERSON AVENUE PAVE.
February, y. 1899.
Gentlemen OF Select Council: / learn
that the paving committee of your branch
of councils at your last meeting an
nOunCcd that they could not report ON the
SanderSOn avenue paving ordinance, be-
cause there was no plans and SpeCiiica-
tiOns attached With your permission
desire to explain why they were not at
taChcd. First, l never was instructed to
make plans and specifications for this
work; second, because | did not wish 10
take the responsibility of laying the pave
10 the grade on file in this Office, without
some action of councils.
ON September ., 1851, L received a CODY
of the following resolution: Resolved,
etc, That the city engineer is hereby au-
thorized and directed to make an esti-
mate of cost of paving Sandcrson ave-
nue. from Marion street to Market street
with sheet asphalt on a concrete base
also estimate of paving said avenue with
brick pave and submit the same to COM
mon council at the earliest date poSSt.
BILE. On November Is, 1897 | sent the es-
innate to cGrr ellis as requested Hccompa-
MED with a communication as fellows.
Gentlemep of Councils: In regard to en-
closed estin ate | will state that there is
one place on said avenue (Surderson) be-
tween the ward line dividing Second and
Thirteenth wards and East Market
street that should receive the attention
of councils with reference TO the grade
and possible claims for damages before
this avenue is paved and not to grade as
at present on file in this Office. | learn
that the estimate and communication
were sent to common council. l knew
nothing of this ordinance being on its WAY
| through councils until a few days ago.
would respectfully suggest that in the
| future, all ordinances for improVemcn
| requiring specifications, that either the
| ordinance be adopted first and the spCci.
| ncations afterwards made to harmonize
with the requirements of said ordinance
| or insist on specifications before the or.
| dinauce is drafted. This would avoid anv
| possible conflict between ordinance and
specifications.
Very respectfully submitted,
City Engineer