Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-11
DEFENDS
The City's Firemen.
Commissioner Paige Re-
plies to Criticism
Made at Chamber of
Commerce Meeting.
Says the Firemen Did All They
Could
At the Buchtei College Fre-Better
Equipment Needed.

At the Buchtei College Fire-Better
Equipment Needed.
Chairman Paige, OF the Fire and
, Water committee, submits the follow
ing communications to the Democrat
which explains itself:
Editor Democrat:
| have natural dislike for ncwspa-
per notoriety, but as the Chamber of
Commerce have seen fit TO allow n
mass Of misrepresentation to he pub
lishcd regarding the Akron fire de-
pnrtmcnt and their conduct at the col
lcgc fire, cannot forbear Il few words
of explanation.
We have only three steamers, and
will briefly state their position at the
fire.
No. ] company, in charge Of Captain
Dcnius, We're on the fire escape on the
north side of the building, pouring
water into the upper windows, and
stal there until the tower commenced
TO fall, and they were called down.
Captain Denius burning his hand
very badly on the hot iron.
No. 2, in charge of Captain Smith,
were on the inside of the building on
the chapel floor. and staid there until
the ceiling fell, when they were oblig-
cd TO leave.
: No. i, In charge OF Captain Mcrtz,
We're upon the third floor until smoke
drove them out in the rear of the
building, while Captain Rice with his
hose company, was doing effective
work on the front side of the building,
and | wish to say in this direction,
that four Drawer, or more experienced
toned men, are not to he found In
this, or any other state.
We were In the same shape at this
fire that we will he In many other
places In the city for high work. There
Is plenty of water for low work, but
we have not got the engines to get
the water 10 the high placcs; and on
gincs nre the only way To get the water
to the high plnces, and they must be
large ones ut that.
| do not wish to be understood as
writing this IN defense OF the Water
company, hut | must say that they
hay kept pace with the growth of
the city much better than we have in
the way of Strengthening our fire de-
parimcnt ON Buchtel ave, In front
of the college, and as far up as Splcer
ST., they have two water mains, one n
twolvc'inch and the other II slx-mch
at street intersections, while on Car
roll st., in the rear Of the college. they
have n siX-inch main, so any fair oh
server can readily see that with our
three little engines, we could not be-
! gln to exhaust the supply.
see that Mr.. Wall says lie saw n
thrce'inch stream of water being
thrown clear over the roof of the col.
lege ! think that he must have been
looking through n magnifylng glass,
as were we TO mass our three engines
ON one stream, we could not begin to
, do what he says he saw.
On Main st. aud lower MIN ST. where
most of our high buildings are, we
have the hydraulic conduit, which is
always fun of water, In case OF hrc
In that locality, we could mass three
engines, IL we had them, at each man.
; hole, and stlll have the water works
for low work. OF course, with the
} engines, we would also need AN aerial
truck to reach the upper floors of high
; buildings,
have investigated the action of our
fire department AT this fire very thor.
oughly, ana | am convinced that they
did as well as they could with our
} limited apparatus. The fire had evl.
IDENTIFY been burning n long time be.
l fore the alarm was given, which made
il impossible for the department to
check or control II,
Thanking you in advance for your
courtesy In publishing the above, and
hoping this will place our fire depart
!, ment in u better light with our citl.
! zcns, ! remain,
Yours truly,