The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-02
CHIEF WALKERS REPORT
It Tells Of the Condition Of the De-
partment When He Assumed
Charge and It's Nesds.

Chief Walkers first annual report
was read last evening in select council
and. though rather long, is interesting
throughout.
In beginning his report the chief re-
fers to what he terms 1.-The deplorable
condition Of the department when he
came into Office. the apparatus going
to decay, harness going to pieces, ETC..
and states that ne has been able to
repair this condition Of affairs to a
certain extent.
After giving in detail the organiza-
ton OF the department. etc. the chief
takes UP the question Of hose, pointing
out that to the hose more than on
almost anything else depends the sue
cess Of any fire department There
is now. according to the renOrt, 1000
feet of good hose in the city and near
ly 5000 feet of bad hose.
The chief advocates the erection Of
more drying towers and says that
hose can be made to last iust twice
as long If it is properly washed and
dried" There is now $500 feet of good
hose in the central city. whev, or
June I. 1899, there was only 10 feet
The report gives a detailed account
Of the extensive repairs ma 1e to the
various hose and engine houses dur
ing the year. after which refe' Is
made to the large number of new hy-
drants placed during the yeai. Re-
ferring to the permanent men. the chief
says the discipline among them was
very good, except in a few instances.
He advocates the furtherance OF some
Ia o0i c1 tnvn hof rtH, no
os the department one day OF; OUT of
every ten. that they may ming'c with
their families. He also breaches :l.e
subject of more remune ration for them.
The number OF alarms respon led to
during the year was as follows: Bell
alarms. 50: second alarms. 10; third
alarms. 9; general alarms. 2: still
alarms. 3s; false alarms. S: test alarms,
4: total number Of alarms. $50.
The loss to property destroyed by fire
was s1o5,6l9.06 and on this there was
81, ,23O.45 OF insurance.
The following list of the various
causes Of fires. which is contained in
the list. Is specially interesting:
Crossed wire. /: curtain coming in con-
tact with lighted gas. 2: rubbish, 10;
incendiary. 4; overheated stove. IA;
electric wires. Is: defective flue IS: eX-
plosion OF oil stove, 1; manure pile, /;
carelessly throwing lighted matches. 1;
unknown, 81: thawing frozen pipes, 3;
smOuldering ruins, 4: careless plumber,
!: confagratiOns. .; gas explosion. L;
children handling matches. .: lamp
explosion. 9: escaping gas. 4: hot ashes.
4: spark from locomotive, 4: lamp up
setting. /: fireworks. 3: lightning. 2:
burning tar, /: overheated furnace. /:
upsetting. 1: burning candle. I.
In the line Of recommendations the
chief suggests first that an ordinance
be passed compelling the owners of
buildings over four stories high to put
in a stand pipe at least four inches
thick in such buildings with an open
ing on every floor In recommending
| the purchase of the new hook and lad
der truck. which the estimates commit
! tee chopped out. the chief refers to the
/ fact that the present truck is not only
unsafe. but entirely inadequate. the
longest ladder being only s. feet long.
1t could be repaired and remodelled
ne says, for not less than $4,000. where
as a new truck will cost only $4,000
He recommends the cutting down OF
! the present truck and its removal tC
North Scranton. providing the new
one Is purchased. He states that the
following pieces of apparatus must be
repaired Immediately: Eagles, Frank
lins. Liberty, Cumberlands and Will
| liam COnnell's.
In conclusion the ci.ief calls the at
| tention of the councils to the necessity
of purchasing the fire alarm system
now in operation.