The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-08
1900 WITH THE FIREMEN.
sUPT. MAGUIRErs ANNUAL REPORT
TO TIE MAYOR.

TO TIE MAYOR.
Two Hundred and Twenty-Five Fires,
With "a Total Loss of S41, S37 Dur
ing Last Year-February Had the
Greatest Number of Fires and No.
vember the .Least-The Percentage
of Loss in Proportion to the Value
of Property Endangered, the Low
est in Ten Years.
The annual report of Superintendent of
the Fire Department and Fire Marshal
John E. Mcguire was submitted to Mayor
Myers yesterday. The report is a lengthy
one, and is very neatly got up. 1t is
typewriter, and contains a large
amount of interesting data. The fire
losses for the year 1900 amounted to $41,-
sS7, the smallest within twelve years.
There were 225 fires during the year. The
superintendent says that the department
is in splendid condition, and that the ap-
paratus and horses are well cared for.
Among other things it is recommended
that the office of fire marshal be severed
from that of the superintendent, and that
a salary be attached to the pace On this
line the head of the fire department says:
II find that the duties of a fire marshal
are of very Important character, and
feel safe in asserting that such an officer
devoting his whole time to the work re-
quired of him, would be of great benefit
to the city and would materially reduce
the fire waste l therefore recommend
that the office be separated from that of
superintendent of the fire department, and
that the fire marshal be made salaried
officer, and in making this recommended
ton permit me to say that the appoint
ment of a fire marshal is as important to
the fire department as it is to the public
at large, because of the fact that fire
prevention is as important as fire ex-
tinguishing. The duties OF such an officer
should be TO examine all buildings in
course of construction or when undergoing
repairs for the purpose of seeing that
owners and builders comply with the fire
and building ordinances. An ac-
tive fire marshal who is authorized
by power invested in him as a public
officer by constant inspection would be a
great assistance In decreasing the fire
loss and insuring safety and protection
to the public. The fire marshal
should rank as an assistant to
the head of the department, and
he should be placed under the jurisdiction
and direction of that officer. He should
attend all fires for the purpose, if possible
of ascertaining the cause of the fire and
by close investigation prevent it's repeti-
ton from the same cause thereafter"
During the year seven members of the
department resigned. nine were dismissed
and one died. Charles White 50 years of
age, and hoseman at No. station, was
stricken with paralysis on March II and
died April 8. He was appointed a mem
Der of the department on Oct. 2 1894
The abolishing of the volunteer company
on East Waldburg street was noted. 1t
is recommended that the present small
hose station at this point be torn down
and larger building erected. 1t is
shown that the house is badly in need
of repairing and it is urged that because
of the growth of this section a fire sta
ton be constructed in place of the three
man hose company.
There are IS men in the department
1t cost the city $7S,60183 to operate the
department the past year. The depart
ment property is valued at $172 6S5. 1900
| feet of new hose was purchases and the
old hose was repaired and placed in re-
serve. There are now forty-two horses
| in the department One died during the
| placed by fresher ones.
| Feb l 1t was found that with the force
of men in the department the salvage
wagon could not be efficiently operated,
and it was thrown out of service. This
wagon has since been made into a hose
wagon and will be placed at the new sta
ton on Barnard and Thirty-eighth
streets. The new building will be ready
| for occupancy by Feb l.
1t is also recommended that a hose
station be built in Collinsville, that the
old f1re-alarm boxes be overhauled, that
the alarm wires be placed under ground,
that gongs and indicators be purchased
for Station No. 8 and Hose Station No. l.
and the building of a hose station west
of West Broad street, in the neigh borhood
of Jones. 1t is shown that during the
year 1888 electric inspections were made
and fees amounting to $507.12 were COL
lected.
February has the record for the great
est number of fires and November for the
greatest loss. Only 7 fires were attributed
to supposed incendiary, while defective
flues are charged with 80.
The following table of losses for the past
twelve years will be of interest: