The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-28
IMPROVEMENTS

IMPROVEMENTS,
During the year many improvements have been
made in the department besides the repairs to
apparatus cited in the forcgoining paragraph.
The woeful lack Of hose in the department is one
Of the main features TO which | would call your
attention, although money has been annually
appropriated tor its purchase and guaranteed tor
at least three years. \ great deal OF the hose
that is in service is old and rotten and bursts
whenever the least pressure is placed ON it. IN
inventory OF the hose, taken March l. l0Ol
| shows total Of s,i00 feet in the department
OF this, $500 feet is in good condition, 5000 feet
in fair condition, and 500 feet which is unfit
for service where the water pressure is over ono
hundred pounds. This gives the department G,GO0
| feet of hose which is in good condition.
Certain portions of hose now in use | have
condemned as UNFIT for service, hut il will have
| TO be made OF in certain sections of the city
where the water pressure is not high until | re-
| ceilc sufficient appropriation at the hands OF
councils to st out the department as it should he.
| The hose question is of vital importance When
| poor hose is in use poor service is rendered,
owing to time lost replacing bursted sections.
| The fire department OF Scranton cannot have
| too much hose, owing to the distances between
| hydrants In some OF the outlying sections of the
city it is often necessary TO lay l,1Oo feet OF
| hose before stream can he turned on the flames.
| lnerc are two things in this connection that
|
| Of hose and plenty OF hydrants.
| | hold that considerable money can be saved
| on the item Of hose which has heretofore been
| wasted. Ii the hose is properly taken care OF,
| viz washed, ii needed, or dried aud brushed, it
| will last twice long, hose cannot be given tho
proper care, however, unless change is on hand.
| Each company should have at least one tllouS
| and feet half on the wagon and half under care.
| When hose is brought in from a fire it can then
| be cleaned and dried and the company will not
| have to be out OF service Al present there is
$500 feet of first class hose in service in the CEN
tral city. This gives each company an extra 800
| feet. Each one Of the suburban companies aver
age about 500 feet OF hose. A supply wagon, at a
cost Of S25, has also been added 10 the depart
mcnt,
The houses occupied by the Century, Hook and
| Ladder, Eagle and Crystals, which are owned 10y
| citizens and leased TO the city, were placed in
| good condition by the owner at an increased
| rental The William Conncll Hose house has uu'
dergonc extensive Improvements at the cost oi
the owner and at an increased rental.
uYDRANTS
During the year the city purchased ,ir fire
| hydrants, and the same were erected in different
portions Of the city as directed by resolutions
OF councils.
WATER SUPPLY,
The supply of water has at all times been Ide.
quate for the needs Of the department.
1t would be better Tor the service, however, II
the pressure was increased in some portions of
the city. There are quito number of hydrauS
attached 10 low pressure mains and the streams
produced from them have not sufficient ioIec.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Especially would I recommend that melsur, S
be taken at once TO place the department on 4
permanent basis, As this city has long since Out.
grown the system OF having a portion o! the
members OF the department. working aud living
away from the engine houses thereby enabling
the apparatus Of the department very often to
arrive at a fire without any Of the members
being present except its officers TO assist in put.
ting them to work, and thus losing nucn NaIu'
| able time
This department is in good condition aud capI-
| bic Of doing efficient service but the growth of
| our city in certain localities far exceeds the
| growth Of this department, and renders necessary
| more apparatus, especially large sized combiEl-
tion chemical and hose wagon in the North End,
as that portion OF the city is being filled with
| frame dwellings
4 new hook and ladder truck VI the latest lie.
| sign should be purchased at once and placed in
the house OF the Hook and Ladder company, as
the style OF truck now in use in this department
has not kept pace with the increased height Of
buildings which have been erected in this city
during the past few years, and the truck now
used by the Hook and Ladder company should
he thoroughly oyerhaulod and painted and placed
in the North End section OF the city, whore
there is urgent need for an apparatus OF this
| kind,
would also recommend the purchase Of first
class Metropolitan Fire Engine for the central
city, as this portion of the city j, heiug built
up with large manufactures ot a combustlbc
nature, also the increased height in buildings
MAKES IL necessary for better protection And To