The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-03
the warehouse and practically de-

StrOyed the contents.
The actual expenses for the fire de-
partment during the past year
amounted to $75,45 II; included in this
amount were items of $3.50 for pensions
and 1898. &c for bills carried over from
the previous year. During the past
twelve months the actual cost of main
tenance was $72, SS2 81, and the amount
paid for additional and necessary APP
nliances was $1,771. 81, a total of $74,-
654. 05 for expenses, included in the APP
preparation for the year.
Exceptions to electric lights, wires
or installations are rarely found now
and then only in old work, put in be-
Gore the inspector was appointed. Dur
ing the past year ISL permits were
granted.
In many cities of this size a regular
force of fire inspectors are employed,
whose duty it is to inspect all build
ings with view of finding out and
having corrected all defective stove
pipes and other smoke flues or danger
Gus conditions. In this city this work
is performed by the superintendent
with the assistance of one of the fire
men, detailed for that purpose.
Hardly a day passes that we do not
receive some report of defective tiues
or dangerous condition and to the
are received and attended to l attri-
butte, in a measure, the reduction in
the fire loss for the past year.
Only Two Deaths.
The deaths during the year were
John M. Doyle, aged 81 years. Engi-
neer No. 4, appointed a member of
the department on Jan. Is, 1891, died
June 5, 1901 from effects of la grippe,
and George Wellbrock. aged "a years,
supernumerary fireman, appointed to
membership in supernumerary force on
April Is, 1901, committed suicide at
headquarters June Z, 1901.
On May y a new system of batteries
known as the chloride accumulation
was installed at the Central Station.
Since that time the first alarm system
has notably increased in accuracy and
reliability. During the past year the
poles of this system were painted and
two new street boxes were added
On the list of January we had in serv-
ice forty-one horses. one of them on
trial. Since that time four have been
disposed of in part payment for new
stock and eight new horses have been
added, We now have in service forty
five hbrse, four of which are on trial.
AS a whole the buildings are in very
good condition. During the past year
very much work was done by the men
of the department.
At hose station No. 1, the building is
in bad state of decay and requires a
great amount of repairs. In anticipa-
ton of the erection of a new house
only the repairs that were absolutely
necessary were done. The weather.
boarding was renailed, a part of the
floor was relaid, the fences and doors
were repaired and the bath room i'm
10 No int
ing was done.
During the past year there were pur-
chased 5000 feet of new fabric hose.
All of the old hose was repaired and
placed in service on reserve reels. [
found it necessary to throw out of
service 1895 feet: of this 2,021 feet were
turned over to the Streets and Lanes
Department TO be used for flushing
sewers. rs feet were made up for
sprinkling carts 100 feet were turned
over to messenger of council for street
sprinkler, and 1859 feet were sold for
junk. The inventory of hose at this
date shows 17495 feet. or 455 feet less
than was in service on Jan. 1, 1901.
During the year. thirteen men re-
signed: eight were dismissed for cause;
two died; one was retired on account
of old age and one was retired on ac-
count of physical disability.
The promotions were Assistant
Foreman A. NJ. Rogers, made foreman;
Acting Foreman 7. ID. Brunson, made
foreman; Driver Louis Trebony, made
engineer; Fireman d. p Murphy,
made assistant foreman; Fireman T.
j. Seymour, made assistant foreman:
Fireman j. e. Harper, made assistant
foreman.
Fire Marshal Mouro investigated the
origin of 146 fires. In cases Of incen-
diary or supposed incendary sufficient
proof to convict could not be secured.
There was a great decrease in fires
classed as unknown when compared to
previous years.
During the year $40 alarms were
transmitted over the line of the alarm
system.
Electrician Claiborne recommends
the purchase Of transmitter; that all
gongs, indicators and strikers be taken
off the box circuits and placed on bell
circuits: that the old gongs at Hose
Station No. I and Steamer Tybee's
wharf be taken out and replaced by
new ones of the latest type; that all
boxes that are not equipped with all
the latest devices be changed for the
Latest boxes; that one complete circuit
be put underground. and also that the
fire alarm wires that are now on Dray-
ton street, Huntingdon and Abercorn
atroafq ha tIudQrgrOund