The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-03


the building law be adopted and I
will. assume the responsibility of hav-
ing it enforced.
Life Saving Corps.
One of the few very important things
that we lack and which is in everV
sense very necessary, is the life saw
ing implements consisting of life nets,
scaling ladders, life belts, etc.
Almost every department of our size
in the country is now equipped or is
being equipped with these implements,
which, in the hands of trained firemen,
are frequently called into use to save
the lives of occupants of buildings
where no other means of exit are avail
able. We have numbers of buildings
in this city, the upper windows of
which cannot be reached by our long
est ladders, and people caught in these
upper floors would have no means of
escape if the stairs should be burned
away. We have been very fortunate
in this respect but it is like tempting
Providence to continue taking these
chances.
Firemen's Pension Fund.
1 beg to recommend that, a pension
sfund be established under such rules
as may be thought proper, giving to
lttdl luIlu ali Ol lllc lilies lIlDOSGQ upO-t
flremen, the fines collected in the Re
corder's Court for violation of electric
laws and fire regulations, and such
other revenue as Council may decide.
To this the firemen will add from time
to time proceeds from entertainments
given for the benefit of this fund, and
such donations as may be made by
citizens and the general public. In this
way a fund could be accumulated
which could be disbursed under the
direction of the Mayor and Aldermen,
and the dependant families of firemen
who are killed while in discharge of
their duties. or even those who die
from natural causes while in the ser
vice, could be in a manner provided
Cor.
Wants More improvements.
AS the city grows in area. so should
the fire department grow in stations,
apparatus, men and facilities for cop
ing with fires.
AS whole the Savannah fire depart
ment is nearly if not as fully, equipped
for work as any department of its size
in the South, yet there are some addi-
tions and Improvements necessary TO
ats perfection.
1t may not be known but it is a fact
that many of the fire alarm boxes now
in use. are of the first make of the
Gamewell Company, and are unre-
liable at all times. | recommend that
all of these boxes be replaced by new
ones of the mountaineering pattern.
When Hose Station No. 1 is rebuilt
l recommend that it be made to ac-
commodate an engine, and that one
of the smaller classed engines be pur-
chased for this house.
The improvements incidental to the
erection of the new Union Depot on
West Broad street are such as to war
rant me in again recommending that
al least a hose station be located at
West Broad and Stewart streets.
Fortunately we have had no serious
trouble from the overhead fire alarm
wires, but it is impossible to guard
against danger with any degree of GER
tainty while these wires are overhead
and 7 recommend that they be placed
under ground as soon as possible.
The hose wagon now at No. was
originally an old supply wagon, which
was remodeled by the firemen. 1t is
old and entirely unfit for its present
use, and in addition, it is source of
constant danger to the men who are
compelled to ride on it to fires. |
recommend that a combination hose
wagon be bought in its place.
/ recommend the purchase of COM
bination hose wagon for hose station
No l. The reel now in service at that
station is very old and altogether unfit
for the service.
recommend that a hose station be
established at some central point be-
tween East Broad street and Waters
road in that part of the city known as
Collinsvillc. This section is being rap
idly built up and there is now consid-
cradle valuable property in the Mea-
dows, all of which is remote from fire
stations and which is now within the
city limits.
Two Biz Fires
The total loss for the year was SOL
743.75, divided as follows:
On buildings .................. $40, $50 90
On contents ................... 4l,493 40
The notable fires of the year were:
On March is fire was discovered in
a house No. AS Park avenue lane.
west, occupied by the Colored Lathers'
Union. Before the alarm was sounded
the fire had communicated to the adj
joining buildings, occupied as dwell
ings by p. e. Masters and G. II. Clark,
and before the department arrived the
fire had spread to the colored Bryan
Baptist Church. A general alarm was
sent in seventeen minutes after the
first alarm. but before the flames were
extinguished the fire destroyed the
church. the Lathers' Han, a small
green grocery, a small barber shop.
fruit stand and one dwelling. and the
rear and roof Of George Schroder's
grocery. bar and dwelling were badly
damaged by fire and water.
on Sept. %. fire IN No. 3 warehouse
on Wadley street was discovered.
when the department arrived. fire WAS
found burning fierccly in compartment
No. 2. among lot " hay. grain and
other merchandise. n WIS confined 20
The commandment. but before b. was
90 tinguished n had burned on The roof
and flooring Of about out.quarter u