The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-06
CITY OFFICERS
MAKE REPORT
Continued from Fifth Page.

Continued from Fifth Page.
laSs was ss,l1o On contents, s2i.l'sso
Total loss on buildings and contents
So. $50 So
The causes as near as could De oe'
termined, were as follows:
Carelessness, IA; gasoline stove expo
sions. u; defective flues, 4; sparks from
chimneys. Z: lamp explosions, 6; defect
i've furnaces, 5; electric wires, D; over
heated stoves, 6; defective CRATES, 81
sparks from engines, ,; incendiary, =
spontaneous, =: lightning, 2; children with
matches, 2; lighted cigars, 2; upsetunG
lamp /; paraphine explosions. 2; rubbish
2; escaping gas. /; heating water, /;
tramps, l; dynamo burning out, !; mice
and matches, /; unknown, 80; false, ..
fetal, 130
The largest fire of the year was that OF
the Noyes Dry Goods company, corner
OF Market and Douglas; and while it was
but ten minutes work for the depart
ment 20 extinguish it. the loss was the
grea Test of any during the year. The
next was that Of the Western Newspa-
per union, which was very threatening,
l. ing in close proximity to large block
OF buildings on the south. This fire oc-
CURED during the month Of July, when
lie water pressure was very low owing
TO the great number of openings and an
extensive exhaust of water used for
sprinkling lawns. which greatly handi-
capped thedepartment, and the steamer
was put in action before sufficient pres
sure could be obtained to extinguish the
flames. There should be some way of
compelling persons to turn off their lawn
hydrants when an alarm of fire is sound
ed. The next largest fire was that of the
residence Of DR.. Pennington, on College
Hill The distance from the nearest fire
station was so great and the fire so far
advanced before the department arrived.
that it was almost entirely consumed.
PERSONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The department consists of one fire
marshal, one assistant fire marshal, one
city electrician. twenty-five regular men.
and one substitute-of which 16 are first
class, Z are second class and are third
class.
There are four stations, located as fol-
lows: No. on North Market between
First and Second: No. on South Topeka.
between William and English: No. 3 at
the corner of Eighteenth and Topeka;
No. near Douglas. on Seneca.
Apparatus consists of two steam fire
engines, one chemical engine one aerial
twin table hook and ladder truck. three
hose wagons, one hose reel. one small
wagon carrying 500 feet of hose at Fair
mount, and one fire chiefs buggy
HOSE.
There are 1850 feet of hose in the de-
partment. or the above amount. 355C
feet are good. $50 feet fairly good and SOC
feet unfit for service; 30 feet of suction
hose, one Eastman deluge set and 20c
feet of chemical hose in good condition.
HORSES.
There are seventeen head of horses. all
being IN good condition with the excep-
ton of four head that have been in serv-
Zee from eight to twelve years and are in
capable of good service
HARNESS.
Three sets Of harness and five sets of
new harness were purchased the past
year, and there should be some of the oil.
harness replaced within the next year
with new. as they have been repaired
so much that they are dangerous to use
having been continuously in use for six
teen years.
ON account of the advanced condi..-
OF the city, the following permanent i'm
provements and additional equipment
hlve been provided: One engine house
building BxS3. two stories with asphalt
noor' thoroughly equipped with appur-
thahces necessary for quick and prompt
response 10 alarms. At this station we
nave the new Metropolitan steam en-
cine which was purchased last wear. and
which is up-to-date. having no SUPERIOR
In make and capacity in any city in the
west.
DEPARTMENTAL EXPENSE
The expense of the department was
increased the past year, owing to the
purchase of additional apparatus and
supplies necessary To properly equip sta
noh NO s. detailed statement of the
additional expense will appear further on
in this report
the total expense in detail is as fo1lou,s