The San Francisco call., 1903-09-26
OPENS QUARTERS
OF FIRE PATROL
New Station Inspected
by Distinguished
Citizens.
Men Who Save Property Give
an Exhibition Of Fast
Glitch Up"

The new station. No l, Of the Under
writer's Fire Patrol, was formally opened
yesterday in the presence of large gath
ering of city officials and gentlemen inter
ested IN fire insurance business.
The commodious station is located at IA
Natoma street and was built expressly to
accommodate the requirements of the
fire patrol. On the ground floor are
housed the wagons. buggies. pumping en-
gine and horses of the station. The floor
above is devoted to sleeping apartments
Of the men who are attached to the sta
ton, officers quarters and recreation
rooms.
The top story of the brick building is
used as a storeroom and the attic roof is
equipped for washing and drying the rub
Der and canvas sheets USED in the work
of the fire patrol
The former quarters on Jessie street
having been required for building pur-
poses by the owners, the board of direc-
tors Of the fire patrol was Obliged to seek
a new location.
The invitations to the opening of the
new station were generally accepted and
the guests of the underwriters were Law
ish in their praise of the building and its
equipment
Exhibitions of pole sliding were given
for the benefit of the visitors and sharp at
noon q complete "hitch-up" was a source
of delight TO ali who witnessed it.
The men of the fire patrol were scat
tered through the building just previous
TO the striking of the noon hour gong. In
a twinkling the men of the patrol slid
down the poles from the second and third
stories. The horses jumped from their
stalls to their positions beneath the hang
ing harness, hooks were clamped and
everything was ready for a turn out"
Three seconds" cried Mayor Schmitz
and Chief of Police Whitman, who held
stop watches and the crowd of visitors
cheered at the quick time in which the
men and apparatus got ready.
a luncheon was served by the under
writer's to their guests and short speeches
were made by Mayor Schmitz. Chief of
Police Whitman, William Mcdonald,
president of the Board of Underwriters;
Superintendent J. f. o. Comstock and
other officials.
The Underwriters Fire Patrol now has
three stations in this city-No- l at IA Ma
toma street, No at 60 City Hall avenue
and No. at 1915 Bush street.
The fire patrol is maintained by the
underwriters which consist Of officers
Df the fire insurance. companies. It was
incorporated in 1875 and went into effect
under an act of the Legislature OF April,
/ 1876
/ Under an amended act of the Legisla-
! ture, passed six years ago. it became obli-
4 gatory on all fire insurance companies to
/ contribute to the support of fire patrols
/ in all cities in the State where such
patrols exist
The annual cost in this city Of maintain
! ing the fire patrol amounts to s35 000 The
work of the patrol consists in spreading
rubber and canvas covers at fires and
saving property from destruction and
/ damage.
All fires are responded to by the vigi-
/ liant men Of the patrol. whether the scene
of the fire is insured or not. In the last
year the patrol attended 136 fires and
] spread 1911 covers and since its organiza-
/ ton has attended 12 160 fires and spread
/ 35 S1 covers. Hundreds of thousands of
| dollars worth Of property are annually
/ saved by the patrol and its saving to COM
merce is very high.
| The officers of the Fire Patrol Board
are: William Mcdonald president; John
Scott Wilson. vice president: Rudolph
] Herold. secretary and treasurer: directors
! George w. Spencer. B. Faymonville. V.
Carus Driffielo and L. L. BromVeu
Superintendent J. T. o. Comstock has
occupied his present position for eleven
years and has been connected with the
patrol since its inception The vigilance
Of the patrol is shown in the fact that Su-
perintendent Comstock has not enjoyed
days vacation since he was placed in
( charge.