The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-06
IN MAYORS HANDS
MUNICIPAL REPORTS ARE ABOUT
FINISHED.
MAGUIRE'S RECOMMENDATION
FIRE CHIEF HAS CONSIDERABLE
TO SAY ABOUT FIRE DRILLS.

tive to Fire Escapes Enforced.
Thinks This Matter should BE
Placed in His Hands-Mnny New
Buildings Last Year.
Only four more annual reports are to
be filed with the Clerk of Council, af-
ter which Mayor Myers will start work
on his own report. The director of
public works, the city treasurer. the
health officer and the recorder are the
only ones yet to be heard from.
1t will be several days before these
reports will reach the Mayors office,
although they are being rapidly pushed
to completion. Yesterday was the day
upon which the Mayor asked that all
reports be filed with Clerk Bailey and
volumes of them showed up. All of
these will be gone over carefully, af-
ter which they will be put into the
hands of the printers to be embodied
in the annual report of the city for
1902.
The reports of Supt. of Po-
lice Reilly, Supt. Kinsey, OF
the Water Works, City Engineer VIM,
Harbor Master Mcbride, Clerk of the
Market Mendel, Keeper of the City
Dispensary Strutton, Plumbing In
spector Campos, Marshal Dreeson, the
Sinking Fund Commission, the tax as
SCISSORS, the Committee on Opening
Streets and Supt Mcguire of
the Fire Department, are now all In
the hands of the Mayor. Each report
goes towards making the municipal
history of 1902 one that the admins
tration and those at the heads of the
various departments have every reason
to feel proud of.
Synopses Of the important reports
have already been given in the Morn
ing News. The report of Supt. Kin
sey of the water-works shows that
during the year 7,176 feet of new mains
were laid, making a total of sixty-one
miles and 4,219 feet now under ground.
Harbor Master McBride's report shows
that in addition to increasing the rev.
enue of the Office. a tonnage of 574,37
was represented during the year. The
exact figures of the revenue from the
city market are represented by &c.,
416. So. The report of the Board of Tax
Assessors shows that there is taxable
property in Savannah to the value of
$39 051, 920, or an increase over last year
of more than $707 PSI. Chairman Thorn
as of the Committee on Opening Streets
shows in his report, that during the
year the city purchased 330,S13.S square
feet.
Fire Recommendations.
The recommendations of Supt. Ma
guire of the fire department are inter-
esting. The statistical part of the re-
port has already been given in the
Morning News and the exceptionally
good showing made by the fire chief
mas been commented upon by members
of Council and has given the insurance
agents and adjusters no cause for COM
plant. Supt. Mcguire asks that an or
dinance be passed requiring fire drills
in all school houses.
The electrical branch of the depart
ment had every necessary attention
and the installations during the year
were carefully inspected. The records
show that LOTT permits were granted
and certificates of inspection were IS
sued. A total of. 1927 inspections were
made and fees to the amount of S55975
were collected by the city treasurer.
Supt. Mcguire says that the electric
contractors complain that Savannah is
the only place of any Importance where
fees for inspections are charged and
from inquiries he has learned that this
statement is correct. The fees for in
spections are levied under an ordinance
adopted by Council and as a matter of
course the superintendent is required
to see to their collection.
OF the pol alarms sounded the larg-
est number came from box 10 at Barn
ard and State streets, a total of 5.
The greatest number of alarms were
received during the month of Deem
Der, a total of so; January comes
next with Sc, and April shows 9 as the
lowest of any month during the year.
Thursday is credited with the greatest
number, 81, and Friday with the small
est, IS. The largest number occurred
between the hours of p. m. and p.
M, 90 and the smallest number be-
tween the hours of a. m. to a. m,
10.
Fire Escapes.
On the subject of fire escapes, Supt
Mcguire says:
This is a matter that has been the
subject of frequent remarks from me-
and l am again forced to say that it's
Importance is worthy of more consid-
GRAFTON. In January, 1894 an ordi-
nance requiring the erection of fire
escapes was enacted, which among
other things demanded of the chief
fireman an annual inspection and re-
port, giving the names of all owners
of buildings who had failed to comply
with the law requiring the erection of
fire escapes.
II made the inspection and report in
January, 1898, and endeavored to have
the necessary notices issued. No no.
tees were ever issued, and in less than
month after my report had been filed
the ordinance was amended so as to
take the matter out of my hands alto
gether. and place it beyond any direc-
ton or jurisdiction / might be thought
to have, and thus it remains to the
present day.
Fire escapes should be under the
direction and supervision of this de-
partment as no one can Judge better
of their necessity, location or character
than the officers of the fire department.
mo special COMMITTEES of Council can
or should be expected to attend to this
matter, when there are employees of
the city who have the time and the
experience necessary to properly per-
form such duties-and when the matter
is directly within the lines of service re-
quired of them.
Fire Drills I'm schools.
at has been stated that fires never
occur in school houses during school
hours" says Supt. Mcguire. "If
this be true what assurance have
we that false alarms may not occur
during school hours?
LAS evidence of the fact that fires
do occur in school houses during
school hours the partial destruction of
Lincoln School in Chicago on Nov. "a
is sufficient. Principal Nichols. who is
firm believer in the fire drill. is to
be congratulated upon his good iudg-