The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-28
FIRE BOARD HOLDS
LENGTHY MEETING
Question of Where to Get Men
to Man New Truck Provokes
Heated Discussion.

The board of fire commissioners held
strenuous meeting last night, which
did not cease until a new day had
ushered itself in. Most Of the time
was taken up in revising the list of
promotions brought about by the trans
Ter OF men from fire houses all over the
city to man the new hook and ladder
truck. For this purpose the board re-
tired into executive session.
The system Of promotion was alter
ed by the board last night. Hereafter,
instead. of promoting men according to
their length Of service in the depart
ment, they will be promoted according
to the length Of time they have held
their grades. Thus, a man who has
been In the service ten years and has
held rank of captain of the second
grade for five years, will be promoted
before man who has been in the
service fifteen years and has held the
second<grade captaincy for only three
years.
The question OF where to secure men
to man the new truck brought about
a heated discussion. President Reu-
ben Warner Jr. stated that he had
been visited by delegation Of resi-
dents from the No. 10 engine company
district near the city hospital, and
said that they objected to the removal
of single man from that company to
man the new truck claiming that they
had insufficient fire protection as it
was, and that the removal of even one
man would badly cripple the efficiency
of the company. Mr.. Warner advo-
Gated allowing the full complement of
eight men to remain at No. 10, and
taking a man from another company,
or the appointment Of new man.
One Man Counts in Outskirts.
Commissioner Clarkin said that he
had no objection to the first named
plan, provided the man could be taken
from q company in the center Of the
city, claiming that one man more or
less was greater factor in fire fight
ing in the outskirts of the city than in
the business district. He claimed that
While six and seven engines and COM
panies, responded to central district
alarms, but one engine company was
in a position where 1T could reach a
fire in the outskirts Quickly, and had
to cope with the flames alone; that
while in ninety nine cases out of a
hundred but a few of the seven en-
gines responding to central district
alarms were required, allowing the
crews of the idle engines to assist the
other firemen, in the outskirts the sin
gle engine company ndQ TO Q0pGuu
upon it's men alone.
Commissioner Schweizer made re-
mark which Commissioner Clarkin
thought was antagonistic to his views,
and the latter went after his brother
commissioner. Rapidt1re talk was in
dulged in, Commissioner SchweiZer al
leging that Commissioner Clarkin held
him responsible for the necessity of
taking men from the outside compa
MES. This Commissioner C1arkin de-
MED, and after much talk the two dis
covered that their views exactly coin
cided
President Warner explained that the
objections the people In the Tenth en-
CINE company district had to the re-
moval of the man in detail was that
the city hospital, the Omaha shops,
the Schmidt Brewing company and
many other large institutions, depend
ed upon the company for protection,
and that if the latter was crippled many
lives would be lost before fire could
be gotten under control, especially in
reference to the city hospital. A mo-
men at No 10 engine company to re-
main, and to appoint an additional
man to service in the department.
Jackson's Advice Asked.
In asking for opinions as to where.
be taken, Chief jackson was addressed.
and he advised abandoning No. 3
chemical house and the transfer Of the
men to other stations, but this was
deemed impracticable.
Commissioner Schweizer suggested
the appointment of two new men,
claiming that the amount of their sal
airy could be saved out Of the hose
fund for the year, and adding the addi-
tional man to No. IL engine company.
President Warner explained that the
company at that place was large
enough and that the insurance men
were satisfied with it and would give
the property in that section the lowest
possible insurance rates. The SuggeS-
ton was not acted upon.
The committee having in charge the
lighting of No. IL engine house with
electricity was instructed to proceed
with the work and arrange with the
Omaha people to allow the electric
light company to run wire through
their premises.
Bills were ordered paid to the amount
of $4,39402, and the April pay roll,
amounting to $19,975.S1 was passed. A
report showing the fire loss and insur-
ance for the months of February and
March were read. The total loss on
buildings during March was approx
mated at $9,260.0S. and on contents
$40, $1,000 The adjusted loss on prop
. erty during February was $94,194.51,
insurance $S09, 218.60.
The board will meet again tonight to
continue the work of revising the list
of men eligible for promotion.
ST. PAUL COMPANY