The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-01-27
Head of the Fire Board Re-
views Chief Gonway's Re-
port and Makes Comments
RECORD OF LOSS Small
USE OF THE CHEMICAL ENGINE
AND GENERAL EFFICIENCY OF
THE DEPARTMENT RoBS FIRE
OF MUCH OF ITS TERROR.

ChleI Jonn conway. Oh tue local IRE
Department, submitted at meeting of
the Board last night, President John
Brennan said:--
Gentlemen of the Board of Fire
Commissioners
1T seems but proper that more than
passing notice should be paid to the re-
port of the Chief Engineer for the year
ending 1905. which report shows 677
fses, resulting in loss of $2sG,5s6.
.'The insurance loss is $1S9,291.
'sThis is the greatest number of fires
occurring in Jersey City within any year
of my recollection.
st is gratifying to note the small loss,
due to the promptness in responding to
alarms, and the skilful use of modern ap-
plianees for extingu;shing fire.
ITO all first alarms of fire chemical
engine responds Eighty per cent. of the
fires in our city are extinguished by
chemical apparatus.
Jersey City was one of the first cities
to place in service this mode of fire ex-
tinguishing. AS matter of record,
Chemical Engine Company No. 4 has
been in service thirty-three years-it has
put out more fires than all the steam fire
engines in the city put together.
ssAt an alarm of fire the chemical en-
gine is dispatched. Arriving at the ear
liest stage of the fire. it is in the ma
iority Of fires able to extinguish the
blaze before the confa grafton reaches the
stage az which stream of water must
be turned on.
q Tire successful use of the Chemical
Engine obviates to large degree that
damage done by water. which often ex-
ceeds the damage done by fire. where a
steam fire engine has been used.
''The appliances Of the Jersey City Fire
Department have never been in better
condition than now. Five old steam fire
engines have been recently rebuilt and
are as good as new. The contracts have
been awarded for a new combination
hose wagon and chemical engine. also
two new First Size" steam fire engines.
One of which is to take the place of En-
CINE No. /. This engine has become
worn out and is unfit for duty. The
other steam fire engine is to do service
In the new engine house about to be COM
pleted in the West Bergen district y
''There have also been contracted for
two new Aerial Trucks" one will be
tablished in the Hudson City section.
sThe Greenville section fire alarm tele-
graph has been rebuilt. This has con-
sumed eleven miles of heavily insulated
new wire and two circuits have been in
stituted instead of one, formally exist
ing.
In the past two years twenty new fire
alarm boxes have been placed in addi-
ton to those already in use.
Previous to these Improvements the
Fire Underwriters made an investigation
of the water supply and fire protection
of Jersey City which resulted in a raise
foc.
This, they stated, became necessary, be-
cause of certain inadequate water supply
and deficient fire extinguishing equip
ment.
.sThe water supply is in process of
being greatly enlarged; and with the ad-
dition of new fire apparatus before men
toned, also the installation OF new COM
panies in their respective houses many
reasons for this adverse criticism will
have been removed.
Would it not, be just, then, if
in the face Of these improvements,
the recently raised fire rates were
substantially reduced, as at a rough
estimate, the people Of Jersey City
pay annually to the fire insurance
eompa lies a sum not far from one mil
lion dollars, while they receive from said
companies for reimbursement of loss by
sfire abo !. $1s9,291 dollars taking for the
standard last years report.
'srhis shows an enormous profit for
the fire insurance companies.
1T is not fair to conclude without stat
ing that the excellent OF everything per-
tanning to the Jersey City Fire Depart
nent and the addition Of new and vaIu-
able apparatus is due to the inserest and
earnest work Of His Honor the Mayo.,
also the Board Of Fiaanc, which proyid-
ed the funds for said improvements.
commentators should be given the Of
dcers and men belonging to the Fire De
partment; their skill aud bravery are
second to hone