Evening journal., 1907-02-09

NUMBERS as 10 De IN eacn Olnef way
Engine supply is excellent and the
steamers are well distributed. Ladder
service is good in the congested value
district. but elsewhere, especially in
the Western part of the city, is def
cient. Chemical service is good in the
congested value district, but is lack
ing on the south side.
Remarks on Equipment
The engines in the department with
at least two exceptions are capable Of
delivering at least two effective fire
streams. At tests, boilers were found
to be in generally good condition, rs
were the pumps. with three exceptions.
Engine No. is too small for city
work and should he replaced with a
larger modern engine. The pumps ol
engines Nos. and 4 need overhaul
/ ing. The tests revealed the need OF
regular drill for engine crews. TIE
/ ladder trucks are in good condition and
fairly well equipped. although no POM
piers are carried and there are no port
able extinguishers on the aerial truck
this truck would be improved by in.
stalling a qulck-raising device. Chem
ical apparatus is mostly OF recent date
J
tion wagons are satisfactory. but the
small reels and wagons do not carry
sufficient hose for two average lines
and the reels especially lack the proper
minor equipment. Chief and assist
ants are furnished with wagons. Hos.
is Of good quality and generally well
cared for but the supply for several
companies is deficient and no 3-inch
hose is provided for the larger engines.
Horses and harness satisfactory, eX~
cept engine No. 4, which should be
drawn by three horses. Small repairs
to engines are usually made by com.
rany members; for extensive repairs
engines are sent to makers; other. re-
pairs are made by local firms. Fuel
is Of good quality, but provision for
carrying it to fires is inadequate.
The department discipline is poor
and there IS little control over the ac-
tion OF members at fires. The frequent
absence OF various companies from the
city detracts from the efficiency of the
department The response to alarms Is
strong I'm apparatus, though apt to be
weak I'm men, little attention is paid
to guarding the remainder of the city
during a fire The method of hand
ling fires is unsatisfactory and shows
plainly the lack OF instruction and drill
The complaint Of business men con-
cernlng the excessive use of water Is
substantiated by the high average loss
per fire IN recent years. Building in
spections by the department are very
infrequent and of slight value Re
. ports and records are carelessly made
and evidently inaccurate. Recent i'm.
provements have increased the ap-
paratus considerably, but the item OF
working efficiency OF the department
. appear to have been overlooked.
Alarm System Defects
The fire alarm system is objected 70.
, The report sets forth that there is
no operator on duty, the acting super
d intendent usually visits the operating
! room two or more times daily. Circuits
, are tested daily for grounds voltage
/ Of cells IS taken weekly and the spe-
, cifc gravity of the battery eectrolyte
, yearly. No records of tests are kept.
{ Each box is tested about every three
3 months by pulling the box and allow
ing the first round to go in when box
r is shunted out; companies do not re.
1 spond until second round of box comes
VI
e lineman are available at all times. Ter
= to thirty telephone hnemen are avail
- able In emergency Grounds. oper
/. circuits and crosses are frequent tbs
Z last having caused burn outs I'm sew
eral instances. Fire department Off.
GERS complain Of the inefficiency Of th'
system. The acting superintendent Of
lineman attends all fires.
The box alarms are automaticall,
, transmitted to all fire houses, fir'
alarm headquarters, residences Of mr.
department chiefs and engineers and
Of fire alarm employees and police se-.
geants and to two manufacturing
c plants. Special signals can be sen
from any box by Morse key. Telephone
% alarms are transmitted over either o.
the two public telephone systems t'
e the company nearest the fire. Only tn
: company receiving telephone or verba
. alarms responds. pulling a box IL ga
2 ditional assistance Is needed. For tn
Z; year ending May. 1906, telephone
d alarms amounted to about % per cent
Of the total number.
1.-The automatic system would be IN
q adequate" says the report "if properi.
+ equipped and maintained"
The system Is not under the super
n vision Of the FIRE department; is badt
q managed, poorly maintained ami q
5 poor condition. The fire alarm employ
+ es are lacking in a good workin
q knowledge Of fire alarm telegraphy an
have only vague ideas Of proper main
tenance.
Ie The headquarters are improperly 10
Gated in a building OF ordinary con
struction. which has unprotected open
{. ings to serious exposures, a conditio
N which subjects the entire service I
Al Interruption by fire.
q, The automatic repeater is PRACTICAL
Q. new and in good condition. Batterie
- are Of a good type but poorly installed
l. in poor condition and carelessly main
nj tanned. There are no department tele
l. phone facilities but public telephon
/. service is excellent. Boxes are nC
H. properly conspicuous; most have key
le detached. and the older ones are Of
ID somewhat unsatisfactory type. The
$. distribution in the congested value dis
m trict is generally good; elsewhere IA
to good. The circuits are mainly ovei
a head. and are usually in poor condition
At one-half having worn-out insulatio
a- ana are on poles with high and 10
potential light and power wires. The'
70 conditions are not only a menace
10 the fire alarm system, but also dal
,s gerous to life and property. The vii
Nv ing at fire alarm headquarters and
- the fire stations Is poor Tests
lra FHf