The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-16
WITH FIRE FIGHTERS
CHIEF BROWDER'S REPORT AN IN-
 TEREsTING ONE.
Expense of Maintaining Department Which Saved Over S1,eO0s0OO
 Worth of Properly Was Less Than &5O,OOO

One of the most interesting reports submitted is that of Fire Chief J. F. Browder.
 His department during the year end ed october 1. 1907, answered 29S alarms of fire. of which 24S were sent by tele- phone, and forty five by the Fire Alarm system The classification of the buildings in which fires occurred is; 8rick forty-two. frame 205. False alarms were twelve. out of city eight. There were twenty-six fires other than buildings.
 The total expense of running the department was s49,517.10.
 Following Is the equipment of the department:
 At headquarters. Madison avenue steamer Company, No. 1. one first size metropolitan steamer. one hose wagon and equipment membership seven; Truck Company No. l. one Gleason and Bailey sixty-five foot Aerial Truck and equipmenti membership seven; Chemical Company No. 1, one double fifty gallon tank chemical engine and equipment: membership three.
 Scott street Station-Steamer Com pany No. ?, one second-size Continental steamer. one hose wagon and equip ment; membership nine.
 Five Points Station-Steamer Com pany No. 8, one third-size Ahrens steamer, one hose wagon and equip ment; membership nine.
 West End Station-Steamer Company No. 4. one third-size Silsby steamer. one hose wagon and equipment; mem- bership nine.
 North Montgomery Station-Steamer Company No. 5, one fifth LaFrance steamer. one hose wagon and equip ment; membership nine.
 Within thirty days, the chief reports. the Highland avenue station VIII De ready for occupancy and use. The ap- paratus for it Is now in reserve and comprises a double combination nose wagon with equipment and double city truck.
 The department has in use 1l,15o feet of hose, 5000 feet of which Is in good condition. the remainder having been in service four or five years.
 The live stock of the department consists of thirty-two head of horses, of which four are now too old for ser vice. Chief Browder, in this part of his report, compliments Captain J. B. Cook. Superintendent of Live Stock for his efficient care of the horses.
 The GamewelI Fire Alarm System, Chief Browder says. is in excellent working order. 1t being under the con stant supervision of City Electrician Blakey. whose effective work prevents any trouble
 Chief Browder reports the mainten- ance of a careful fire inspection during the year just closed.
 The fire loses for the year aggre- gated $l23.086.62. which was $14,e32 In excess of insurance. The value of the buildings at risk was t1. .162,62O. and Of contents at risk $794.40O.94; the amount of insurance carried on buildings at risk was $716,33I. on contents S5SS, lsO. These losses do not include the loss by fire at the Western Railway In June that loss not having yet been adjusted
 The Chief recommends the purchase of a second-size steamer. hose wagon to replace the old one now used at the North Montgomery Station and Of four new horses: the installation of fire station in South Montgomery. and the adoptton of legislation to compel the placing of wires underground in the bustaaSs atSsraets.