Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-18

that such fires may be kept from
spreading and doing big damage II n
"combined-four" Is not purchased, the
city should provide heavy automobile,
or nigh horsepower. which win carry
4O-gallon chemical tank swiftly to
rar- distant fires This would save the
horses from being compelled to make
long, killing runs to small fires. There
are only SO horses In the department
now, and four of these are "out-caStS''
and should be replaced by strong.
young horses. More horses are also
needed. Three new full hose companies
should be provided at once, in addition
to the now No. hose. Three new
stations should be built. the proposed
locations being at Sixth South and
State streets. Tenth East and Second
South streets. and Fourth North and
Fifth West streets. The first station
would equalize the long distances be-
tween No. s, No. 6. and headquarters.
The second station would equalize tho
headquarters. The third station would
prevent blockades by railroad trains
In case of fires on the west sIde OF tho
tracks, where an immense territory
must be covered, necessitating very
long runs at present.
The department now has two good
steamers. and an old steamer Is being
sion. But at certain times OF the year
when long runs have to be made, II
Is dangerous to take the steamers from
headquarters to fight fires in outside
districts, thus leaving the business
section of the city wholly unprotected,
and for this reason another steamer
should be provided.
WATER TOWER NEEDED.
Chief Glore states that modern
water-tower Is absolutely necessary. as
the department could not now handle a
lire on the upper floors of the new sky
scrapers. The firemen are greatly
handicapped under existing conditions
by the lack OF water-tower One In
stance illustrates Its necessity: At the
Atlas block fire, ladders were shovel
up on one another, making an I'M
proVised water tower, in order to reach
the upper floors OF the burning build
Ing, and the ladders only reached as
high as the third story. while the hose
carried pressure of 250 pounds The
ladders fell over on to wires In the
middle of the street. with flremep on
the bottom, and the only thing .hat
saved them from being killed was the
fact that they hooked themselves to
the ladders with Pompicr belts, which
prevented them from being thrown of
to the ground.
that the fire department Is made up of
small full-paid force. subject to dctri-
mental political influences; the financial
support Is insufficient; the method OF
appointment is unsatisfactory and
members can be removed without stat
ed causes The companies are well
manned. but insufficient In number
Engines are in good condition, and sell
dom needed, but their total capacity
Is somewhat deficient. Ladder protec-
tion Is fair. but chemical and hose pro-
lection need strengthening. The ap-
paratuS is mainly In good condition,
but minor equipment is deficient A
water tower and more appliances for
handling large streams ore needed.
Discipline is only fair. and drills and
training for new members insufficient.
Response to alarms is weak and should
be increased Immediately. Fire meh-
ods are as good as the available appnr-
atus permits.
Tho fire alarm system is n part OF
the fire department, but through lack
of proper maintenance and apprecla-
tion OF Its Importance is practically
useless. The boxes are mainly of poor
type with brush break contacts, and
not well mounted. The circuits are
underground in important districts, but
are of very small wire and In tcle-
phone cables. Elsewhere. the circuits
ei Q O'ca aicNs'. y - Ny ~ eN'NPtS'AS -NN'.-S
and partly m :. 4 small No. IL wire
with triple b. wentherproof insu-
lation. poorly supported, and on poles
with high tension wires. No house in
struments are on box circuits. and ono
circuit is very badly overloaded. Tho
fre alarm circuits to houses are us7d
simply as call bell circuits. Batteries
are not properly installed and arc In
unserviceable condition. No records or
maps are kept on file.
The fire department needs auxiliarles
At present there is no fire marshal.
and no provision is made for prosecu-
tIonS for arson