The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-12-18

After practically tearing the water
works to pieces the inspector be-
comes moro gentle and says "A good
feature of the system is the number
of hydrants and gates, the average
amount of pipe per each, is low, the
condition in which the hydrants were
found is commendable and other
features in connection with the sys-
tenn are satisfactory"
The Fire Department
The department consists of nine
paid mon and nine more who re-
ceive pay when called for fire service
The supervision is in charge of the
chief who is nominally under the
mayor and the board of public safe.
ty which will be succeeded by a di'
rector of public safety on Jan. /.
OF Chief Thomas Mcfarland the
report says:
"Chief T. J. Mcfarland has been in
the service for the past 10 years, OF
which 12 years were spent in the
ranks and seven years as chief. He
is a practical fire fighter, credited
with good judgment at fires and has
the full cooperation of his men,"
After dealing at length with the
department in its every part, the
inspector says in conclusion:
"The personnel of the department
Is good and under competent leader
shin. The number of companies i5
inadequate to properly cover the city
and the present companies are under
manned. Apparatus is not distributed
so as to get the best possible re-
suits: owing to railroad crossings in
terruptions are likely to occur at any
time. The department is very weak
in stations, apparatus and men Tor
CITY of its size. There is urgent need
for q steamer of at least second size
TO re-enforce the direct pressure sys-
ten: this is considered particularly
necessary in view Of the fact that
the hydrants being non-interchange-
able with other cities, the department
must depend largely upon its own
resources. A modern quick raising
ladder truck should be installed or
the present truck should be over
hauled and reconstructed as 1t would
be of little value on any OF the high
er buildings in the city. The present
force should be increased by three
men at Number / station and one
man at Number 2 station. Two ad-
ditional stations should be located
in the north and northeast sections
of the city equipped with combina-
ton hose and chemical wagons and
manned by five men each. These
are deemed necessary to
bring the department efficiency up TO
the required standard of a city the
size of Marion
The report makes the observation
that the FIRE alarm boxes are well
located but suggests that five more
boxes he placed at points TO be
designated by the chief whose judg'
ment is OF the best.
Next in order is taken up the
various fire districts of the city and
the inspector shows wherein there Is
room for improvement; wherein the
laws are violated by owners OF
fnd tenants; wherein there
is a necessity tor uniform laws for
buildings and many valuable hints
are given.
Recommendations.
The report concludes with n long
list of recommendations for each de-
partment. The waterworks comes
first and ii Is demanded that it be
brought up-to-date in every way and
Improvements made that will bring Il
on a level necessitated by a city the
size of Marion. The inspector finds
it necessary to have steamer with
two horse hitch and crew OF men at
the Central station OF the fire depart
ment; that the apparatus OF the Cen
trail station be housed in a new
building; the purchase OF new equip
ment and the addition Of new fire.
men.
The passage OF ordinances to gov
ern the handling, scale, storing and
transportation of all explosives and
inflammable articles; that an or
dinance be passed requiring all cleo
trio wiring to be done in accordance
with the National Electrical Code
and that all overhead wires except
trolley wires be placed underground
in the congested districts, and soforth
The report as q whole is one that
may well be given careful personal
study and thought and contains sug-
gestions that if adopted and followed
out cannot but result in the better
ment of Marion and in greater safety
from DISASTROUS conflagrations. The
report will be read to all OF the city
bodies in the near future.
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY