El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-28


as given in the fire department records
amounted to s533S93, varying between
s17S.3 I2 in 1905 and $50, 73S in 1906 The
average number of fires per year was
147, varying from 103 in 1905 to 200 In
1909, with an average loss per fire OF
s725, a high figure The average num-
Der of fires per 1000 inhabitants, based
on an estimated average population Oh
$4,000, was 3.S7 and the average yearly
loss high figures
General Summary.
Street widths fairly good; principal
streets paved and all in mainly good
condition Overhead wire distractions
and railroad grade crossings numerous
High winds frequent; winter tempera-
ture mild; climate very dry. Number Oh
fires and loss per capita -moderateV
high; loss per fire high
Fire Fighting Facilities.
Water Supply-Works owned by
private company, at present operated
under receiver; management efficient
Supply from infiltration well and driven
wells: pumped direct to Distribution
system from two stations with storage
reservoir. as equalizer; storage poorly
maintained. Pumping capacity TOO
small and without reserve: housed IN
non fireproof buildings. containing nu-
merous hazards and poorly protected
Single mains from pumping stations
and from reservoir to distribution sys-
tenn. the latter main poorly installed
Consumption moderate. Pressure poor
to good: sufficient under ordinary con-
ditions for automatic sprinkler supply
but poorly maintained even under nou-
crate fire draft. Main arteries inade-
quate; minor distributors small ana
poorly gridironed. Gate valves in good
operative condition and well spaced
Hydrants of good type and In talr
condition. but too few in number and
many poorly supplied. Extensive I'M
movements proposed by the water COM
nany. to increase the reliability of the
works.
Fire Department.
Part full paid. part volunteer Su-
peryision good Chief competent and
progressive; makes all appointments
Financial support low Department un'
dermanned. Only one ladder truck,
and ladder service poor in eastern part
of city. Engines in poor condition; one
is too small; not enough engines TO
control a spreading fire. Hose wagons
in good condition.; ladder truck in only
fair condition. Hose supply fair, but
no 3-inch hose provided Minor equip
ment deficient. Engine fuel good. NO
reserve horses. Personnel and discI-
pline of paid force good. Paid COM
panies drill regularly. Response to
alarms well arranged for apparatus
available. Methods of handling ordin-
airy fires good: not enough appliances
for handling serious fires. Chief makes
irregular Inspections in business dis
trict for removal of combuStibles. Rec
ords we'll kept.
Fire Alarm System.
Automatic system, q part OF. the fire
department and under satisfactory man
agement. Headquarters in ordinary
building, containing numerous hazards.
Apparatus overloaded and wiring not
we'll installed. No separate alarm cir
cults. Telephone service. good Boxes
of interfering type with inferior
mechanism, mainly dingy and incon-
spicuously located. Many keys detached
no key-signs provided. Distribution
good in mercantile and manufacturing
districts; important residential districts
unprotected. Small amount of under
ground wiring, in telephone cables; con-
siderable duct available Overhead wires
in good condition, but on poles with
high tension circuits at many points.
Troubles few and mostly from high
winds and sandStorms. Circuits well
protected. Tests infrequent and irregu-
| lar and no records kept.
Fire Department AuxfIiarfes.
! No fire marshal; few incendiary fires
and investigation appears thorough.
| Police and public service corporations
| cooperate fairly well at fires. Tele-
phone service by two companies; fairly
/ well distributed and prompt; one ex-
! change in building containing serious
! hazard. No central station watch serv-
| ice. One private fire brigade could rem
| der slight aid; otherwise private appa-
! ratus Of value only to individual build
ings. No outside aid available.
Summary.
Water supply unreliable on account
/ of inadequate supply; poorly maintain
ed storage; weak distribution system
| and widely placed MIGRANTS. Fire de-
| partment efficient for its size. but un-
| dermanned and poorly equipped. Fire
alarm system inadequate and unreliable
| owing to hazards ct headquarters. poor
| installation of apparatus. poor location
1 of circuits. unsatisfactory type of boxes
and poor distribution.
Structural Conditions and Hazards. :
Building partment-National board
code. with few notifications, adopted
| in 1903: principal DEFICIENCIES are the
lack of requirement OF window opening
| protection and chimney construction
and the permitting of shingle roofs. AIDE
! quate building department established
and ordinance fairly well enforced on
| new work, but not on existing build
] ings. Fire limits cover major portion
| of built-up section of the city. Struct-
ural conditions weak in the business
district; recently erected buildings
mostly of good class. Residential dis
tricts mainly of single rooted or adobe
construction.
Explosives and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
| gasoline ordinance, laws Inadequate