Evening journal., 1911-03-02
PAID SERVICE
IS EXPENSIVE
Sacramento Fire Fighters Cost
City $4,000 a Year to
Maintain
COMPARISON FAVORS
THE WILMINGTON SYSTEM

At this time when matters relating
to a paid fire department are being
discussed. il will be interesting TO
many persons to make fair compar-
ison between the volunteer depart
ment of this city and the paid depart
ment In operation at Sacramento, Cal.
The latter city has population Of
but 44.966. according to the last CEN
sus. yet II cost ST4,2s4 last year 10
maintain the paid fire department
there. There are but fye companies
with FIVE engines, two trucks and one
chemical apparatus in the department
and according to Fire and Water En-
gineering, a fremens journal OF re-
cent issue. the apparatus is IN poor
condition. The yearly FIRE loss for
the past FIVE years was about Se79.5S6,
which is considerably in excess OF the
FIRE loss OF Wilmington. comparing
the size Of the two cities.
Compared with Sacramento, Will
mington is far better equipped, than
the Sacramento department so far
as apparatus is concerned, and with
one or two exceptions every machine
is modern and in first class shape.
In addition TO this the local depart
ment will have within the next month
three up-to-date automobile appara-
tusus. one Of which is now In service.
There are eleven engines, eight chem
ioal wagons and two trucks in the
department. In addition TO these. the
department maintains and operates
two ambulances With all this the
cost of the Wilmington department ,s
less than the department at Sacra-
fnento.
When the cost OF paid depart
nent for a city the size Of Whining.
ton would be can only be conjectured
Taking Sacramento with its popula-
ton of half that OF this city It Is
only fair 70 presume that a paid de
psrtment here would cost at least
$126,000 a year.
The following is taken from the
Fire and Water Engineering Journal
The IRE department OF Sacrament
IL composed OF Sc full paid and 30
call men. aside from 2 substitutes
g. V. Anderson Is cnief. aA. ~.
y. Townsend, assistant chief It cost
&74,284 to maintain the department
last year, Including the fire alarm
telegraph service. The average year.
" IRE loss was about S679 .536 for the
past five years. Four engine and tive
ladder companies and one chemical
company are in service at FIVE sta.
tons. An additional engine compan,
Will soon be placed IN service TIL,
engineers act as house captains; tho
call foremen have charge az fires
Engine drivers act as stokers Wagor
drivers do not assist with hose. Tn,
Ave steam engines are Of the Amos
keag make, all Of reciprocating type
The engines were tested IN November
1910. by National Board engineers
~iEhe capacity Of engine No. wa
somewhat reduced BY poor stokin,
and by misuse Of the variable exhaust
Engines Nos. 3 and have old boilers
which greatly reduced their capacity
and engine No. was In very poor
condition; serious leaks developed
both steam and water ends The aer-
ial truck carries a 65-foot aerial 40
foot extension and shorter ladders
and is IN only fair condition The
equipment includes Deluge set, lad
der pipe. cellar pipe, siamese, roof
cutter, wire cutter and small tools.
Truck No. 2 carries 90 and 4O-foot
extensions and shorter ladders: Il
has a 60-gallon chemical tank and
is IN good condition. There is a
1-2-inch connection to the chemical
tank The chemical engine Ia in good
condition carries 22-foot extension
ladder and other equipment. Tn,
chief Ia provided with an automobile
but II is in poor condition. The sup
ply Of hose consists OF $500 feet o
2 1-2 inch, 1000 feet Of 2 "a incl
and $50 feet OF chemical hose. Tn
Gamewell alarm system is In service