Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-01-13
|R|EPORTO|:. ). !.
a. -
FIRE CHIEF

B1AG OHnBa@b !
lA0DlEs pEsERvE;. PRAISE FOR
WORK WHEN ALL is TAKEN.
INTO CONSIDERATION :. .s
The report Of. G. o. Russell, chief
OF the fire department is indeed inter-
esting and 1t shows what the fire lad
dies have been doing during. the, past
year. 49,. -. j.. : r..
The report shows:
Number of false alarms,2.
Number Of hours work of the de-
partment 33.
Total number feet of hose laid,
10000.
Total number of gallons of chemical
used 1,112
Number of feet Of hose damaged, $50
Number of teams used, so.
Total number Of men employed, All.
Total amount of damage, $15,711.25,
Total amount Of insurance, S9,1O6.
Total amount of property exposed.
s421,0oO.
The causes of fires are reported as
follows:
Gasoline explosion, G.
Lamp explosion, 6.
Sparks from engine, /.
Unknown causes, 5,
Spontaneous combustion, 1.
Defective f1ues, g.
Rubbish, /.
Overheatod stoves, 3.
Boys with matches, l..
The department this year have
bought 2o uniforms and 25 service
suits from their own treasury, costing
about $500. Each service suit CON
slsts Of coat, trousers, boots, hat and
gloves "~
Chief Russell recommends the pur-
chase of two teams and the hiring of
two men for the department. Also the
erection of a suitable fire hall.
The election of officers of the fire
company for the ensuing year was
submitted for approval, as follows:
c. o. Russell, chief. -
c. W: Greene, assistant chief.
W. 10 LUIS SOCISLdIy.
G. P. Brainard,. treasurer.
An Inventory. of the fire apparatus
was submitted, which Chief Russell
thought was adequate for present re-
quirements, with the one exception OF
horses. In speaking of this Chief Rus
sell says
Il believe that horses can be pro-
cared and used in such a way that the
cost to the city will not exceed the
present expense, and at the same time
increase. the; efficiency. of the sdepart-l
least SO per cent I, Z:
With. reference to the water supply
Chief Russell says: 1.-THE question of /
water supply must have your serious
consideration at: once The supply is +
inadequate and hampers the work Of
the department to considerable ex-
tent, as we are compelled to use it
sparingly, when if we had a: sufficient.
supply we would, be able to give bet
ter service; I also, recommend that !
the water company be prohibited from
laying any main or lateral smaller
than six inches in diameter. I would
LUZ eA@SA ASSoaA41CAo CuO 1uSptCtlOll VI
all Ihydrants at least once every two
weeks in cold weather, and once each
month during the summer, and. also
prohibit the use of: fire hydrants for
any purpose except for fire."
Chief Russell favors the building of
new, fire hall, and says: II would
further recommend the building of
new fire hall this year, tsie building to
be built along the same lines discuss
ed a. year ago. | have recently talked
with several Of the heaviest tay-naVers
in the city and they are heartily in
favor Of the city going ahead and BALD
ing a suitable fire hall and doing 1t
this year. I believe it can be built
cheaper this year than next year. |
am told that it is possible to get state
money at per cent, but even if it is
necessary to pay five per cent, it is
good investment, for the longer it
Is put off the heavier will be the toll,
and it is a proposition that must be
met sooner or later I believe the fire
department still stands ready to make
good their proposition made to the
council year ago in regard to horses
and harness, provided the council sees
fit to accept it.
Il want at this time to thank the