Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-14
Annual Report of
Chief of Fire Dept.

Chief Walter w. Berry of the Wa
+terville fire department has prepared
bis annual report for the year ending.
Feb. ], 1918, and will shortly submit
| it to the mayor and city council. Chief
Berry makes the following recommen-
dations:
In closing this report, ] am pleased
/ to say that cur new central fire sta
ton has been a great pleasure to the
members of the department, and to all
of the citizens of tho city without ex-
ception. The department, this year, has
take care successfully of all the alarms
turned in, and L have heard very lit
| tie criticism offered by anyone in re-
| gard to the department.
NOW / am to offer some recommen-
dations which / personally believe
should be adopted as soon as possible,
keeping i'll view, however, the fact that
| this department of the city has been
most generously treated in the last
year or so, and with the outlay that
| is TO come for the new fire alarm, it
may seem to some that this depart
ment should get along for some time
without any more expense of asA ex-
traordinary nature. But during the
next year, there must be added 1000
to 2e00 feet of new hose, one pair of
horses to replace the hook and ladder
!, horses, and there should be added
combination chemical truck. This
would mean al additional horse, as
this piece ~ apparatus would need two
horses This combination chemical
| truck should be purchased. this year,
loft h.,z 4t+,lg #
Hose No. 2 truck is such that it is
hardly safe to ride on the same in re-
spending to an alarm, and 1t has been
in service 50 long that it is useless to
spend money on this piece of apparat-
us for repairs. / Tust the new city
government VIII take this up and pur
chase one at an early date.
Il also feel justified in saying that
the officers of this department are not
receiving as much pay as they should
for their services. Their duties have
increased to such an extent that it
requires much more time now than in
former years, and l am convinced that
any fair committee Upon investigation
will agree with me in regard to this.
Il wish to call the attention of the
public and solicit their support in
carrying cut the city's building code
relative to the construction Of build
ings and equipping the same with
suitable fire escapes and in taking
care of ehimneys in their homes and
the storage of explosives, particularly
gasoline.
after having been so generously
treated by the present city government
in regard to the new fire alarm, and
considering the present condition of
municipal finances, the fire department
can hardly expect more than is abso-
lutely necessary, and | have not Of
fered any of the above recommended
tons, without due consideration and
assurance that they were absolutely
necessary.
Thanking all who have contributed
pictures and other presents to the de-
partment, during the past year, and
soliciting their cordial support in the
future, l remain,
Yours truly,
w. w. BERRY,
Chief Engineer.
Other items in Chief Berry's report
are given below:
The apparatus consists of one steam
ladder truck, one two horse hose wagon.
three one-horse hose wagons, four
hose pungs, two one-horse supply
sieds, one one-horse dump cart, one
rubbish rack, one hand reel, one So
foot extension ladder not carried on
truck, one 40-foot ladder not carried
on truck, one deluge set, etc.
There are seven horses in the de-
partment, all in use. Five of them will |
have to be replaced very soon.
No new hose has been bought. this |
year, and from 1000 to 1890 feet should |
be purchased
Hose houses three and four are in |
need of repairs.
The system, this year, has worked by |
spells as in past year, and it gives me |
great pleasure to write in this report
that at the city government meeting |
held Feb 4, a contract was made with |
the Gamewell Co for practically an |
entire new equipment at a cost of |
1880. l am led TO believe that when |
this equipment is installed the city of |
Waterville will have one of the best |
automatic fire alarm systems in New
England
The improvements, this year, con-
slst of the grading concreting and
paving OF the ground around the Cen |
tfai hre station and the driveway, also |
the building of a retaining wall and
suitable walk to the side entrance of |
the station. The stable in the rear OF |
the central station has been painted.
The appropriation, this year, was
$4,000, and minor receipts have been
Sll,55S.17. A detailed statement of the |
expenditure of this money is appended. |