New Britain herald., 1914-04-15

when the common COuHCll llleoIS this evening for the final session of the term and the finishing up of all business the report of the safety board for the past year will be pre- sented. The report as made out by the clerk and ratinedr by the four members of the board, gives concisely just what has been done by that board ard makes several important recom- ,rlendhtions for the coming year. The report, which is herewith given in full Is self explanatory and needs no further introduction:
 "ro the Mayor and Members of the
 Common Council, City of New
 Britain.
 "Gentlemen:
 .'Pursuant to the provision of the charter of the city of New Britain, we respectfully submit for your con- sideration a summary of the trans actions of this board for the year just ended. together with the fnanclal statements and the recommendations far the future development of the de- p.rtments coming under our jurisdlc- ton.
 Tn MemOriam.
 Shortly after the opening of the fiscal year, this department and the city of New Britain sustained loss through the death of Commissioners Joseph E. Callahan, then chairman or this board He had an enthusiastic interest in the welfare of the fire and police departments during his term or service from May 20 1910 to May lS. 1918, and was faithful, jealous and efficient in his endeavors to promote their development. He had also served the city in the fire department from 1889 to 1906.
 Fire Department.
 During the year, the first step towards the motorization of the fire department was taken. Two comblna- ton chemical and hose trucks for numbers and ? stations and chler's car were purchased. Their economy is apparent. In seven months servlce, the car at the central station has cost s48.52 as against an estimated cost oi SPA for the horses in the same period. he cost of the No. 2 car was $42.OS. The saving to the city was. therefore S357.40, as we'll as the value or the services of the drivers.
 "A pulmotor-equipment for me chanical artificial respiration and ,1sabIe in cases of suffocation, as- phyxiation, drowning, etc., was added to the equipment of the fire depart meut at an expense of $1S5. This had snot been considered in the Mak- ing up of the estimates for the year.
 "It was necessary to purchase 800 feet of hose for which no provision had been made in the estimates.
 "In the fire alarm signal system management, a departure Tn the method of construction work was tried. The line work in connection &o1l of ha G CT West Main. East Main and Main streets was done by contract with the Southern New England Telephone company. When Superintendent Cooley submitted his estimates for the ensuing year the board voted to .pur- ss chase l5,0OO feet of underground wire and three miles of overheao wire, which he asked to be provided for in the next years estimates This expenditure of about $500 had not been figured on in making up the estimates. Five new fire alarm boxes were purchased and installed
 The appropriation for the pur- chase of a pair of horses was not used and was returned at the end or tlie fiscal year The year was brought to a close with a balance of $96S94.
 In Comparison.
 "The last report of the Bureau o1 fcmmerce and Labor with its com , parative tables made up for the year 1912 covering expenditures Tor the preservation of life and property re- reiyel by this board was supplement ed with additional information ob- 4ained directly from cities With popu- lation from 3S,000 to 46,OOO.
 "The government reported the per "a pita cost for the maintenance or the fire department in this city was s4 cents Only one city out of twenty cpe showed a smaller per capita ex- @ rerditure than New Britain. Every c;tv but one appropriated more for tl,e maintenance of it's fire department tlan New Britain. The per capita costs ranged from ninety cents TOT the smallest to $3.56. Atlantic City w1tf . department of all permanent ol regular firemen had a fire loss or onE s15.694 and reported having 253 hres 1;nlV ten cities out of eighty-four il group with populations from 3O,OO' tn 50.OO0 show a smaller per cap1t; than New Britain and they are clue with smaller population. Twent' cities appropriated less than NeV Britain, but their per capita cost wa larger.
 "New Britain's fire department COS represents 9.S per cent of the genera expense of the city. Sixty-f1ve out o eighty cities allowed larger percentag oT the general revenue for their de nartments Of the twenty-one citle from which reports were obtaine five, including New Britain, hay calInen. One city has callme .nd the other five so that they migf ba said to have departments com posed of permanent men. One of tn two cities with a call force like Ne, e Rritain reports a fire loss of $l5s,S2' .. a4,. .ar with a large call force .re