The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-01-12
Chief Kindler's S Annual
Report Shows Great
er Damage Done Than
in the Year Before
FALSE ALARMS
STILL ANNOY
Thirteen Were Turned in During the
Year-City Appropriated $35.S2o
to Department-Special Bond Issue
Covered Cost of New Auto Engines

The fire loss in Harrisburg during
the annual report of Fire Chief John
C. Kinder. made public to-day. The
total during 1918 was $4,000.
The total insurance on the buildings
destroyed or partly destroyed was
S6S4,325, while the actual loss on
buildings, most of which were not en-
tirelyf destroyed, amounted to $685.
1870. In only few cases were
there losses not covered by insurance.
The insurance on contents of buildings
attacked by fire amounted to $49S,-
$50 while the loss to the contents was
S91 .454.47, included in the total loss
of s117,S7S.
The report deals mainly with the ac-
tual money loss during the year and
the expenses incurred in the depart
ment. While the number of fires and
the kinds of alarms sent in were in
cluded, the report did not go into de-
tail as to the location of the buildings
nor the character of the contents de-
stroyed. The city appropriations to
the Department totaled S35, 1925, all ex-
cept $1,000 of which was spent.
Biggest Loss in Month of April
The greatest loss in any single month
in 1914 was in April when there we're
but three box alarms and thirteen tele-
phone calls. The building loss was
$1,000 and the loss to contents was
$74 100, according to the Chief s fig
ures. The property insurance on the
buildings partly destroyed was $S7, 500
while the contents insurance was but
S7S,S50, or $3.50 less than the value
of the contents destroyed.
The next highest month was Feb
ruary when the property loss totaled
$4,736.95 and the contents loss 4,500.
January was a close third with prop
erty loss of $4,000 and contents loss
of S4,225. September was an unusually
quite month in the fire department, the
total loss being $40, while in June the
total was but $40.
The total loss to buildings for the
year was 6,423.70 while the con-
tents loss was 91,454.47, making the
total loss s117,S7S.17. The total in
surance on the property and contents
involved was $1.1S2,9T5.
Despite the fact that a reward of
500 is provided in the general CON
tingent fund for the arrest and convic-
tion of any person sending in a false
alarm, the department responded to
thirteen false alarms during the year.
In October false alarms were more fire.
quent, than at any other time, four be-
ing sent in. Ninety-fve box alarms
were responded to, January and March
leading with fourteen EACH There
were 1877 telephone calls, the greatest
number occurring in the month just
closed, December.
Aid Given Outside the City
The department was called upon four
times during the year to render as
sistance outside the city, as follows:
In September, to Penbrook Wolf s
bakery, and White Hill, Stouffer s
duck farm; October Z, to Lemoyne,
Heiges garage and nearby buildings,
and November 8, to Camp Hill, home
of Frank Cooper
The appropriation for the year for
the department was $35,S25,43, of
which all but $1,000 was expended.
The greatest item covered the salaries
of the drivers which amounted to Sill
$40. This does not include the salary
of 5000, of the chief engineer; the sal!
ary of the assistant engineer. 1925, or
the salary for the tillerman on the Mt.
Vernon hook and ladder truck, $675.
The contingent expenses of the de-
partment was $4,659, of which the
purchase of new hose was the greatest
single item of expense, amounting to
S2,92S. The two new automobiles of
the department were purchased out of
money obtained from bond issue, rati-
fed by the electors of the city. The
money did not come from the moneys
regularly appropriated to the depart
ment.
Expenses of the Companies
During the year 1000 was appro-
priated for a new boiler for the Pax
ton steam fire engine. This was not
expended but is represented by the ST.
0O0 remaining of the appropriation.
The amounts spent by the various com
panies in the city follow:
Friendship, s9S7.50; Hope, $757.5O;
Citizen, S75I50; Washington, $685.;
Mount Vernon Hook and Ladder, S675:
Paxton, 1851; Good Will, s765; Mount
Pleasant, 1851; Susquehanna, $937.50;
Reilly Hose, 1851; Shamrock Hose,
$3.50; Allison Hook and Ladder,
s7S9.5O; Camp Curtin, $500; Royal,
$500.