The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-04-30
Annual Statement Made
:ToCity Council
WORK OF THEPAST YEAR
New Apparatus Added; Better
Equipped to Perform Excel
lent Service
From Tuesdays Daily.

CITY cnarter, Chlet Ben Bangcrter MED
the following annual report of the
work ACCOMPLISHED by the Mankato
fire department during the past year
ending March 81, 1920, with the city
council. In this report is found a
complete list of the activities of the
department, the apparatus belonging
TO the city, the expenditures and re-
ceipts of the department, and num-
Der OF recommendations for the bet
terment of fire protection service.
The department consists of chief,
first assistant chief, second assistant
chief, eight paid men and a volunteer
force of seventy-two men, organized
as follows:
Excelsior Hose company No. 1,
twelve men; Superior company No. 2,
fifteen men; Hook and Ladder COM
pany No. l, fourteen men; Hook and
Ladder company No. 2, eighteen men;
Hook and Ladder company No. 3.
thirteen men. The paid force includes
a captain. a lieutenant and mechanic
Each Of the volunteer companies
includes captain and two lieuten-
ants.
The department maintains three
. stations as follows:
Central station, f23 South Second
street; station number two, located
at the intersection OF West Front and
West Fourth streets; and station
number three located on North Fourth
streets, between Thompson and Ann
streets
Fire Alarm System.
The Gamewell fire alarm telegraph
consists Of 20 streets boxes, two indi
Gators, TWO striking gongs, a switch
board, two sets of storage batteries, a
motor generator outfit, and about six
miles of overhead wires. The system
t.
ally reliable, although some OF the
overhead wiring is in bad shape, and
must be gone over soon.
The call bell system, consisting Of
transformer, switch, four call bells,
and nearly a mile OF overhead wire,
is in good shape.
The Water Supply.
The water supply during the past
year has been good, and the system
211 fire hydrants, distributed through
out 201s miles of water mains. Mains
are supplied by reservoirs with COM
bined storage capacity of 100000
gallons, and pumps of more than am
pie capacity TO handle an available
supply of 1,656,000 gallons daily from
the artesian wells.
The Apparatus.
The apparatus and equipment of
the Department consists as follows:
Ford Car-Ford runabout, in fair
candition, equipped with pyrene and
minor tools and devices.
Chemical No. Buick chassis in
good condition, equipped with so
gallon chemical tank, 200 feet of
chemical hose, two gallon chemi-
calls, two pyrenes, SO feet of ladders,
plete equipment of minor tools and
devices.
Engine No. 2.-American LaFrance
triple combination motor car, in good
condition. Pump with rated capacity
Of $50 gallons per minute. Carries L.
100 feet Of fire hose, forty gallon
chemical tank with 200 feet of chem
ical hose, two three gallon chemicals,
two pyrenes, fourty eight feet Of lad
ders, smoke masks, and complete
minor equipment.
Hose No. IA horse drawn type
of straight hose wagon, in fair con-
dition. Has capacity of 1000 feet of
fire hose, but is loaded with 800 feet.
Carries two gallon chemicals and
minor equipment.
Hose No. "A horse drawn type
straight hose wagon, in fair condition.
Has capacity Of 1000 feet Of fire hose,
but is loaded with 400 feet. Carries
two gallon chemicals and minor
equipment.
Hose No. "A Duplex 4-wheel
drive chassis in good condition, noun
ting a divided hose body carrying g.
200 feet of fire hose, three way Hart
turret pipe, a three way Eastman De-
LUCE set, and other devices for holding
and controlling heavy streams. Car
ries two 3 gallon chemicals, one py-
rene, forty-two feet of ladders, smoke
masks and complete minor equipment
Ladder No. IAN American La
France aerial truck, motor two wheel
tractor type; in good condition. Car
ries seventy five foot aerial ladder,
four Pompier ladders, and III feet of
other ladders. Aerial ladder equip
ped with two way ladder pipe, so that
same can be used as water tower. Car
ries two three gallon chemicals, life
net, cellar nozzles, smoke helmets,
lungrlotor, stretchers, salvage covers
and complete assortment of fire tools
and equipment.
Ladder No. "A horse drawn type
service truck, equipped with draw
bar for towing, and is in fair condi-
ton. Has fifty foot chain extension
ladder, and 100 feet of other ladders,
two 3 gallon chemicals, cellar nozzle,
and minor equipment.
The department also has an old eXer-
cising wagon and a two wheeled hose
cart.
Hose-On Hand.
The department has on hand $500
feet of 2k inch fire hose. $500 feet of
this is in good condition, 1000 feet in
fair condition, and the remainder
poor.
There is also 400 feet of one inch
chemical hose, in good condition.
During the year, all hose was test
ed, and that found unsafe, or which
burst under pressure, was condemned,
and taken out of service. Such hose
is turned over to Street or Water De-
partments.
Responded to Fires.
During the year Just closed the de-
partment responded to one hundred
and fifteen alarms. Ninety four of the
calls were sent in by telephone, six
teen by the regular fire alarm system,
and five by personal service. The lar
gest number of fires responded to
we're chimney fires, which numbered
nineteen; rubbish fires thirteen,
sparks from chimney twelve, and 9TH
er fires were caused from various eau
SEES. During the year there was no
serious fire, owing to the alertness of
,aa department.
The department in responding to,
and returning from the above fires
travelled one hundred and sixty four
nd eight tenths miles. A total of A.
81 ar toiH IN in