New Britain herald., 1928-05-08

by our drillmaster, First Deputy Chief Engineer E. F. Barnes.
 The services of this tower will be greatly increased this year, we are hopeful, through the installa- ton Of water main, making it ence in the handling Of hose under water pressure. In connection with other uses of this service, We are now In position to give men train ing in the operation of the bumpers and our aerial ladders Without this accommodation il is utterly i'm possible to furnish adequate training in hose and ladder work,
 Fire Alarm system
 Several important additions to the fire alarm system have been brought about during the year. We have added Is boxes, and have laid 1000 feet of ca bic in the South Main street subway. The system has also been brought up to date by the placement of 35 quick action doors on our old type boxes. This method eliminates many Of The difficulties formerly faced in sending in alarms. and when the importance of the early minute. in getting to the scene Of Are is considered. it can readily he realized how valuable this change has been.
 We are now having placed Tn II of the public schools. fire alarm l boxes, guaranteeing maximum pro- lection to these buildings. We are hopeful Of obtaining at as early a date as possible. funds with which 10 add eight boxes, which will give protection 10 all public schools. Again we ask your consideration Of our proposal that another man be added 10 the electrical superin- ! tendent's staff. whose duty will bear i upon the police signal system. Both the fire and police system. have been elaborated upon and the work has increased by leaps and bounds We feel that an addition to this staff is very much needed. It has been necessary for us to employ ad- ditlonal men from the outside dur ing the year and it is the board S opinion that permanent man. hav- ing year-around contact with this exacting work would give the city maximum service, and would be a ! move toward economy
 Siren
 The siren, located in the old drill tower in the rear Of Central Head quarters, has been placed in opera ton and has functioned satisfac- torily.
 Manual Switchboard Your action in permitting us to add two switchboard operators to | the personnel of the department has been most valuable Under the plan now in force. we have men at the i telephone switchboard 24 hours 8 l day, whose duty it is to handle calls , coming in at all times, including 1 periods when companies housed at Central Headquarters are out. He l also sounds the siren.
 Company Manning
 "We have strengthened Hose Companies and ?, adding one man on each shift. making total Of l four new men. To bring the hose | ir,St tn nf off ;cta i recommended by the National Board of Fire Underwriters we should have 1 six men on each shift. We now have five men on Hose Companies and ?, and four men each, per
 shift on the other hose companies
 At this time we recommend that
 consideration be given the increas- ing of all hose companies to squad ds
 of five men each.
 Service Ladder Need
 "Each year the hazard in the sec
 ton of the city to the north of the railroad crossover, particularly in the northwestern section is increas- ing. and to furnish proper protection
 We believe no time should be lost in providing a 55-foot city service lad { Ger, to be manned by two shifts ot [ five men each. Ladder Company No.
 .. located on Elm street. now re-
 spends to alarms coming from this
 section. This system is far from sat isfactory as the distance is often
 great and the traffic hazards. in- ! cludine the railroad crossovers. often
 causes a great delay In reaching
 fires. It is the wish of the board to | house this company at No. , sta
 ton. located at the northerly ey. trcmity Of Main street.
 West End Station
 "An additional fire station in the
 western section Of the city is greatly needed This district has less pro- l lection than any other section Of the
 city at the present time, a condition
 which has brought much criticism
 from the National Board of Fire Un-
 derwriters. We recommend that a l site be purchase without delay. a 1 house be built and that a 750-gallor bumper be purchased. and a com