USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
The brethren in these early days were very fond of dinners and parades. The first celebration was held June 24, 1852, when the following entries were made :
"During the day the nativity of our Patron Saint, John the Baptist, was publicly celebrated in due and ancient form.
"The procession was formed under the direction of Bro. J. W. Robinson, Marshal of the day, appointed by Bro. G. P. Tebbetts, when the procession moved through the principal streets of the city to the place appointed for that purpose.
"When the Throne of Grace was addressed by our Rev. Bro. Reynolds, Chap- lain, in an appropriate prayer, and our Bro. J. J. Ames delivered a chaste and beautiful oration suitable to the occasion, when the procession returned to the hall and repaired to the residence of Bro. Robinson and partook of an enter- tainment and the procession then returned to the hall in good order."
297
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
July 15th of this year Mr. Tebbetts was made a master Mason. On November 4th there is another entry which is worth quoting:
"This day Nov. 4, 1852, being the centenary era of the Initiation of Our beloved Brother George Washington into the order of Masonry, Therefore it was resolved to celebrate the same in a suitable manner. At 12 o'clock A. M. the procession formed in front of the Masonic Hall under the direction of Com- panion W. H. Moon and proceeded through the principal streets and around the Plaza to the Hall where the Throne of Grace was addressed by our worthy chaplain Bro. Reynolds in an impressive prayer, after which our worthy com- panion James W. Robinson delivered an able and eloquent oration to the fra- ternity and a crowded auditory, which was listened to with deep interest by all. The exercises at the Hall closed by prayer by the Chaplain, and the procession again formed and marched to the residence of Phil. Crosthwaite and partook of a sumptuous dinner. Col. C. J. Couts and lady were invited guests. The brethren returned to their Hall and the Lodge closed in Pease & Harmony."
In 1870 the place of meeting was changed to Horton's Addition, a change which caused some feeling. In 1880 steps were taken toward the erection of a lodge building, to be built in connection with the Odd Fellows, on a lot which had been purchased on the northwest corner of Sixth and H streets. The corner- stone was laid March 7, 1882. The new hall was occupied for the first time July 29, 1882. In 1910 a beautiful new temple was built on the corner of Ash and Fifth streets, at a cost of about $100,000.
SAN DIEGO COMMANDERY, NO. 25, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
was organized at a meeting held in the Backesto block, June 22, 1885, those present being Garrett G. Bradt, John Peck Burt, Charles Merwin Fenn, Edwin . Ben Howell, Edward Wilkerson Bushyhead, Nicholas Ridgley Hooper, Joseph A. Flint, Henry Madison Jacoby, Norman Henry Conklin, John S. Harbison, John Arm McRae and Thomas McCall Gruwell. A dispensation was granted July 27, 1885. The lodge is now in a prosperous condition.
CONSTANS LODGE OF PERFECTION, NO. 8, A. & A. S. R.
was organized May 13, 1887, and is now in good condition.
SOUTHERN STAR CHAPTER, NO. 96, EASTERN STAR
The first meeting looking toward the organization of an Eastern Star chapter was held April 5, 1888, and a charter was granted in the following October. The first officers were: Lucy L. Dannals, W. M .; George M. Dannals, W. P .; Anna E. Kooken, A. M .; Gertrude Brobeck, C .; Abbie A. Jenks, A. C .; Maria M. Lowell, W .; James S. Clark, S.
SILVER GATE LODGE, NO. 296, A. F. & A. M.
was granted a charter October 10, 1889. The first officers were: D. E. Bailey, W. M .; A. E. Dodson, S. W .; James Wells, J. W.
Other Masonic bodies are Constans Chapter of Knights of Rose Croix, No.
298
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
5, A. & A. S. R., organized December 3, 1900; San Diego Council Knights Kadosh, No. 6, A. & A. S. R., organized March 2, 1903; San Diego Con- sistory, No. 6, A. & A. S. R., organized April 28, 1904; and San Diego Chapter, No. 61, R. A. M.
ODD FELLOWS-SAN DIEGO LODGE, NO. 153, I. O. O. F.
The first meeting toward the organization of a lodge of Odd Fellows in San Diego was held at the home of James Pascoe, December 5, 1868. The formal institution was effected March 23, 1869, at a meeting held in a hall at the corner of Seventh and K streets. The first officers were: John R. Porter, N. G .; Alexander M. Young, V. G .; F. Marlette, R. S .; S. S. Culverwell, T.
The charter members were: John R. Porter, S. S. Culverwell, B. F. Nudd, Charles F. Moore, Alexander M. Young, R. D. Case, Amos Crane, John Groes- beck, W. C. Rickard, John O. Hatleberg, P. P. Willett, A. C. Tedford, F. Marlette.
The lodge owns a building in connection with the Masons, located at the corner of Sixth and H streets.
Other lodges of the I. O. O. F. in San Diego are the following: Anna Rebekah Lodge, No. 127; Canton San Diego Lodge, No. 22; Centennial Encampment, No. 58; Silver Gate Rebekah Lodge, No. 141; Sunset Lodge, No. 328.
THE ELKS
San Diego Lodge, No. 168, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, was in- stituted in this city, June 8, 1890, in Horton hall, on the southwest corner of Sixth and F streets, where now stands the Hill block. A charter was granted July 10, 1890.
To J. M. Dodge belongs the credit of having an Elks' lodge instituted in San Diego. The laws of the order, at that time, required that at least two resident members of the order must be on the call for the institution of a lodge in any city.
The first preliminary meeting was held in an old wooden structure dignified by the name "Leache's Opera House," situated on D street on the lot adjoining the present new Elks' home on the west. The men attending that first meeting were J. M. Dodge, J. P. Goodwin, Walter T. Blake, John Kastle, T. A. Nerney. J. E. Wooley, T. J. Storey, W. M. Gassaway and W. F. Riley. James P. Goodwin was a past exalted ruler of Springfield, Ohio, Lodge No. 51, and was of great assistance to Mr. Dodge through his knowledge of the order. In order that there be at least two Elks to sign the call for a lodge, Mr. Dodge went to Los Angeles, where he joined Los Angeles Lodge, No. 99.
District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler W. C. Dudley, a member of Golden Gate Lodge, No. 6, was the officer who presided at the institution of the lodge, as- sisted by J. M. Dodge of this city, a member of Los Angeles Lodge, No. 99; J. P. Goodwin of this city, a member and past exalted ruler of Springfield, Ohio, Lodge, No. 51; F. E. Holtslander, W. T. Hunter, F. C. Smith, G. P. McLain, T. Shaw, M. Lehman, T. A. Brunswick, R. Northern and M. Aguire, members of Los Angeles Lodge, No. 99.
ELKS' HALL, SAN DIEGO
299
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
J. M. Dodge was elected exalted ruler. All the officers elected at the in- stitution did not serve through the term. The credit for the first year's service belongs to J. M. Dodge, exalted ruler; T. A. Nerney, esteemed leading knight ; B. F. Harville, esteemed loyal knight; J. S. Callen, esteemed lecturing knight ; Eugene Daney, esquire; Robert C. Jones, secretary ; E. H. Miller, treasurer ; C. A. Brown, inside guard; and J. S. Wooley, tyler.
After its institution the lodge occupied quarters in the Knights of Pythias hall in the Schmidt building, opposite the Plaza on Fourth street, from June 14, 1890, to February 28, 1891. Meetings were then held in the old Horton hall from March 7, 1891, to the following March, when it moved into quarters provided for it in the Fisher Opera House building, now known as the Isis Theater building. The first meeting in the Fisher was held April 7, 1892, and the last meeting of the lodge February 17, 1898. On the following Thursday, Feb- ruary 24, 1898, was held the first meeting in the more elegant quarters, planned especially for the lodge in the building, then just completed, and owned by the San Diego Gas & Electric Light Company on Sixth street, between D and E, where it remained up to its meeting on Thursday night, November 7, 1907.
About 1906, a building association was formed among members of the club and the land on which the clubhouse now stands, on the corner of Second and D, was purchased for $23,000. The first dirt was thrown from the excavation for the new home at II o'clock on May II, 1906, and the corner stone was laid at eleven o'clock on the night of June 8, 1906, at the hour when all good Elks give a kindly thought to the "absent brother." On Thursday, November 14, 1907, a magnificent structure was dedicated to the uses and purposes of San Diego Lodge, No. 168, B. P. O. E., and here the members meet, entertain visiting Elks, enjoy all there is in club life, and take a large part in the social life of San Diego. The grounds, building and furnishings cost $102,000. The property today is probably worth $200,000.
Following is a list of the past exalted rulers: J. M. Dodge, Eugene Daney, E. H. Miller, Irving B. Dudley, Leroy A. Wright, David Gochenauer, Hiram W. Alden, Anson F. Cornell, C. Fred Henking, Frank A. Stephens, Lewis R. Works, E. A. Hornbeck, Carl I. Ferris, Patterson Sprigg, Edward Grove, Frank S. Banks, John B. Osborn, Elwyn B. Gould, A. H. Sweet, Alex. Reynolds, Jr., W. C. Crandall, Albert Schoonover, Carl H. Heilbron.
With the exception of about three months, Robert C. Jones has been sec- retary of the lodge since its organization.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS
The order of Knights of Pythias, which immortalizes that celebrated Grecian story, the "Friendship of Damon and Pythias," was organized in Washington, District of Columbia, on February 19, 1864, and is therefore about forty-eight years old. The "Founder of the Order," for this was the title bestowed by the supreme lodge, was Justus H. Rathbone, a native of Oneida county, New York, and whose profession at the time the order was founded, was that of a school teacher, teaching in Eagle Harbor, Michigan. It has been claimed that the ritual was written while he was teaching in Eagle Harbor, but this is denied by the greatest of Pythian historians, William D. Kennedy, now deceased, but that it was
300
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
written while at work in Washington, D. C., where he had gone just a little time before the order was founded.
The first lodge of the order was Washington No. I, which was organized the night of foundation, but this did not exist very long, and shortly after Franklin No. 2 was organized and is today the oldest lodge in the order, and still holding sessions in Washington, D. C.
The first grand lodge was organized on April 8, 1864, in the District of Columbia and the supreme lodge was organized in the same city, August II, 1868. At the time of organization it was called the Supreme Lodge of the World, but was afterwards changed with the omission of the last words, for the order is distinctively American.
There were but ten members in the first lodge and but fifty-two in the entire order one year later, sixty thousand in 1870, one hundred thousand in 1880, three hundred thousand in 1890 and today its membership approximates three quarters of a million, and it stands in point of age, the second in the "great triumvirate of Orders," i. e., Masonic, K. P., and I. O. O. F.
From a California standpoint the order came into existence September 28, 1869, when the grand lodge of California was organized in San Francisco, and in 1870 the order had about one thousand two hundred members. In 1880 it had jumped to three thousand five hundred, ten thousand in 1890, twelve thousand in 1900 and today has better than twenty thousand. The three principal officers are M. J. Knox, of Sisson, grand chancellor, R. W. Schoonover of Santa Bar- bara, grand vice chancellor and K. A. Miller of Los Angeles, grand prelate.
The sessions of the grand lodge are held annually and the session of 1913 will be held in San Diego.
Locally the order came into existence in October, 1874, when San Diego Lodge No. 28 was organized, and which is still in existence. No other lodges were or- ganized until 1887, when Themis No. 146, of Escondido, was instituted in May, and Red Star No. 153, of this city, in September of the same year. In May, 1888, Loma No. 159, of National City, was instituted and this constitutes the Pythian lodges of San Diego county, all of which are live organizations.
The order is likewise represented in the various other branches with Chevalier Company No. 6, of the Uniform Rank, Woodbine Temple No. 36, and Dunton Temple No. 3, of the Pythian Sisters, and Section No. 369, of the insurance de- partment.
The order is the fortunate possessor of its own building in this. county, this being located on the southwest corner of Third and E streets, and nearly all the branches of the order make the building their headquarters, and visiting mem- bers, in any branch of the order, are cordially welcomed at the Pythian building.
SAN DIEGO LODGE, NO. 28
San Diego Lodge No. 28, K. P., was organized October 3, 1874, by Grand Chancellor L. M. Manzer, with twenty-seven charter members, as follows: L. H. Plaisted, Henry Bayly, E. F. Spence, W. W. Stewart, J. A. Gordon, G. G. Bradt, E. W. Bushyhead, G. W. Hazzard, C. B. Culver, J. W. Thompson, J. M. Spencer, H. M. Covert, E. M. Skinner, A. Condee, F. N. Pauly, A. S. Grant, J. N. Young, J. G. Capron, Philip Morse, R. G. Balcom, S. Statler, G. B. Hensley, E. A. Veazie. L. B. Willson, D. Cave, C. W. Pauly, Douglas Gunn.
301
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
The first officers were: C. C., E. F. Spence; V. C., W. W. Stewart; P., G. G. Bradt.
RED STAR LODGE, NO. 153, K. P.
was organized September 28, 1887, with seventy-seven charter members. The first officers were: C. C., T. J. Monahan; V. C., G. A. H. Sprague; P., S. G. Montijo.
The Rathbone Sisters, auxiliary lodges to the Knights of Pythias, are repre- sented by two temples, Woodbine, No. 36, and Dunton Temple, No. 3.
MISCELLANEOUS ORDERS
The Foresters are represented by the following courts: Court Coronado, No, 3798, I. O. F .; Court San Diego, No. 7799, A. O. F .; Court San Diego, No. 28, F. of A .; Court Silver Gate, No. 138, F. of A .; Palomar Circle, No. 510, C. of F. of A .; Palomar Court, No. 176, F. of A .; Silver Gate San Diego Circle, No. 271, F. of A.
The Woodmen of the World are represented by Bay View Camp, No. 7255; Miramar Camp, No. 54; and San Diego Circle, No. 161.
The Improved Order of Red Men are represented by Lodge No. 155, Coa- huilla Tribe; the Eagles by San Diego Aerie, No. 244; the Knights and Ladies of Security by Council No. 429; the Maccabees by Hive No. 17, Ladies of the Maccabees and San Diego Tent No. 26, K. O. T. M .; the Order of Pendo by San Diego Council No. 18 and Southwest Council No. 177; the Royal Arcanum by San Diego Lodge No. 1214; the Fraternal Brotherhood by San Diego Lodge No. 18 and Tourmaline Lodge; the Ancient Order of United Workmen by Emblem Lodge No. 103, Degree of Honor and Point Loma Lodge No. 248; the O. d' H. S. by San Diego Lodge No. 22 and Thusnelda Lodge No. 4. The Royal Neighbors of America, the Fraternal Grove, the Fraternal Aid and the Knights of Honor also have organizations.
SAN DIEGO GUARDS
The San Diego Guards was organized in July, 1856. This was an active organization for four or five years but at the outbreak of the Civil war the meet- ings were abandoned. The following is a list of the original muster roll of the company :
Captain, George A. Pendleton; first lieutenant, William H. Noyes; second lieutenant, D. B. Kurtz; third lieutenant, James W. Connors; first sergeant, Andrew Cotton; second sergeant, R. D. Israel; third sergeant, James Donahoe; fourth sergeant, Joseph Schycoffer; first corporal, John I. Van Alst; second corporal, Nathan Vise; third corporal, Edward Kerr; fourth corporal, Frank Kerren ; first drummer, Charles Morris ; first fifer, F. R. Maretowsky.
Privates-J. Judson Ames, Joseph A. Anderson, Alvarado, J. P. Blackstone, John Brown, J. P. Brinkerhoff, E. W. Barnes, W. B. Couts, Andrew Crsit, P. G. Chisumn, Thomas R. Darnall, Jose G. Estudillo, Charles Gerson, S. Goldman, J. R. Gitchell, R. W. Groom, D. B. Hoffman, Duane Herald, W. H. Jessup, William H. Leighton, William H. Le Roy, George Lyons, H. Ma- gee, E. W. Morse, Jose C. Marron, H. Mannasse, Jose S. Mannasse. M. Man-
302
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
nasse, A. E. Maxcy, J. P. Pond. C. H. Pond, Walter Ringgold, William Robin- son, Charles S. Rathburn, Joseph Reiner, Joseph Smith, Marcus Schiller, Ansen G. P. Sutton, A. B. Smith, Edward N. Schneider, George B. Tolman, Thomas Whaley, Isaac Ward, E. A. Wall, A. C. Wiley.
This organization was the forerunner of the modern militia (N. G. C.). The first military organization after the Civil war was known as the San Diego Light Guards, which was organized in Horton's hall, October 18, 1876. The first officers were: First lieutenant, A. P. Jolly ; second lieutenant, Henry Bayly ; orderly sergeant, W. H. Gladstone; first duty sergeant, J. H. Richardson ; second sergeant, J. F. Bowman; third sergeant, J. N. Petty ; fourth sergeant, August Warner.
After a brief period this organization died out and it was not until early in April, 1881, that the organization of the City Guards was effected, with sixty members. The first officers were: President, Douglas Gunn; secretary, Philo E. Beach; treasurer, O. S. Hubbell. The military officers were: Captain, Douglas Gunn; first lieutenant, Martin Lacy; second lieutenant, George MI. Dannals.
Soon after a successful entertainment was given for their benefit and on the 12th of October, 1881, the company was reorganized with the same officers as a company of the Seventh Regiment Infantry of the National Guard of California.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC-HEINTZELMAN POST, NO. 33
The first G. A. R. post organized in San Diego was Heintzelman Post, No. 33. The post was organized October 8, 1881, by Matthew Sherman as mustering officer, detailed by the department commander for said purpose, there being twenty-three charter members.
Those who have served as past commanders are: Moses A. Luce, 1881; M. D. Hamilton, 1882; James P. Jones, 1883; George M. Dannals, 1884; Norman H. Conklin, 1885; Danville F. Jones, 1886; Robert M. Powers, 1887; Thomas B. Hartzell, 1888; Nat Kennedy, 1889; Thomas L. Magee, 1890; Datus E. Coon, 1891; Edward H. Miller, 1892; Albert F. Dill, 1893; Lucien D. Burbeck, 1894; Eli T. Blackmer, 1895; George Webber, 1896; William P. Stone, 1897; Myron T. Gilmore, 1898; James V. Hicks, 1899; David L. Kretsinger, 1900; Thomas H. Scoby, 1901 ; John D. Palmer, 1902; Charles H. Hubbs, 1903; Sydney A. Wyllis, 1904: Lionel D. Phillips, 1905; Cassius C. Pillsbury, 1906; Samuel W. Bell, 1907; George P. Hall, 1908; Peter W. Beamer, 1909; George H. Lime- beck, 1910; Charles D. Richardson, 1911 ; Chauncey Quackenbush, 1912.
The post now has a membership of 228. It owns its own burial plat which is managed by three trustees elected by the post.
DATUS E. COON POST, NO. 172
was organized November 10, 1894, by George Puterbaugh as mustering officer, with twenty-four charter members, as follows : J. Q. Ashton, Joseph Van Castle, W. D. Woodward, Francis C. Higgins, James H. Grovesteen, Jolin Confer, Joseph Martin, Charles Miller, Thomas Crogan, Z. C. Mathes, John Straw, Frank
303.
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
James, C. C. Bailey, W. E. Lewis, John R. Doig, Samuel S. Knowles, Arthur H. Dauchey, Patrick Wellington, Joseph Gray, Peter C. Smith, John O'Brien, Peter Watts, Isaac A. Esleeck, Horace J. Hull.
The first officers of the post were: Commander, J. H. Grovesteen; senior vice commander, C. C. Bailey ; junior vice commander, J. Q. Ashton; adjutant, A. H. Dauchey ; quartermaster, Joseph Van Castle ; surgeon, J. R. Doig; chap- lain, S. S. Knowles; officer of the day, John Confer ; guard, Wellington Patrick.
The post now has on its membership rolls 118 names.
Those who have served as past commanders of the post are: James H. Grovesteen, 1894-95; Clark C. Bailey, 1896; Samuel S. Knoles, 1897; David L. Murdock, 1898; Robert H. Butler, 1899; John D. Wareing, 1900-01 ; John P. Burt, 1902-03; Thomas L. Magee, 1904-05; John Bray, 1906; S. W. Milli- champ, 1907; George E. Haynes, 1908-09; Arthur E. Vest, 1910; L. M. Dort, 19II-12.
The auxiliary bodies of this organization are Heintzelman Corps, No. I. W. R. C .; Datus E. Coon Corps, No. 84; General U. S. Grant Circle, Ladies of the G. A. R .; and Heintzelman Woman's Relief Corps, No. I, the latter organized in July, 1883.
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES
Camp Bennington is a post composed of Spanish-American war veterans.
The United Veterans of the Confederacy are represented in an organization known as John Morgan Camp 1198.
San Diego Parlor, No. 168, N. S. G. W. was organized in 1887 and formally installed on the 8th of June of that year. The first officers were: President, W. J. Hunsaker; first vice president, W. E. Princely; second vice president, C. A. Campbell; third vice president, C. A. Loomis; treasurer, M. Klauber.
The Native Daughters of the Golden West also maintain an organization.
The first Pioneer Society in San Diego was organized February 12, 1872, composed of members who had resided in San Diego prior to 1854. The follow- ing is a partial list of those who were charter members: W. B. Couts, Jose G. Estudillo, George Lyons, Thomas Whaley, Marcus Schiller, James W. Connors, William A. Winder, John W. Leamy, Daniel P. Clark, T. G. Battaile, Miguel Aguirre. Thomas P. Slade, A. O. Wallace, Thomas H. Bush, D. Crichton, E. W. Bushyhead.
A second society known as the Pioneer Society was formed at the home of John G. Capron, March 1, 1888. E. W. Morse was elected the first president, while Douglas Gunn acted as secretary. The date limit was made January I, 1871. Both this and the first named Pioneer Society had a brief existence.
An organization known as the Ladies' Pioneer Society was formed May 31, 1895, the membership being limited to those who arrived prior to January, 1880. The first president was Mrs. Flora Kimball; secretary, Mrs. Hattie Phillips.
The New England Society was formed November 23, 1854. The first officers were : President, O. S. Witherby ; vice presidents, Judge J. Judson Ames, Colonel J. R. Gitchell and Captain H. S. Burton; recording secretary, Captain George P. Tebbetts ; corresponding secretary, Judge E. W. Morse.
The San Diego Society of Natural History was incorporated in October, 1874. The first president was Dr. George W. Barnes.
304
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY
An organization known as the San Diego Lyceum of Sciences existed for some years but its meetings have long since been abandoned.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized by Frances Wil- lard in 1884.
CHAPTER XXXIX CITY GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The San Diego fire department holds the record of the United States for efficiency in its rating of steamers, established by test of the National Board of Fire Underwriters made two years ago. Since that test the department has materially improved by addition of modern fire fighting apparatus and a de- creased fire loss. While a well trained department and a good water supply are invaluable to prevent a large conflagration, yet the consideration of preven- tion of fires, an early and reliable alarm, and a rapid response to the alarm are fully as necessary.
The city has in the last three and a half years made much progress, in the prevention of fires. A faithful deputy fire marshal is constantly inspecting basements, back yards, oil tanks and other probable chances for an incipient blaze, the building inspector and his deputies carefully scrutinize the construc- tion of the new buildings, and the electrical department rigidly enforces all safeguards against improper use of electricity. In addition to this, the captains of each fire station make monthly inspections of public buildings, schoolhouses, theaters and picture houses. To all these safeguards the fire department is equipped with the Gamewell fire alarm system, having one hundred and twenty- one boxes of modern type and using ninety-two miles of wire in the system. The headquarters of the alarm system is at the station at Tenth and B streets.
The chief of the fire department is also fire marshal and superintendent of the fire alarm and police telegraph, without additional compensation.
During the first ten months of 1912 the fire department responded to 299 alarms, of which 35 were false alarms. The total value of the property affected during these fires amounted to $2,296,285, and the loss was only $30,390, being a ratio of 1.32 per cent, and in no case did the fire reach an adjoining building. During the year 1912 the insurance rates were reduced from ten to fifty per cent, allowed for the efficiency of the department, a better water supply, as well as the efforts of the city to enforce building, electrical and other ordinances intended to suppress conflagration. The sane Fourth of July. ordinance en- forcement has also had its influence in these reductions.
Along the lines of fire prevention the department has established an "inspec- tion blank form" which has been approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters as a model. This blank is in use by the captains of the various stations in making their monthly inspections, in which they report all deficiencies found, as faulty construction, stand pipes, fire escapes, accumulation of trash, Vol. I-20
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.