USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1891 > Part 19
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Meacham St.
Public.
40
1,625
450
Otis
Cross St.
Wigglesworth St. .
Public.
40
1,200
1,330
Oxford
Beacon St.
Cambridge Line .
Public.
50
100
Packard Ave. .
Broadway .
Medford Line .
Private.
60
1
2,000
Palmer Ave.
Franklin St.
Northwesterly
Private.
20
Park Ave. .
Elm St.
Wallace St.
Public.
40
450
I
Park Pl.
Laurel St.
Easterly & north'ly Beacon St.
Public.
50
1,300
150
Parker
Washington St. .
Fremont Ave.
Private.
35
200
Partridge Ave.
Vernon St.
Broadway
Private.
40
1,500
Patten Ct.
Cutter St. .
Southeasterly
Private.
8
100
Pauline .
Broadway
Holland St. .
Private.
40
1
7.5
Pearl .
Crescent St.
Medford St.
Public.
40 & 50
4,750
200
*Pearson Ave.
Morrison Ave ..
Boston Ave.
Private.
45
1,300
Pembroke Ct.
Pembroke St.
Southwesterly
Private.
25
130
Pembroke .
Central St.
Sycamore St.
Private.
40
1
440
Perkins Pl.
Perkins St.
Northeasterly
Private.
20
200
Perkins .
Franklin St.
Charlestown Line.
Public.
40
1,350
Pinckney
Washington St. .
Perkins St. .
Public.
40
1,170
1
Pitman .
Beech St. .
Belmont St. .
Private.
30
800
Pleasant Ave.
Walnut St.
Vinal Ave.
Public.
.40
470
1
Poplar Ct. .
Poplar St.
Southeasterly Joy St.
Private.
30 & 35
650
Porter Ave.
Porter St. .
Northwesterly
Private.
20
220
Porter Pl. .
Porter St.
Northwesterly .
Private.
20
195
Porter
Elm St.
Summer St. .
Public.
45
1,150
830
Prescott
Summer St.
Highland Ave ..
Public.
50
1,050
Preston
School St.
Summer St. .
Public.
40
800
Professors' Row .
College Ave. .
Curtis St.
Private.
40
-
1,900
Prospect
Washington St. .
Cambridge Line
Public.
40 & 50
2,050
Prospect Hill Av.
Medford St. .
High St. .
Public.
40
450
Prospect Pl.
Prospect St. .
E. Newton St. .
Private.
20
130
Putnam .
Summer St. .
Highland Ave.
Public.
50
1,240
-
Quincy
Somerville Ave.
Summer St.
Public.
40
700
-
Randolph Pl. .
Cross St. .
Westerly .
Private.
15
244
Raymond Ave.
Curtis St. .
North St.
Public.
40
1,345
-
Record's Pl.
Broadway .
Southwesterly
Private.
10
110
Reed's Ct. .
Oliver St. .
Southwesterly
Private.
20
105
Remick Ct.
Cutter St. .
Southeasterly
Private.
10
100
Richardson
Lowell St.
Lawrence St.
Private.
35
480
Richdale Ave.
School St.
Sycamore St.
Public.
40
875
-
Richmond Hi'h'ds
Madison St. .
Southerly
Private.
30
150
Roberts .
Lawrence, St.
Northwesterly
Private.
20
170
Robinson
Central St.
Bartlett St. .
Private.
40
645
*Rogers Ave.
Morrison Ave.
Broadway
Private.
45
1,700
-
Oak
Angle
Oak St.
Northerly
Private.
4
Olive Sq.
Lake St.
Southerly
Private.
about 15
-
Osgood .
Granite St.
Easterly & west'ly
Private.
40
-
Oxford
School St.
Central St.
Private.
30+
30 & 20
350
Park .
Somerville Ave.
Parker Pl.
Porter St. .
Northwesterly
Private.
20
Pearl St. Pl.
Pearl St.
Northeasterly
Private.
20
Private.
10
80
Poplar
Somerville Ave.
Porter
Summer St.
Highland Ave. .
Private.
45
-
600
Norton
Nashua St.
Southeasterly
Private.
20
Public.
40
670
530
Oak St. Pl.
200
Private.
*Proposed.
326
ANNUAL REPORTS.
STREET.
FROM.
To.
Public or Private.
Width in Feet.
Public.
Private.
Roseland
Beacon St.
Cambridge Line
Public.
40
100
-
Rossmore
Somerville Ave.
Washington St.
Private.
40
-
525
Runey Pl.
Runey St.
Northerly
Private.
40
200
Runey
Cross St.
Aldrich St.
Public.
40
753
Rush .
Broadway .
Flint St. .
Public.
40
1,400
-
Russell
Elm St.
Cambridge Line
Public.
40
700
-
Sacramento
Somerville Ave.
Cambridge Line
Private.
40
-
600
Sanborn Ave. .
Warren Ave.
Walnut St.
Public.
40
280
Sargent Ave. .
Broadway .
Mills St.
Public.
40
522
Sartwell Ave. .
Cedar St. .
Cherry St.
Private.
35
400
School
Somerville Ave.
Broadway
Public.
40 & 50
4,370
-
Sellon Pl.
Marshall St. .
Northwesterly
Private.
12
120
Sewall Ct. .
Sewall St.
Southwesterly
Private.
25
190
Sewall
Grant St.
Temple St.
Private.
40
650
Shawmut Pl.
Shawmut St.
Alston St.
Private.
30
200
Shawmut
Washington St. .
Cross St.
Public.
40
550
-
Shedd
Somerville Ave.
Charlestown St.
Private.
40
310
Sherman Pl.
Sargent Ave.
Marshall St.
Private.
10
250
Sherman
Somerville Ave.
Frost Ave.
Private.
35
270
Sibley Ct.
Cutter St. .
Northwesterly
Private.
10
100
Sibley Pl ..
Cutter St. .
Northwesterly .
Private.
10
100
Simpson Ave.
Broadway .
Holland St. .
Private.
40
825
Skehan .
Dane St.
Durham St. .
Private.
30
720
Smith Ave.
Beacon St.
Line St.
Private.
25-1-
200
Snow Pl.
Belmont St. .
Easterly
Private.
25 & 30
270
Somerville Ave. . South
E. Camb. Line.
N. Camb. Line
Public.
70 & 75
11,100
-
* Southwick Ave.
Morrison Ave. .
Boston Ave.
Private.
40
990
Spring Ct. .
Somerville Ave.
Westerly
Private.
20
Spring
Somerville Ave.
Summer St.
Public.
40
1,200 800
450
St. James Ave.
Marshall St. . Elm St.
Summer St.
Public.
40
488
675
Stone Pl.
Stone Ave.
Southeasterly
Private.
30
145
Summer
Bow St.
Elm St.
Public.
45
7,700
Summit Ave.
Walnut St.
Vinal Ave.
Public.
45
470
Summit .
Elm St.
Billingham St.
Private.
40
264
*Sumner
Lawrence St.
Northwesterly
Private.
20
175
Sunnyside Ave.
Walnut St.
Wigglesworth St.
Private.
35
250
Sycamore
Broadway
Medford St.
Public.
45
1,250
Sycamore
Medford St.
Highland Ave. .
Private.
33 & 40
1,350
Sydney .
Wheatland St.
Temple St.
Private.
40
925
Taunton
So. Wyatt St
Marion St.
Private.
30 & 20
-
-
200
Taylor
Mystic Ave. .
Sydney St.
Private.
40
310
Temple
Broadway
Mystic Ave.
Public.
66
1,540
400
Tennyson
Forster St.
Medford St. .
Public.
40
469
Tennyson
Medford St. .
Pembroke St.
Private.
40
400
Thorndike
Holland St.
Arlington B. R. R.
Private.
40
460
Thorpe Pl.
Highland Ave.
South westerly
Private.
30
450
Thurston
Broadway
Richdale Ave.
Public.
40
1,660
-
Thurston
Broadway
Heath St.
Private.
40
340
Tower Ct. .
Tyler St. Crown St.
Highland Ave. .
Private.
40
550
Tremont Pl.
Tremont St. .
Southeasterly
Private.
about 10
75
Tremont
Webster Ave.
Cambridge Line Medford St.
Private.
40
-
1,050
Trull Lane .
Highland Ave. .
Oxford St.
Private.
15
200
Tube Works Ct.
Somerville Ave.
Southwesterly
Private.
20
150
Tufts
Washington St. .
Cross St. .
Public.
40
940
-
Tyler
Vine St.
Dane St. .
Public.
40
404
-
Springfield .
Concord Ave.
Cambridge Line School St.
Private.
40
-
Stone Ave.
Union Sq.
Columbus Ave.
Private.
40
-
260
Taylor's Pl.
Somerville Ave.
Southerly
Private.
15
Tenney Ct.
Mystic Ave. .
Northeasterly
Private.
30
Northeasterly
Private.
25
150
*Tower .
Public.
40
589
Trull
Vernon St.
Westerly .
Private.
30
940
200
Public.
40
Stickney Ave.
Medford St. .
* Proposed.
LENGTH.
327
APPENDICES TO CITY ENGINEER'S REPORT.
LENGTH.
STREET.
FROM.
To.
Public or Private.
Width in Feet.
Public.
Private.
Union Union Pl.
Broadway
Mystic Ave. Southwesterly
Public. Private.
10
-
100
Veazie
Walnut St.
Bradley St.
Private.
40
Vernon
Central St.
Jenny Lind Ave.
Public.
40
740
-
Vernon .
Jenny Lind Ave.
Lowell St.
Private.
30
600
Villa Ave.
Winslow Ave.
Arlington B. R. R. Vine St.
Private.
25
370
Vinal Ave.
Summer St.
Highland Ave. .
Public.
45
1,400
-
200
Vine .
Somerville Ave.
Beacon St.
Private.
25 & 40
1,400
Virginia .
Aldrich St.
Jasper St.
Public.
40
405
-
Wade Ct.
Cedar St. .
Westerly .
Private.
20
-
180
Waldo
Highland Ave.
Hudson St.
Private.
40
Wallace .
Holland St.
Broadway
Public.
40
1,350
-
Walnut
Bow St.
Broadway
Public.
40
3,830
-
Ward
Medford St.
Earl St.
Private.
30
610
Warren Ave.
Union Sq.
Columbus Ave.
Public.
40
650
-
Warren .
Medford St.
Cambridge Line
Private.
30
100
Warwick
Cedar St. .
Southeasterly
Private.
40
630
Washington
Washington St. .
Northerly
Private.
18
350
Washington
Charlest'n Line .
Cambridge Line
Public.
60 to 100
7,250
250
Waverly
Washington St. .
Southerly
Private.
35
200
Ware
Curtis St. .
Northwesterly
Private.
40
700
Webster Ave.
Union Sq.
Cambridge Line Cross St. .
Public.
40
1,000
Wellington Ave.
Walnut St.
Montgomery Easterly .
Private.
40
85
Wesley Pk.
Wesley Sq.
Northeasterly
Public.
40
405
Wesley
Otis St.
Pearl St. .
Private.
30 & 40
515
West .
Broadway
Heath St.
Private.
30
250
West .
Hawthorne St.
Arlington B. R. R.
Private.
30
590
Weston Ave.
Clarendon Ave. .
Broadway
Private.
40
525
Wheatland .
Broadway .
Jaques St.
Public.
40
495
855
Wheeler.
Pinckney St. .
Mt. Vernon St.
Private.
40
269
Whipple
Hawthorne St.
Arlington B. R. R.
Private.
30
575
White
Elm St.
Cambridge Line
Private.
20
300
White St. Pl.
White St. .
Southeasterly
Private.
20
200
Wigglesworth William .
Chandler St. .
Elm St.
Public.
40
381
-
Williams Ct.
Porter St.
Northwesterly .
Private.
30
150
Willoughby
Central St.
Sycamore St.
Private.
30
400
Willow Ave.
Elm St.
Broadway
Public.
50
3,440
-
Willow Pl. .
Cambridge Line
South St.
Private.
25
150
*Willowdale
Willow Ave. .
Easterly
Private.
40
550
Wilson Ave.
Broadway
B. & L. R. R.
Private.
20
310
Wilton
Lowell St.
Lawrence St.
Private.
35
470
Windom
Elm St.
Summer St. .
Private.
40
300
Winslow Ave.
Elm St.
Grove St.
Private.
40
470
Winter
Elm St. Broadway .
Northeasterly
Private.
25
177
Winthrop Ave.
Broadway .
Mystic Ave. Lowell St.
Private.
30
600
*Woods Ave. .
North St. .
Alewife Brook
Private.
40
1,350
Wyatt Ct.
South Wyatt St.
Westerly
Private.
13
200
Wyatt (South)
Concord Ave.
Northerly
Private.
40
400
Wyatt (North)
Washington St. .
Southerly
Private.
40
-
350
.
Ave.
Public.
40
215
Wellington Ave. .
Montgomery Ave.
Northerly
Private.
Public.
49.5
1,950
Webster
Franklin St. .
Wheatland .
Jaques St.
Mystic Ave.
Private.
40
Bonair St.
Pearl St. .
Private.
40
740
Vinal
Richardson St. .
Northeasterly
Private.
20
35
200
Village
Dane St. .
Private.
40
330
-
* Proposed.
Public.
50
1,170
-
Woodbine
Centre St.
Holland St. .
Private.
30
430
Winter Hill Cir.
Ave.
Water
South St. .
25
287
Linwood St. .
650
328
ANNUAL REPORTS.
UNNAMED STREETS.
LENGTH.
STREET.
FROM.
To.
Public or Private.
Width in Feet.
Public.
Private.
Meacham St. Pearl St. .
Northwesterly Pearl St. .
Private. Private.
20 40
190
560
Total
246,882
179,785
Public, 46.76 miles ; private, 34.05 miles.
REPORT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 27, 1892. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 27, 1892. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN COMMITTEE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT, January 1, 1892.
To the City Council : -.
The following is the final report of the committee on fire department for the year ending December 31, 1891 :-
The manual force of the department consists of seventy-seven members, including one chief and one assistant engineer, which is a decrease from last year of one member.
Under an order of the City Council, dated November 11, engine No. 1, located at the corner of Highland avenue and Walnut street, has been put in thorough repair by the Silsby Manufacturing Com- pany, of Seneca Falls, N. Y., at an expense of $1,537.00.
A new fuel wagon has been purchased during the year of Messrs. E. Teel & Co., of Medford, for Hose 3, at a cost of $85.00.
A new sleigh was also purchased of Frank W. Leavitt for $22.00.
Under an order dated September 17, plans and specifications for additions and alterations to the steamer house, situated at the corner of Highland avenue and Walnut street, in view of accommo- dations for a chemical engine and the extension of the fire-alarm telegraph system, have been accepted by the City Council, and it is hoped that the City Council of 1892 will take immediate measures for making these additions and alterations, which are so much needed.
Two new fire-alarm boxes have been added during the year.
Eight hundred feet of hose have been purchased during the year, at an expense of $520.00, and $879.60 has been expended for repair- ing hose. This expenditure was occasioned largely by the severe strain on the hose at the recent fire of John P. Squire & Co., October 5th.
332
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The price paid for water from the hydrants for the year was $2,898, which was an increase over the year 1890 of $658.56. This increase is based on the increase of population. The price will remain the same for five years.
The committee desires at this time to commend the work of the department for the more than ordinarily arduous duties performed by the members during the year. The general good conduct and efficiency of the men commands general approval, not only by this committee, but also by the citizens generally, and is worthy of sub- stantial recognition by the City Council.
We present herewith the report of the chief engineer, and recommend that it be printed with the annual'reports.
The appropriation, receipts, and expenditures are shown by the following statements :-
FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT.
CREDIT.
Appropriation
$32,000 00
Receipts : -
For manure sold
$54 00
credit on horse doc-
toring bill 6 00
60 00
Total credit
$32,060 00
DEBIT.
Expenditures : -
For salaries of permanent men $13,540129
salaries of call men
6,027 18
substitute drivers ·
1,786 12
improvements and repairs of
apparatus and vehicles ·
2,141 03
improvements and repairs of buildings and furniture, and new furniture .
1,251 51
new vehicles and apparatus
107 00
Amounts carried forward . $24,853 13
$32,060 00
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
333
Amounts brought forward $24,853 13 $32,060 00
maintenance and extension of fire-alarm telegraph 985 10
hose and hose pipe and repair- ing same
1,399 60
grain and feed
1,072 44
hay and straw
784 81
horseshoeing
415 94
horse medicine and doctoring
91 58
harnesses and repairing same
132 60
fuel .
1,415 74
supplies
62 98
water for hydrants
2,898 00
water for department buildings,
117 00
gas
633 30
ice
43 00
washing and ironing
84 19
telephones
36 20
hand fire-extinguishers
42 00
incidentals
897 24
insurance
138 75
Total debit
36,103 60
Amount overdrawn
.
$4,043 60
For the committee, CHARLES B. SANBORN, Chairman. WILLIAM P. MITCHELL, Clerk.
REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, January 27, 1892. Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
Concurred in.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, January 27, 1892. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
OFFICE OF CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT, December 31, 1891.
To the Committee on Fire Department : -
GENTLEMEN, - I have the honor to submit to you a report of the operations of this department for the year 1891.
This report contains a statement of the number of fires, the loss by fire, the insurance on property, and the amount of insurance paid ; also a roster of the department and several tables of statistics, which will be interesting and perhaps instructive.
The year 1891 has produced more fire alarms than any previous year during our existence as a city. Fire alarms have not only been numerous, but some of them have been a severe tax on the strength and endurance of the department; notably was this the case at the fire at John P. Squire & Co.'s, yet the members remained steadfast at their post of duty for many hours. Their conduct on this occasion was an evidence of discipline worthy to be mentioned in this official report.
I desire to tender thanks to his honor the mayor, Charles G. Pope, Aldermen Sanborn and Edmands, Councilmen Phillips, Bean and Smith, for their cordial support in all matters appertaining to the efficiency of the department.
NUMBER OF FIRE ALARMS.
The number of fire alarms during the year was eighty.
Loss .
$381,496 50
Insurance
657,250 00
Insurance paid
320,699 50
338
ANNUAL REPORTS.
MANUAL FORCE.
The manual force of the department consists of seventy-seven men, divided as follows : -
Chief engineer
1
Assistant engineer .
1
Engine Company No. 1
14
Engine Company No. 4
13
Hose Company No. 1
9
Hose Company No. 2
8
Hose Company No. 3
S
Hose Company No. 5
8
Ladder Company No. 1
15
Total
·
77
APPARATUS.
The apparatus in service consists of,-
Two steam fire-engines, each of a capacity of 700 gallons per minute.
Four hose wagons, each equipped with forty-three feet of ladders, two hand chemical extinguishers, and 900 feet of hose.
One hose reel, with 800 feet of hose.
One combination carriage, carrying forty-seven feet of ladders, two thirty-gallon chemical tanks, 150 feet of small hand hose, and 800 feet of large hose.
One ladder truck supplied with ladders, axes, plaster hooks jumping canvas, pitchforks, and other necessary tools.
One old ladder truck.
All of the apparatus is in first-class condition, except the hose reel of Engine No. 1, which should be replaced with a modern hose wagon.
HOSE.
There are 8,000 feet of hose in the department.
.
339
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BELL ALARMS.
The causes for which the alarms were given were as follows : -
No. of Alarm.
1. Children playing with matches.
2. Unknown.
3. Fire in Cambridge.
4. Spontaneous igniting of greasy rag.
5. Drying plastering.
6. Boiling over of oil on stove.
7. Sparks on roof.
8. Burning out of chimney.
9. Fire in Boston.
10. Children playing with matches.
11. Burning of rubbish.
12. Clothing in contact with stove.
13. Unknown.
14. Curtain in contact with gas jet.
15. Smoking in bathroom.
16. Defective heating apparatus.
17. Sparks from locomotive.
18. Explosion of lamp on piano.
19 Overheated peanut roaster.
20 Breaking of kerosene hanging lamp.
21 Children playing with matches.
22 Sparks on roof.
23. Breaking of lantern.
24. Boiling over of tar kettle.
25. Rags around a stove-pipe.
26. Hot ashes in a wooden box.
27. Explosion of oil stove.
28. Boys playing with matches.
29. Curtain in contact with gas jet.
30. Bonfire near dwelling.
31. Unknown.
32. Explosion of oil stove.
33. Defective switch box.
34. Bonfire near dwelling.
35. Fire-crackers on roof.
340
ANNUAL REPORTS.
36. Explosion of oil stove.
37. Defective stove-pipe.
38. Unknown.
39. Caught from lighted cigar.
40 Bonfire.
41 Fire in Charlestown.
42. Children playing with matches.
43. Burning of rubbish.
44. Breaking of kerosene lamp.
45. Fire in Medford.
46. Fire in Cambridge.
47. Overheated oil stove.
48. Overheated oil stove.
49. Burning of rubbish.
50. Unknown.
51. Sparks on roof.
52. Hot ashes in wooden box.
53. Children playing with matches.
54. Burning of rubbish.
55. Burning of rags around stove-pipe.
56. Unknown.
57. Fire in Cambridge.
58. Lighted match dropped in hay ( accidental ).
59. Incendiary.
60. Incendiary.
61. Fire in Charlestown.
62. Cat knocking over matches.
63. Breaking of a kerosene lamp.
64. Children playing with matches.
65. Sparks from engine.
66. Unknown.
67. Hay-stack ( incendiary ).
68. Sparks in wood box.
69 Ignition with gas.
70. Igniting of benzine can.
71. Defective flue.
72. Grass fire.
73. Igniting of oil can near hot stove.
74. Children playing with matches.
-
341
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
75. Sparks from hoisting engine.
76. Children playing with matches.
77. Children playing with matches.
78. Defective chimney.
79. Breaking of kerosene lamp.
80. Burning of brush.
STILL ALARMS.
1. Curtain in contact with gas jet.
2. Defective fireplace.
3. Drying plastering.
4. Defective stove-pipe.
5. Smoke from furnace.
6. Sparks from locomotive.
7. Sparks in wood box.
8. Grass fire - sparks from engine.
FIRE-ALARM TELEGRAPH.
The fire-alarm telegraph consists of fifty-one signal boxes, twenty- six gongs, forty-eight miles of wire, six tower bell strikers, and 248 jars gravity battery. This great length of wires is divided into three circuits. If a wire breaks on one of these circuits, that part of the city over which it runs is without any means of giving an alarm. This system ought not to continue any longer. The City Council should know the jeopardy that property is placed in when one of these cir- cuits is broken, and provide a remedy by making the circuits smaller. They never break except when there is a gale of wind or a great storm, and that is the most difficult time to repair the wires; it is also the time to make a large fire out of a small one during these gales or storms. The committee on fire department were authorized to procure plans and specifications for changing the house of Engine 1, in order to furnish accommodations for the fire-alarm telegraph, including an eight-circuit repeater, to be placed on the second floor of the building, and the first floor to furnish room for a chemical engine. These plans have been referred to the City Council of 1892. We cannot divide these large circuits into smaller ones until a new repeater is furnished, and room provided in which to place it.
342
ANNUAL REPORTS.
BUILDINGS.
The number of buildings occupied by the department is six. Those occupied by Engine No. 1, Hose No. 2, Hose No. 5, and Engine No. 4 are in good condition. The buildings occupied by Hose No. 1, situated on Webster street, and Hose No. 3 and Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, in Union square, are nearly worn out, especially the former. This building is old, and always needing repairs ; it is not adapted to the requirements of the city. I earnestly hope that some steps will be taken towards the erection of a new building in Ward One. It should be located on Broadway, near Franklin street, and should be of sufficient dimensions to accom- modate a steam fire-engine, a ladder truck, and a hose wagon.
HYDRANTS.
All hydrants should be numbered, beginning with No. 1, and continue to the highest number in service. The figures should be of a size not less than three inches in length. The hydrants on the line of the high service should be painted one color, while those on the line of the low service should be painted a different color. This would give very valuable information to the firemen. If these sug- gestions are adopted by the water department, it will enable us to simplify the operations of the department and render more efficient service in extinguishing fires.
ADDITIONAL ENGINES AND LADDERS.
Experience has shown that our city has grown to such an extent during the past few years as to require more steam fire-engines to force water for extinguishing fires. In other words, the system of ravity pressure cannot be relied upon to throw effective streams. This can be accounted for by stating that the great increase in popula- tion causes a corresponding increase in the consumption of water ; and as there has been no increase in the size of water pipes, it is obvious that in using two or more hydrants the pressure diminishes to such a degree that the force of the streams is not effective. Again, steamers are necessary, for the reason that many high buildings are
343
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
already erected, and others are in process of construction, where streams from the gravity system are of little value. In case of fire in the Citizen Building, Litchfield's Block, Masonic Building, or Odd Fellows' Hall, they must be protected by streams from steamers. The same is true of the six blocks in Union square, and of the Hathaway and other buildings in West Somerville. Steamer streams are necessary to conquer fires in nearly all the apartment houses. We now have two steamers. That means four streams of water. . We should be armed so as to command eight. streams.
Ladders are indispensable for efficient work. We now have a good truck and good ladders, but we need another truck. One is not enough. It should be of the Aerial pattern, capable of reaching to the top of our highest buildings. To have all of these things provided the coming year I do not expect, but these recommenda- tions are made that you may have a knowledge of our condition, as I believe that it is the duty of a chief of a department of public safety to make known to his superiors the full condition of his. department.
344
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ROSTER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE OF 1891.
Chief Engineer, JAMES R. HOPKINS. Assistant Engineer, NATHANIEL C. BARKER. Fire-alarm Operator, EDWARD F. BACKUS.
ENGINE COMPANY NO. 1.
NAME.
RANK.
AGE.
OCCUPATION.
RESIDENCE.
Frank Langer
Captain .
37
Wood-moulder .
Oxford St. Vinal Ave.
Henry A. Byrnes
Engineer
52
Engineer
Walnut St.
William A. Burbank
Fireman
49
Fireman
Gilman St.
George F. Harris
Driver
32
Driver
Highland Ave.
William A. Perry
Driver
35
Driver
Hamlet St.
Wm. H. Whitcomb
Hoseman
32
Janitor
Highland Ave.
Joseph Young
Hoseman
57
Janitor
Highland Ave.
Geo. L. Blackbird
Hoseman
39
Mason .
Highland Ave. School St.
Fred S. Young
Hoseman
25
Plumber
Jesse A. Lipsett
Hoseman
32
Desk-maker
Highland Ave.
Sewall M. Rich .
Hoseman
28
Real-estate agt.
Medford St.
Oscar J. Lingley
Hoseman
30
Milkman .
Church St.
Fred'k A. Blackburn
Hoseman
23
Painter
Webster St.
HOSE COMPANY NO. 1.
NAME.
RANK.
AGE.
OCCUPATION.
RESIDENCE.
Thomas H. Daley
C'pt.& Driv.
46
Driver
Webster St.
John Frizzell .
Lieutenant .
35
Painter
Everett Ave.
Edgar F. Shaw
Hoseman
39
Milkman
Everett Ave.
Clarence V. Cook
Hoseman
.
33
Pressman .
Glen St.
George North
Hoseman
30
Fish dealer
Cutter St.
Edward Grant
Hoseman
·
38
Carpenter
Webster St.
John W. McDonald
Hoseman
36
Milkman .
Webster St.
John W. Logan .
Hoseman
50
Painter
Everett Ave.
James E. Lovejoy .
Hoseman
27
Undertaker
Webster St.
Benjamin H. Pond
Lieutenant .
24
Poultry dealer
345
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HOSE COMPANY NO. 2.
NAME.
RANK.
AGE.
OCCUPATION.
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