USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1879 > Part 22
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4 82
$632 27
MAIN STREET SIDEWALK.
At New Worcester.
492.5 lineal feet curbstone, new,
. $246 25
258.3 'square yards gutter paving, new,
129 15
67.9 66 cobble paving, relaid,
13.58
4 short corners,
12 00
Grading, carting, sand and gravel, .
95 55
Engineering,
1 19
$497 72
MAY STREET SIDEWALK.
North side, from Woodland street to the westerly line of the land of John B. Goodell.
124.4 lineal feet curbstone, new,
$62 20
64.4
" flagstone, new,
32 20
49.8 square yards gutter paving, new,
24 90
37.1
crosswalk paving, new,
18 55
12.4 66 brick paving, relaid,
2 48
1 long corner,
3 50
Labor, grading, carting, sand and gravel,
72 50
Labor on stone by A. G. Mann,
23 90
by J. B: Goodell,
19 00
Engineering,
1 17
$260 40
ORANGE STREET SIDEWALK.
East side, from Plymouth Street to Madison Street.
389 lineal feet curbstone, new,
$194 70
100
reset,
10 00
497 " flagstone, relaid, 49 70
132.3 square yards gutter paving, new, .
66 15
33.3
relaid,
6 66
1 long corner, new,
3 50
1
66 reset,
60
Grading, carting, sand and gravel,
78 10
Engineering, .
2 56
$411 97
345
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
PRESCOTT STREET SIDEWALK.
West side, from the north line of the church property to the south line of Washburn and Moen estate.
213 lineal feet curbstone, new, $106 50
94.7 square yards gutter paving, new, 47 35
Labor, grading, &c., .
62 95
Labor by J. C. French, on steps,
14 66
Engineering, .
3 50
$234 96
QUINCY STREET SIDEWALK.
East side, from Austin street to the north line of the estate of J. D. Moore.
181.2 lineal feet curbstone, new,
$90 60
7.7 66 66 reset,
77
48.6 66 66 flagstone, relaid,
4 86
86.6 square yards gutter paving, new, .
43 30
47.7
crosswalk paving, relaid,
9 54
5
66 " brick paving, relaid,
50
1 long corner, reset,
60
Grading, carting, sand and gravel,
67 45
Engineering, .
2 43
MAIN STREET-ON COURT HILL.
615.5 lineal feet curbing, new,
· $400 07
5.6
reset, 56
62.1 66 flagstone, new,
31 05
45.9 square yards cobble paving, new,
22 95
53.3
relaid,
10 66
266.6 " gutter paving, new,
relaid,
18 28
641 2-12 feet iron fence,
480 75
Labor setting capstone,
16 50
4 long corners,
14 00
Grading, carting, stone, sand and gravel,
198 50
Engineering,
3 63
$1,330 25
MAIN STREET-RESETTING CURBSTONE AND REPAVING WALKS.
381 lineal feet curbstone, new, .
$190 50
621.5 "
reset, 62 15
8.4 " circle curb, reset, 84
133.3 square yards brick paving, new, .
13 33
574
66 relaid, 57 40
28.4 66 cobble paving, relaid,
68
6,400 bricks,
76 80
32 loads sands,
44 80
3 long corners,
10 50
2 short corners,
6 00
· Labor, grading, carting, gravel, &c.,
88 23
133 30
91.4 66
$220 05
$556 23
346
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
MAIN STREET-RELAYING FLAGSTONE.
4,323.8 lineal feet flagstone, relaid.
$432 38
MAIN STREET-CROSSWALKS.
936.6 lineal feet flagstone, new,
$468 30
57 66
relaid, 5 70
21 square yards cobble paving, new,
10 50
175.6
relaid, . 35 12
Grading, carting, sand and gravel, .
19 17
$538 79
MAIN STREET-CROSSWALK AT GARDNER STREET.
30.7 lineal feet curbstone, new,
$15 35
79
" flagstone, new, . 39 50
6 20
12.4 square yards gutter paving, new, 55.3 crosswalk paving, new,
27 65
1 long corner, .
3 50
Grading, sand, gravel, &c.,
25 50
SUMMER STREET-AT MECHANIC STREET.
19.5 lineal feet curbstone, reset,
$ 1 95
130 66 flagstone, new, . 65 00
39.5 " circle curbstone, reset, 7 90
102 square yards cobble paving, relaid,
20 40
9.2 "
brick paving, relaid,
92
10.2 “ gutter paving, new,
5 10
1 long corner, reset,
60
Grading, carting, sand and gravel,
27 50
ELM STREET-AT SEVER STREET.
46 lineal feet curbstone, new,
$23 00
128 "
" flagstone, relaid, . 12 80
85.3 square yards crosswalk paving,
42 65
2.2
gutter, new,
1 10
3 Jong corners,
10 50
Grading,
23 75
$113 80
ELM STREET-AT CEDAR STREET.
43 2 square yards crosswalk, new,
$21 60
91.5 lineal feet flagstone, new,
45 75
Grading,
14 35
.
$81 70
LINCOLN SQUARE.
119.3 square yards cobble paving, new,
$59 65
205.5 66 66 relaid,
41 10
67.8 .€ gutter paving, relaid, 13 56
268.5 lineal feet flagstone, new,
134 25
264 66 relaid,
26 40
Grading, carting, gravel, &c., .
88 00
$117 70
$129 37
.
$362 96
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
347
BELMONT STREET-AT ORCHARD STREET.
9 square yards gutter paving, new,
$ 4 50
142.6 " 66 relaid, . 28 52
61.9 “ crosswalk paving, new, 30 95
78 lineal feet flagstone, relaid,
7 80
26.7 “ 66 curbstone, new,
13 35
Grading, &c.,
26 25
$111 37
SOUTHBRIDGE STREET.
28 lineal feet curbstone, new,
$14 00
70.4 " " flagstone, relaid,
7 04
40.6 square yards crosswalk, new,
23 30
5.1 gutter paving, new,
2 55
1 long corner, .
3 50
Grading,
31 50
CHESTNUT STREET-AT ELM STREET.
44.3 square yards crosswalk, relaid, 8 86
29.2 lineal feet flagstone, relaid, 2 92
Labor, grading,
7 00
MECHANIC STREET.
284 lineal feet flagstone, relaid,
$28 40
Grading, ·
·
$36_30
SHREWSBURY STREET.
44.8 square yards crosswalk, new, $22 40
63.6 lineal feet flagstone, relaid,
6 36
71.2 square yards gutter paving, relaid,
14 24
Grading, &c.,
14 35
$57 35
TREMONT STREET-AT FRONT STREET.
30 lineal feet flagstone, new,
$15 00
15
relaid,
1 50
12
66 curbstone, reset, 1 20
2 square yards brick paving, relaid,
20
1 long corner, reset,
60
AUSTIN STREET-AT CROWN STREET.
32 square yards cobble paving, new, $16 00
66 lineal feet flagstone, new, 33 00
Grading, &c.,
10 15
$18 50
$59 15
$81 89
$18 78
7 90
348
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
THOMAS STREET-AT RAILROAD CROSSING.
88 square yards cobble paving, relaid,
$17 60
3 " crosswalk paving, relaid, 60
127.7 lineal feet flagstone, relaid,
12 77
Grading, ·
8 00
SCHOOL STREET-OPPOSITE LOMBARD'S SHOP.
27 lineal feet flagstone, new,
$13 50
38.7 square yards crosswalk, new,
19 35
Grading,
5 57
SCHOOL SRREET-OPPOSITE ENGINE HOUSE.
27 square yards cobble paving, new,
$13 50
18.2 lineal feet flagstone, new,
9 10
Grading,
5 58
VERNON STREET.
109 lineal feet curbstone, reset,
$10 90
48.9 square yards gutter paving, relaid,
9 78
6.7
new,
3 35
71.9
brick paving, relaid,
7 19
Grading, &c., .
9 00
$40 22
CROWN STREET.
171 lineal feet curbstone, reset,
$17 10
57 square yards gutter paving, relaid, .
11 40
9.8 " brick paving, relaid, 98
$29 48
HANOVER STREET-AT LAUREL STREET.
42.6 square yards gutter paving, relaid, $ 8 52
33.3 crosswalk paving, new, 16 65
72 lineal feet flagstone, relaid,
7 20
Grading,
10 85
$43 22
GROVE STREET-AT NORTH STREET.
45.3 square yards crosswalk paving, new, . $22 65
93 lineal feet flagstone, relaid, 9 30
28.5 " curbstone, new, 14 25
Grading,
31 50
$77 70
HAMILTON STREET.
286 square yards gutter paving, new,
$143 00
Grading, carting, stone, gravel, &c. 97 60
$240 60
$38 97
$38 42
$28 18
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYL.
349
GARDEN STREET.
57.1 square yards gutter paving, relaid,
$12 00
Grading, &c., .
5 00
$17 00
WINTER STREET.
34.4 square yards gutter paving, relaid,
$6 88
Grading, .
4 00
$10 88
GREEN STREET.
104.4 square yards gutter paving, relaid,
$20 88
Grading,
3 75
$24 63 .
WASHINGTON SQUARE.
72.4 square yards gutter paving, relaid,
$14 48
Grading,
3 00
$17 48
Labor on sundry streets, patching,
$247 81
Engineering,
76 54
Damages for injury to persons and property,
1,382 69
$1,707 04
Total to the expense of the city,
$9,702 15
Appropriation for sidewalks,
$10,000 00
Balance unexpended, .
297 85
$9,702 15
SIDEWALKS AND DRIVEWAYS FOR PRIVATE PARTIES. There have been laid 32 brick sidewalks and driveways for private par- ties, amounting to, · $2,068 85 Bills of which have been returned to the Auditor for collection.
350
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
MAINTENANCE.
The ordinary expenses of the Department are charged to the following streets and accounts, to wit:
Austin
Street,
$60 50
Green
$132 00
Ararat
"
14 30
Greenwood,
231 00
Apricot
66
57 50
Granite
66
73 00
Adams
44 50
Grafton
66
203 80
Arch
27 00
Green
Lane,
7 80
Boylston
66
93 00
Grove
Street,
434 00
Bloomingdale
568 97
Grand
66
1,007 80
Brooks
57 00
Hamilton
22 50
Belmont
66
487 00
Hawthorn
66
18 00
Blithewood
31 00
Home
9 00
Blackstone
66
74 50
Harrington
60 50
Bowdoin
66
8 00
Heywood
82 00
Burncoat
66
316 00
Highland
66
58 50
Brattle
62 90
Holden
203 55
Bailey
66
29 50
Hadwen
Lane,
15 50
Columbia
28 75
Harrington
Court,
48 00
Cambridge
66
94 50
James
Street,
65 95
Canterbury
66
28 00
Jefferson
66
13 30
Crescent
66
5 25
King
22 35
Chatham
3 25
Lincoln
Square,
20 50
College
66
61 00
Laurel
14 50
Church
66
30 50
Loudon
12 00
Central
66
42 50
Lake
66
79 00
Chester
66
58 50
Lincoln
732 50
Clinton
Lane,
29 00
Leicester
406 55
Chandler
Street,
274 25
Lovell
53 00
Chestnut
66
79 :35
Lebanon
66
21 00
Coral
66
41 00
Linden
26 10
Cypress
66
13 50
Ludlow
66
29 50
Coburn
Avenue,
31 00
Malden
66
15 50
Dix
Street,
8 00
Millbrook
66
30 10
East Central
87 50
Manchester
66
15 00
East Worcester "
25 00
Mason
66
15 50
Eastern
Avenue,
28 00
Mechanic
66
34 50
Edward
Street,
12 00
Mower
32 50
Exchange
19 00
Millbury
Avenue,
119 50
Elm
66
77 87
Mountain
Street,
125 50
Fowler
66
60 50
Millbury
new,
430 75
Flagg
66
87 75
Mooreland
65 50
Foster
23 50
Mill
66
3,535 06
Forest
16 25
Main
66
1,347 97
Franklin
34 75
May
141 40
Gold
28 00
North Ashland "
21 00
66
old
157 50
29 50
Millbury
Front
29 50
Larch
Street,
31 00
Cedar
351
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
Newton
Street,
$196 25
Sargent
Street,
$1 50
North
66
4 75
Salisbury
141 00
Nelson
Court,
43 00
Salem
Square,
10 25
Old Boylston Road,
10 00
Shrewsbury
Street,
726 00
Orchard
Street,
25 50
Spring
Olean
137 83
Sever
66
28 00
Portland
66
286 55
Summer
66
113 15
Paxton
66
192 00
School
15 00
Plantation
120 50
Trumbull
66
83 85
Prescott
66
254 35
Temple
Penn
Avenue,
82 50
Union
66
288 90
Park
Street,
102 75
Vine
60
10 50
Park
Avenue,
128 25
Vernon
313 55
Pratt
Street,
54 25
West
47 00
Patterson
5 95
Washington Square,
26 50
Putnam
Road,
9 00
Winter
Street,
8 75
State
66
7 50
Washington
22 00
Stafford
66
57 50
Water
66
110 50
Seigel
71 95
Wall
66
8 05
Sudbury
66
78 59
Webster
66
14 00
Southbridge
361 75
Suffolk
46 00
$17,877 94
Repairs on bridges.
$764 76
6 at city stables,
58 30
Street cleaning,
3,326 95
Snow and ice,
2,379 05
Incidental labor,
311 00
$6,840 06
Total maintenance,
$24,718 00
EXPENDITURES.
Salary of Commissioner, D. F. Parker,
W. H. Heywood,
311 10
Labor as per Pay Roll,
26,216 08
66
Hired teams,
1,420 16
66
Contract work,
2,127 48
Sandry persons,
272 11
Lumber, .
2,116 74
Hay and grain,
2,520 09
4,240 3-12 feet curbstone,
1,506 04
1,503 feet flagstone,
661 42
153,000 bricks, including freight,
1,453 50
180 1-4 tons cobbles,
127 42
Paving,
3,280 15
Paving blocks
7,738 63
Tools and repairs,
1,507 96
66
18 75
Sundry
35 00
Ward
13 60
5 10
Salem
66
6 75
12 90
Pleasant
Breaking roads,
32 93
·
· $1,318 83
352
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
Shoeing,
$433 92
Stone and gravel,
1,190 10
Corners,
127 00
Live stock,
1,103 71
Engineering,
918 32
Advertising, writing, printing, etc.,
247 76
Powder and fuse, .
9 70
Drain pipe and cement,
782 25
Horse blankets and flannel,
12 15
Horse medicines and attendance,
58 10
Fuel and lights at stables, .
55 28
Oil, matches, soap, grease, at stables, .
34 54
Water, at stables,
28 00
Travelling expenses, postage, etc.,
53 59
Maintaining water trough on Millbury street for one year,
14 48
" 66 " Southbridge 66 66
20 00
Iron bridge, fence, rails, posts, etc.,
3,953 87
Coal,
43 65
County Commissioners, order of notice for widening bridge over Southbridge,
50 32
Legal expenses in Dorman case,
408 95
Damages allowed J. B. O'Leary for injury to property,
33 74
Damages allowed Sabra Whiting for injury to person,
15 00
Damages allowed Honora Smith, for injury to person,
400 00
Damages allowed Peter Barnard, for injury to person, 325 00
200 00
Total expenditures,
$63,130 07
RECEIPTS AND EARNINGS.
APPROPRIATIONS.
$25,000 00
Sidewalks,
10,000 00
Block paving,
10,000 00
$45,000 00
EARNINGS.
SIDEWALKS - PRIVATE EXPENSE.
Thirty-two brick walks and driveways,
.
$2,068 85
For labor and material furnished City Hall, $57 80
School department, .
165 15
Water department,
265 70
Sewer department, .
5 50
Public Grounds, .
10 75
Public Library,
7 35
Sundry persons, .
· 2,449 07
$2,961 32
Damages allowed Bridget Connors for injury to person, .
·
Highways, .
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
353
STREET CONSTRUCTION.
Foster street,
. $12,266 06
Hollywood street,
199 70
Kingsbury street, .
99 62
Quinsigamond Avenue,
1,761 05
Queen street,
153 54
Tremont street,
302 30
Millbury Street,
217 25
Waldo street,
18 76
Sundry streets,
167 82
$15,186 10
Total receipts,
$65,216 27
RECAPITULATION.
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES.
Block paving,
$10,891 23
Sidewalks, city expense,
9,702 15
Sidewalk assessment,
.
2,068 85
Street construction,
15,186 10
Labor and material furnished,
2,961 32
Maintenance, .
24,718 00
$65,527 65
SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS.
Appropriations, .
· $45,000 00
Sidewalks assessed,
2,068 85
Street construction,
15,186 10
Labor and material,
2,961 32
- $65,216 27
REVENUE.
COLLECTIONS, 1879.
Sidewalk Assessment,
. $2,459 44
Street construction,
15,186 10
Labor and material,
3,522 61 .
$21,168 15
There are bilis rendered which are uncollected Dee. 1, 1879;
Sidewalk assessments,
$621 25
Sundry bills,
296 28
917 53
354
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
Schedule of real and personal property in charge of Highway Department Nov. 29, 1879.
Real Estate,
$34,131 50
Personal property, live stock, 20 horses,
2,847 00
Hay, grain, etc.,
876 00
Rolling stock, tools, etc.,
2,067 00
Lumber,
395 50
Stone and bricks,
1,667 38
Total of personal property,
$7,852 88
Total of real estate,
34,131 50
Amount in department,
$41,984 38
Respectfully submitted.
WILLIAM H. HEYWOOD,
Commissioner of Highways.
Report of Chief Engineer
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CHIEF ENGINEER'S OFFICE, WORCESTER, FEBRUARY 1, 1879.
To the Honorable the Mayor and City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- The Chief Engineer has the honor of sub- mitting the Seventh Annual Report of the condition and opera- tions of the Fire Department of this city for the year ending December 31st, 1879. Fully appreciating the confidence im- posed in him as chief executive officer of the Board of Engineers, and with pleasure acknowledging the promptness with which every assistance has been rendered by your honorable body in maintaining the department in its present excellent condition of efficiency and reliability, I have presented for the consideration of your honorable body all items of interest connected with the workings of the department for the past year, with a list of the officers and members, and the salaries paid them, the number and location of fire alarm stations, an inventory of the city prop- erty in charge of the department, and such other information as may be of interest to you and the citizens of Worcester, and have endeavored to faithfully present the actual wants of the department, to add to the comfort of the men, and secure the additional facilities necessary to protect the property of our citizens from the flames.
356
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
MANUAL FORCE AND DISCIPLINE.
The manual force of the Department consists of a Chief Engineer and four (4) Assistants, forty-two (42) members of Steamer Companies, including drivers, thirty (30) members of Hook and Ladder Companies, including drivers, fifty-eight (58) hosemen of Hose Companies, and four (4) members of Extinguisher Company, including driver; making a total of one hundred and thirty-three (133). In addition to the regular force of the Department, there is a volunteer Hose Company located at Grant Square, and another at Coes Square, that respond to all alarms in their localities, for which the citizens should be grateful, for it reduces the fire risks in those localities very materially.
The Department has responded with promptness to all the calls which have been made upon it the past year, and proved itself capable of coping with all the fires that have occurred during that time. The Fire Department is sometimes lost sight of and undervalued, when for weeks, and perhaps months, there are no fires or alarms, and tax-payers, in some instan- ces, demur at the expense of maintaining the force; but a single visit of the destroying element satisfies every intelligent citizen that our only security lies in having a Department large enough to meet any emergency that may arise.
The City Government appreciates the necessity of keeping the Department up to its present standard, believing that it is required for the public safety, and we expect it to do every- thing that may be reasonably asked for by the Board of Engi- neers to keep it in good working order so that it will respond promptly to the calls of the alarm bell.
The duties of the Department have not been very arduous during the past year, but this has not caused it to be less vigi- lant, as when least expected a fire may occur which will require the best energies of the whole force to conquer. Any manifest- ation of interest by our citizens in the welfare and prosperity of the firemen, tends to encourage them in their efforts to still fur- ther raise the standard of the organization. The officers and members of the different companies are always pleased to
357
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
receive calls from citizens, and take an honest pride in showing them their halls and apparatus, and frequent visits of that description will find the firemen always ready to receive their friends as well as to attend to fire duty when needed.
There is a manifest propriety in citizens taking an interest in the Fire Department, as they furnish the means for its support, and without it they could not retire at night feeling secure against the loss of their homes, their storehouses and manufac- tories, by fire; and there are many other good and sufficient reasons why citizens should encourage the firemen, to whom the post of duty is the post of danger. The long list of names of firemen who have lost their lives, or been disabled while in the performance of their duty in the United States within the last ten years, is ample evidence that our firemen do not shrink from positions of danger in their efforts to save the lives and property of their fellow-citizens.
The discipline of the Department has continued to improve, and good order exists in the management of fires and at the houses ; and it is safe to say that the manner of handling and extinguishing fires by the present system, will bear comparison with, and is infinitely superior to, former methods, when the hand engines and bucket companies were in vogue.
The same care has been exercised during the past year, in regard to the admission of new members, to see that they are fully qualified to fill a position of so much responsibility as that of membership in a well disciplined Fire Department. The permanent well-being of the Department renders it necessary that the officers and members should not be affected by the political changes in the City Government, and I again earnestly suggest the propriety of altering the Fire Department ordinance so that members shall hold their positions subject only to such changes and promotions as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Engineer and his Assistants, and no removals made ex- cept for good and sufficient reasons.
In my opinion, the addition of more permanent men would be highly beneficial to the best interests of the Department, and I would especially recommend that an Engineer for Steamer No. 1 should be made permanent, as it is of vital importance that
27
358
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
the Engineer should, in all cases, go with his Steamer when she leaves the house when on duty. In some instances the driver waits for the Engineer, and his being added to the permanent force will effect a remedy.
An inspection of the Fire Department took place on the 24th of October, by the Board of Engineers, accompanied by the Mayor and other members of the City Government, with a number of insurance men and other invited guests. The result was highly satisfactory, as the appearance of the men, appara- tus and houses gave evidence of a state of efficiency certainly not excelled by any Fire Department in the state or country. The promptness with which the companies called, responded on this occasion, furnished a sufficient guarantee that a fire has but little chance of gaining much headway in this city under ordi- nary circumstances, as not quite three minutes was required to bring the more distant companies to the spot. The appearance of the men, houses and apparatus, received the highest com- mendations from the members of the City Government and invited guests, and all seemed to feel that the thriving city of Worcester had a Fire Department of which its citizens might well be proud, and the method of calling the different compa- nies by telephone, without causing a general alarm, met with much approval.
FIRES AND INSURANCE.
The Fire Insurance Companies naturally take a lively inter- est in the Fire Department, as there is, in a certain sense, a bond of union between them, and the cause and prevention of fires has often been a subject of consideration, by both organiza- tions, in which all property holders also have an interest. Dur- ing the past few years, the temptation has existed to a very great extent, for embarrassed property owners to set fire to their buildings, hoping to realize enough to relieve them from their financial difficulties in the shortest possible time. Real estate having largely depreciated in value, and the amount of insur- ance remaining the same, has given men an inducement to be dishonest. The insurance companies have not given this mat- ter the attention which it deserves, and I would again remind
359
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
them of the existence of this evil, that they may remove, as far as possible, one of the primary causes of fires. It is many years since our city has been visited by an extensive conflagration, and the Board of Engineers wish to see adopted every measure that will prevent a recurrence of such a disaster. Our citizens cannot exercise too much care in the prevention of fires, by substituting iron instead of wooden vessels in which to deposit their ashes, and in every other way guard against fire on their premises. Many fires are caused by spontaneous combustion, persons being careless in the matter of leaving oily rags and waste. The Fire Department, although ready to respond to any and all demands in the line of their calling, feel it to be their duty to urge upon our citizens to use every precaution to prevent fires by accident or carelessness, as the property of oth- ers is endangered as well as their own.
Our factories and workshops afford evidence of a steady im- provement in business, and a return to the former prosperity with which our city was favored before the panic of 1873. A disastrous fire would be a serious drawback to the business interests of this city, and all citizens should avert, in every way in their power, the occurrence of a real calamity, especially at this time, when many who have not had steady employment for several years, are now engaged all the time. It would be a real hardship for the manufacturer, as well as those whom he em- ploys, to have a destructive conflagration occur when all are recovering from the effects of the hard times.
APPARATUS.
The apparatus of the Department consists of five steamers, three of which were built by the Silsby Manufacturing Com- pany of Seneca Falls, New York; one by the Amoskeag Com- pany of Manchester, New Hampshire, and one by B. S. Nichols, of Burlington, Vermont. There are also in service twelve four- . wheeled hose carriages, carrying eight thousand feet of hose ; two hook and ladder trucks; and there is also one in reserve, and one Babcock Extinguisher. A new hose carriage was built for Steamer 4, last year, and Steamers No. 2, and four were
360
CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 34.
repaired, so that they have worked to much better satisfaction than before, so that now all the steamers are in good condition.
The importance of having each steam engine in charge of an experienced engineer, who shall devote his whole time to its care, is a matter that deserves your special attention. By securing the services of engineers as permanent men, who are good mechanics, the city will save very much in repairs, as they would know how to keep their engines in good working order, with the least possible expense, having ample time to see that everything is in its place, as the least disarrangement might lead to a serious accident, and thus throw the engine out of ser- vice when it could not well be spared.
In our opinion the apparatus of the Department should be in the hands of intelligent and skilful men, who will not misuse it, and will keep it in order, so that it will not fail when most needed. The number of full paid men now on the force, although they are faithful and energetic, can only do the work which is now allotted to them ; and although it would add some- what to the expenses of the Department, the addition of a num- ber of permanent men would very much strengthen the organ- ization, increase its efficiency, and enable the companies to make even quicker time at the commencement of fires, when the ser- vices of the firemen are all important.
The Board of Engineers take pride in the promptness of the different companies, and accord due credit to those first on the ground ; but, at the same time, reckless driving does not merit nor receive our approbation, as the cool and careful driver is usually as likely to come in ahead.
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