USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1880 > Part 23
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389
REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF HIGHWAYS.
vite the farmers to bring their cobbles in, which they will gladly do for a small compensation. In that way we could get them at a very small cost. When the roads in that vicinity are in good condition remove to some other section and so continue to do. I think it would be economy on the part of the City if the orders for work could be made earlier in the season, so that the materials to be used could be ordered in time so as to occa- sion no delay or change of proceedings.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH S. PERRY, Commissioner of Highways.
REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER
OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
To the Honorable the Mayor, and City Council,
GENTLEMEN : - In accordance with the requirement of the Ordinance relative to the Fire Department, the Chief Engineer has the honor to submit the Eighth Annual Report of the condition and workings of the Department for the year ending December 31st, 1880, together with such suggestions for your consideration as will in my judgment further and improve the condition of the Department, and promote the best interests of our large and growing city.
It contains a detailed statement of the receipts and expendi- tures and a list of fires and alarms that have occurred during the year, with the amount of loss and insurance, a roll of the officers and members, their residences and number of badge, with a list of Fire Alarm Boxes and their location, an inventory of the property of the city in charge of the Department is given, and such information as will be of interest to your Hon- orable Body and the citizens of Worcester.
This will enable you to judge correctly in regard to the wants of the Department who cheerfully respond under all circum- stances and use their best efforts to save the property of our citizens from the devouring element. The Board of Engineers
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
fully appreciate the valuable assistance which has been ren- dered by your Honorable Body in response to their call in be- half of the Department, for which we return our sincere thanks.
MANUAL FORCE AND DISCIPLINE.
The manual force of the Department consists of a Chief Engineer, four (4) Assistants, forty-two (42) members of Steamer Companies including drivers, thirty (30) members of Hook and Ladder Companies including driver, fifty-two (52) horsemen of Hose Companies and four (4) members of Extin- guisher Company including driver, making a total of one hun- dred and twenty-eight (128). In addition to the regular force of the Department there is a Volunteer Hose Company located at Coes Square, and another at Quinsigamond which respond to all alarms in their sections, which reduces the fire risks in those localities, and their services are fully appreciated by the citizens in their immediate vicinity.
The Chief Engineer takes great pleasure in being enabled to report the Department in excellent condition, and the discipline, promptness and efficiency were never better. The officers and members deserve and receive the highest praise for the manner in which they perform their duties, their services being cheer- fully rendered in the protection of property from destruction, for the unanimity they have manifested in maintaining the credit of the Worcester Fire Department, by which they have gained the confidence and esteem of the whole community. That the importance of keeping the Department up to its present high standard has been fully realized, is shown by the ready response made by the City Government to the recommendations of the Chief Engineer, as every reasonable request has been granted, and the Board of Engineers and your Honorable Body have acted in perfect accord in advancing the best interests of the Department. The Department has exercised its usual vigilance, and when an opportunity occurred, has proved itself fully able to manage all fires which have taken place during the past year. The interest taken by the citizens has encouraged the firemen
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
to be untiring in their efforts to raise the standard of the organ- ization, and they have taken pride in showing citizens over their several houses, and such visits have been acceptable to them, and they were made to feel that their services are appreciated. The Drivers of the Department should not be confounded with that class of men who are simply required to take charge of horses; their duties are quite as important as those of any other member of the Department, for the proper performance of which, experience and skill are indispensable, and upon their knowledge of the same depends greatly the efficiency of the force, for a failure to attach to the nearest hydrant or to lay the hose properly at a fire would occasion the most serious delay at any time. With only two or three exceptions the present drivers have been connected with the Department for periods ranging from six to thirteen years, and their experience and knowledge of the duties of their positions thus gained are of the greatest value in answering with promptness, which is so im- portant at a fire in its early stages.
Good order exists in the Department, and fires have been handled to the satisfaction of all, as our present methods of extinguishing fires will commend itself to all as superior to all former methods and appliances, and the Board of Engineers take pleasure in noting the improvement which has taken place in discipline as shown by the officers and members of the Department during the past year.
The changes that have been made, giving additional power to Engineers in the appointment of officers, we think will work to the satisfaction of all interested. The appearance of the men, houses and apparatus, at the annual Fall Inspection, merited the full award of praise bestowed the firemen by the members of the City Government.
We might with propriety ask for an increase in the manual force of the Department. In 1875, there were 174 men; in the mean time the city has increased in population 10,000, but the Fire Department has been reduced in the time forty-six (46) members, but the condition of fire duty has materially changed within the past few years, especially in cities, and experience
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
has demonstrated that a few well trained and thoroughly disci- plined men can render more effective service at a fire than a disorganized mob of well meaning citizens.
This last year one of our firemen died, one received inju- ries, and 32 have been discharged at their own request. Rich- ard O'Donnell was taken sick with typhoid fever and died Sept. 2, 1880. He was clerk of Ocean Hose Co. No. 2, and was honest, truthful and faithful; his stay in the Department was brief, yet the time was ample for him to gain the respect and esteem of all his comrades.
APPARATUS.
The apparatus of the Department is composed of three Steamers built by the Silsby Manufacturing Company of Sen- eca Falls, New York, one by the Amoskeag Company of Man- chester, N. H., and one by B. S. Nichols of Burlington, Vt. There are also in service twelve four-wheeled Hose Carriages, eight thousand feet of Hose, two Hook and Ladder Trucks and one in reserve, and one Babcock Extinguisher of sixty-eight gallons capacity, also eight small portable Extinguishers, be- sides three carried by the Protective Department.
The apparatus is in good repair and to the satisfaction of the Board of Engineers. There seems to be a growing demand for more fire protection in some parts of the city; from my own observation there are two localities to which I wish to call your attention ; first, that part of the city north of Lincoln Square. In this portion of the city within the last few years several large buildings have been put up, the largest factories in the city ; second, that part of the city south of Cambridge street in case of fire, under existing conditions, could not be reached until the fire would be beyond control. I am sure that to recom- mend that the Department be enlarged, by purchasing more apparatus and adding more men to the force, would not meet your approval, and in order to cover this territory more effect- ually and not enlarge our Department I would recommend that
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
some companies be removed to give better protection to these localities.
The permanent men on the force have faithfully performed their duties in an energetic manner, and, believing that it would add very much to the efficiency of the Department, I would recommend the addition of five more, selected with care. The adoption of this recommendation would tend to strengthen the organization and make it more prompt than ever before. This Board has endeavored to avoid any unnecessary increase of the pay rolls, and has only made additions to the force, as actual necessity demanded. We have at present only one per- manent man in several of the engine houses, which during meal hours, three times a day leaves no one in charge of the house and apparatus. Upon the occasion of an alarm we are found wholly inadequate to insure promptness, and more or less de- pendence has to be placed on citizens living in the neighborhood for assistance. This gives rise to many unavoidable and dan- gerous delays. Therefore, recognizing the liability of disas- trous consequences if this state of things is allowed to exist, it is deemed an urgent necessity that one more permanent man should be added to each company, that at all times there might be at least one experienced man in the houses, the least number the efficient handling of the apparatus will allow. The promptness of the several companies has received the cordial approval of the Board of Engineers, and due credit given to those who first reach the fire, but at the same time they take this opportunity to express their disapproval of reckless or care- less driving, as the cool and self-possessed driver usually makes the best time, and generally comes in ahead.
The recommendations of the Chief Engineer have met with a prompt and hearty response from the City Government and Committee on Fire Department, and it affords me much pleasure to be able to state that the apparatus of the city is in better condition than it has been since I have taken charge of the Department. The Board has, and will continue to exercise, the greatest vigilance in seeing that all needed repairs are promptly made, so that all the apparatus may be ready to render service
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
in case of fire without delay. The members of the force have seconded the efforts of the Board of Engineers by taking ex- cellent care of the apparatus placed in their charge. The alteration of Hose 5 from a hand to a horse carriage, has proved a decided improvement, and the result of the change has been very satisfactory.
With the ordinary repairs which are always needed in every Fire Department, the apparatus will be perfectly reliable and ready for instant service. During the past year all work that could be, has been done at the houses by the permanent men, and the same system will be continued hereafter, having worked . well.
FIRES AND INSURANCE.
Fire is an enemy whose tactics are well known, one of the chief of them is, that it never gives the least intimation of its approach, no one can predict the time, place or manner in which it will show itself. The utmost one can say is that, prob- abilities are rather more in favor of a conflagration in one place than another-in a rag shop rather than in a bank, in a theater rather than a church.
The leading men in Fire Departments have often in conven- tion and elsewhere compared notes and have endeavored in con- junction with the representatives of Fire Insurance Companies to find the best methods by which fires may be prevented, and to ascertain if possible the cause which produces a majority of fires. Financial embarrassments combined with over insur- ance, have induced many men to cause the destruction of their buildings as the easiest way out of their difficulties, and I would again urge upon the Insurance Companies the importance of not placing this temptation in the way of men who cannot re- sist, and who by yielding, their ruin is accomplished, whether the motives for incendiarism are for the purpose of defrauding the Insurance Companies or for revenge. No more cowardly act can be committed, and merits and should receive the full penalty that the law awards to parties guilty of such a crime against
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
society. Accidental fires will sometimes occur, and we can only urgently call the especial attention of our citizens to the neces- sity of using the greatest care in guarding against fire in their dwellings and workshops, by discontinuing the use of wooden vessels or receptacles for ashes, and leaving oily rags and waste in a position liable to ignite by spontaneous combustion.
Our city has not been visited for many years by a serious conflagration, and property holders have an interest in common with the firemen in keeping the list of fires as small as possible.
THE PROTECTIVE DEPARTMENT.
The Fire Patrol has rendered efficient aid during the past year, and is entitled to, and has received, the warmest approval of the Board of Engineers. The company responds to all alarms and has always been prompt in its appearance on the ground, ever active and earnest in the important duties devolv- ing upon them. The record of the company has been good since its establishment, and during the past year of great ser- vice to the Department, saving much property which would otherwise have been injured or destroyed by fire, water or smoke. Without the Fire Patrol there would be great loss and injury caused by the needless removal of property which is now saved by this organization. It has almost entirely done away with thieving at fires, it being a part of their duty to keep all improper persons out of the building and off the grounds. The Patrol take charge of all goods from the beginning of the fire and remain in charge until it is extinguished and the goods delivered to the owners, or some person representing them. They render efficient aid in investigating the cause of a fire, and faithfully perform all their various duties, saving much unin- sured property, and their efficiency is acknowledged by all who have given attention to the subject. A new house has been built by Hon. Isaac Davis, for the use of the Patrol, which is a great improvement over their old quarters, and in some respects it is superior to any other in the state. The bunk room is near-
397
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ly perfect in all its arrangements, being large and airy, but none too good for the excellent organization which occupies it.
HOSE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
We have now in service 3000 feet of carbolized rubber hose, 3700 feet of the American Jacket Hose, and 6000 feet of leather hose, in good condition, and 1000 feet of linen hose in fair condition, making thirteen thousand seven hundred feet of hose in good condition, and I would recommend the purchase of 1000 feet the coming year. Good reliable hose is indis- pensable, for if the hose fails the fire has an opportunity to make headway, and perhaps get beyond the control of the Department. Nothing so discourages the firemen, after a line of hose is laid at a critical place, as to find it leaky or broken. It is of vital importance that the city should have an ample sup- ply of hose which can be depended upon. If the hose fails the blame usually falls upon the firemen, who are not at fault under the circumstances, if the fire is not easily brought under control. The apparatus may be in good order, and the firemen under excellent discipline, but if the hose bursts the fire goes ahead unabated. With good hose the firemen can work with confidence, and the fire may soon be got under. The condi- tion of the hose is good, but needs replenishing from time to time to render it equal to the necessities of the force.
HORSES.
The number of horses in the Department is 18; three are attached to Steamer No. 1, three are attached to Steamer No. 2, two to Hook and Ladder No. 1, two are attached to Hose No. 7, two are used by the Fire Patrol, and one each on Steam- er No. 3, Hose Nos. 2, 5, and 6, and Babcock Extinguisher, and one for the use of the superintendent of the Fire Alarm Tele- graph. During the past year one horse has been purchased for, Hose No. 5. The horses of Steamer No. 1 and Hose No. 6
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CITY DOCUMENT .-- NO. 35.
have been exchanged, and younger ones substituted. It is nec- essary that horses, in order to answer to such sudden demands for extraordinary and arduous service, must not only be of the best, but must receive unwonted attention, and the most careful treatment. It is important that this branch of the service should be kept up to a high standard, and changes are necessary every year to preserve the efficiency of the Department; if not, the apparatus cannot reach the fire in season to render good ser- vice at the commencement of a fire, when it is most needed.
WATER AND HYDRANTS.
The faithful and careful attention of the Water Board and the efficient superintendent, F. E. Hall, has been given to this important branch of the service, and the Department fully appre- ciate what has been done towards. giving them an ample supply of water for fire purposes, but there is still a demand for a few more hydrants in certain localities of the city. The number of hydrants should keep pace with the rapid growth of our flour- ishing city, and the nearer they are located to each other makes a saving of the wear and tear of the hose, which is in favor of the finances of the city, as we have stated in former reports. To place a hydrant on any water main costs about $25.00, one hun- dred feet of hose costs from $100.00 to $125.00, the hydrants require but few repairs and will last from twenty-five to thirty- five years, the hose has to be renewed about every thirteen or fourteen years; so it can be readily seen that it would be of great advantage and would save many thousands of dollars if hydrants were placed at every corner of our streets. We believe it would be much cheaper, and will render the Depart- ment much more efficient, if the hydrants were placed nearer together. In case of fire the companies would be concentrated in a smaller space, and be under more efficient control of the officers. I would respectfully recommend that the water pipes in Prescott, North and Grove streets be enlarged; as they are now they are entirely insufficient for fire purposes. In North
399
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
and Grove streets the hydrants will give no protection in case of fire. I would respectfully ask that better protection be afforded the tax payers of those localities. It is essential for the suc- cess of the Department that an abundance of water should be readily available for extinguishing fires; hence the great desire for increasing the number of hydrants and extending the capacity of our street mains, and for securing auxiliary sup- plies of water in those districts where the hydrants and mains are insufficient.
CHEMICAL ENGINES.
Our Chemical Engine has worked remarkably well, it having been repaired the past year. It has attended all fires promptly and done good service. It has in several instances extinguished fires in their incipient state, and saved thus the wear and tear of the heavier apparatus ; the same may be said of our small Chemicals. They have prevented the serious loss that frequently occurs by flooding a building with water.
It is often asked if a Chemical Engine will put out a big con- flagration ; we will say no, neither will a steamer, but it fre- quently happens that the Chemical Engine can, and does, by the unprecedented alacrity with which it attacks a fire, prevent that conflagration which, if allowed to burn till steam is raised, suction attached, hose connected, and the pipes brought into posi- tion for an onslaught on the flames, becomes too great a fire for the steam Fire Engine to conquer. Everybody knows that if fires are to be extinguished and property saved, it has got to be done with the greatest possible despatch, in fact none consider electricty too fast a messenger to travel with the alarm, and but a few seconds are allowed for "hitching up," while many Departments after a heavy outlay for appliances to send the apparatus flying to the fire, neglect to-day the most important of all, the Chemical Engine, which goes to work at once. We have no disposition to depreciate any other branch of the service, but the true policy to be pursued is to extinguish a fire with the smallest possible loss.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
LADDERS AND FIRE ESCAPES.
As our city contains many stores, factories and work shops, four, five or six stories high, and the number of such buildings is increasing, the liability of accident to firemen has increased in like proportion. Persons who erect high buildings should invariably make their own arrangements for getting down externally to spots within reach of the ladders, or other means of escape available from outside. For safety of life it is advisable that all high buildings should be provided with exter- nal ladders of wrought iron or some other material, likely to be able to resist the effects of a fire at its commencement, and extending to within thirty-five feet of the ground, that being the greatest height at which assistance from without can be promptly rendered. The saving of life is of even greater importance than that of property. I would respectfully rec- ommend the following changes for Hook and Ladder No. 2: that a permanent man, and an addition made for a horse stable, and the horse kept in the house, and that the stone floor be removed and a wooden one substituted.
HOUSES.
The houses of the Department were never in better condi- tion then at the present time, and but few changes are needed to. make them entirely satisfactory to the Board of Engineers.
The house of Steamer No. 1 on Front Street, in which is located the headquarters of this Board, has been entirely- remodelled, and the sleeping accommodations have been much improved. The stalls have been altered so that the horses face out, and swinging harnesses have been provided, in accordance with my recommendation in last year's report. The stairway has been removed to the side, giving the apparatus more and better room to leave the building. The whole arrangement is highly satisfactory to the companies and the Board. The Board of Engineers has continued to foster and encourage the spirit of improvement manifested by the men. Many attractions have been added to the houses, as the more attractive they are made ..
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
the higher the standard of the Department is likely to become. No class of men does the city greater service. Let city author- ities, or the citizens themselves, testify due appreciation by attention to the intellectual and social, as well as the physical needs of the firemen. Books, pictures or a parlor organ, or other musical instrument, should be found at every engine house, as we believe they will be at no distant day. Let it be understood we are not advocating extravagance ; velvet carpets, black walnut furniture, lace curtains, and costly mirrors are far from necessary adjuncts to a fire engine house, but the extreme of bare floors and walls, and no provision for amusement or men- tal improvement, is quite as undesirable. Good pictures give an air of elegance to a neatly furnished apartment, and exert a positive and cheerful, though silent, influence. In most cases the companies have done this out of their own funds, assisted however, in some instances, by the contributions of their friends. This was the case with Hose 2, 5, 6 and 7, and Steamer 3 and the Extinguisher, which are furnished with neatness, and good taste is displayed in all their arrangements.
The time of the permanent men is mainly at the houses, and they are thus deprived of the usual home privileges, and their quarters should be made as homelike as possible, at least suffi- ciently so that the men may be contented, and the services of the competent men be retained, so that as few changes as possi- ble may occur among the permanent men. I deem it advisable, and for the best interests of the Department, that a new house be built for Hose No. 1, on Prescott street, and the company and carriage removed from School street to the new location. I would respectfully urge this change, and trust your Honorable Body will give it due consideration. The carriage of Hose No. 3, whose company was disbandad last year, has been removed to Quinsigamond, much to the satisfaction of the people in that locality.
FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
The superiority of the Telegraph Fire Alarm system over the old methods has been fully tested, and it has become so closely
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
connected with the efficient and prompt workings of the Fire Department that its aid could not be dispensed with, without seriously impairing the usefulness of the organization. The addition of telephone communication with each of the houses from headquarters has very much facilitated the transaction of business with each of them, and much time and travel saved thereby. Questions can be asked and answered, and a single company called to render special service, without giving an alarm, and much expense saved to the city in this manner. For the general success of the system, property holders of the city are largely indebted to the Superintendent, Wm. Brophy, whose services are invaluable as well as reliable. Mr. Brophy fully appreciates the responsibility resting upon him, as a few moments delay, caused by any derangement of the wires, might result in a serious and extensive fire. The introduction of annunciators, by which the drivers can see in plain figures the number of the box from which the alarm is given, has prevented many mistakes or delays. Nothing is so essential to success in controlling and extinguishing fires as their early detection. It is comparatively useless to have quick hitches, and trained horses and superior apparatus, if fires are permitted to burn until they obtain uncontrolable headway. Improvements are being made, and the Worcester Fire Department keeps pace with all real improvements, rendering its workings fully equal to any department in New England. I would respectfully recom- mend the addition of more Alarm Boxes to keep pace with the requirements of our rapidly growing city.
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