USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1880 > Part 26
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He shall instruct the officers and men in all branches of their duty when he deems it necessary. He shall inspect the sleep- ing rooms, beds and bedding, and see that they are kept neat and clean.
FOREMEN.
The foreman shall have immediate command of his company, and be held responsible for its discipline and condition. At fires, when his apparatus is the first to reach the fire, he shall assume command of the force that may come, until relieved by an engi- neer ; he shall then resume command of his company. He shall report monthly to the Board of Engineers, the names of all mem- bers absent at fires or alarms of fire, together with the cause of such absence, and the name of the substitute, if any, who per- formed the duties of the member absent; also the number of hours the company was in actual service.
ASSISTANT FOREMEN.
The assistant foremen, in addition to their duties as hosemen and laddermen, shall, in the absence of the foreman, perform all the duties and exercise the authority of the foreman, and be held to a like responsibility.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT. .
ENGINEMEN.
Each engineman shall have the care and management of the engine. He must see that it is always kept in good order, and ready for immediate use, with all the necessary supplies. He will be held responsible for its condition in the house and at fires. He shall make such repairs upon his engine in the engine house as he can conveniently. He shall have charge of the engine at fires, shall make connection to the nearest hydrant or reservoir, but shall not disconnect any line of hose to make such connec- tion, without orders from an engineer. After making connec- tion with hydrant, reservoir, or other water supply, and no hose has been attached, he will give notice of the position of the engine by blowing four short notes on the whistle, at short intervals, until he attracts attention, or until a line of hose is attached. He will then work the engine until dismissed by the engineer in charge.
When it is evident the engine will not be needed, he will report to an engineer and remain until dismissed, when he will see that the engine is returned to the house and put in readiness to respond to the next alarm.
ASSISTANT ENGINEMEN.
Each assistant engineman shall, under the direction of the engineman, assist in the care and management of the engine, and perform such other duties as may be required by his supe- rior officers ; and in the absence of the engineman shall perform his duties and exercise his authority, and be held to a like responsibility.
DRIVERS.
Each driver shall, under the direction of the chief engineer, feed, groom and exercise the horses, at stated hours, and have the care of the house and all the property of the city contained therein. He will be held responsible for having the horses at 56
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all times ready for immediate use, and must not drive them fast- er than is consistent with the safety of the public, and of the apparatus of the department, and he will be held responsible for any damage caused by him, or carelessness displayed in conveying his apparatus to or from a fire.
Racing to or from fires will not be allowed under any circum- stances ; and if the apparatus of two or more companies shall proceed to a fire on the same street, they shall do so in single file.
Any driver of the department driving over a line of hose, unless it cannot be avoided, shall be subject to dismissal.
Drivers shall do such other duties as may be required.
CHEMICAL ENGINES.
That portion of the force employed on chemical engines shall be subject to the same rules as other officers and members of the department, so far as said rules are applicable.
MEMBERS.
The members of the several engine, hose, and hook and lad- der companies shall, whenever a fire breaks out in the section of the city to which they are assigned for duty, repair promptly to the place of the fire in as orderly a manner as may be, and exert themselves in the most efficient manner possible, in work- ing and managing the engines, hose, hooks and ladders, and other apparatus, and in performing any duty that may be required of them by an engineer or officer in command ; and they will be subject to fine for any failure to report for duty with their company. They shall remain on duty until relieved by orders to return, which shall be given only by the officer in command, when they shall repair to quarters and answer roll call, when they shall be dismissed.
The members of companies, whose apparatus does not respond to the first alarm, shall assemble at their respective sta-
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tions, and wait thirty minutes before calling the roll. Should the re-call be sounded within thirty minutes, the roll shall not be called in less than twenty minutes from the first alarm.
Members of the several companies of the department, call as well as permanent, must remain in their respective districts when a fire is in progress in any other district, unless the apparatus to which they are attached is called thither. The necessity for this requirement must be evident, in view of the possibility of two or more fires occurring at the same time in different parts of the city.
HORSES.
The chief engineer shall have general supervision and direc- tion in the care and management of all the horses belonging to the department ; causing such medical and surgical attention as may be required.
All horses of the department will be numbered, and a record kept at headquarters of the same, and all communications con- cerning them must note the number.
All the horses of the department shall be exercised daily, when the weather permits, excepting upon those days when they are called out upon an alarm of fire. In exercising they are not to be taken beyond a radius of an eighth of a mile from their respective houses. The board of engineers will determine for each company in their respective districts the proper hours for exercising, having in view the health of the horses and the proper protection of the city.
On Sundays, and at times when sufficiently exercised by recent responses to alarms of fire, and stormy weather, also very bad going, the exercise may be omitted, at the discretion of the driver in charge.
REPAIR SHOP.
The inspector of repairs shall be directly reponsible to the Board for the conduct and management of the repair shop. He
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is charged with the control and direction of the employees assigned to duty under him. He shall prescribe the duties of all the employees engaged in the repair of such apparatus as the Board may direct him to make. He shall see that the working time of each employee is correctly kept, note and report all derelictions or incompetancy on the part of the employees, and see that the time of all is employed to the greatest advantage of the department. An account shall be opened and kept by him, in which the amount and cost value of all labor, supplies and materials expended in the erection, building, repairing or alteration of each and every apparatus that my come under his charge, by direction of the Board or Committee of the Fire Department, shall be clearly shown to any required day.
The regular working hours at the repair shop shall be from 7 A. M. to 12 M., and from 1 to 6 P. M., and all employees shall be required to be punctually at their work at the time specified for the beginning, and to remain thereat until the time specified · for the termination of working hours, except in case of fire or an alarm of fire.
ORGANIZATION OF THE FORCE.
The officers of the Fire Department shall take rank in the following order :
CHIEF ENGINEER, SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARMS, ASSISTANT ENGINEERS, FOREMAN, ASSISTANT FOREMAN.
No person shall be appointed in the department force unless :
· 1st. He has never been convicted of crime.
2d. He is less than forty-five years of age.
3d. He is of good health, and sound in body and mind. 4th. He is of good moral character and habits.
Applicants for appointment will be required to fill out the blank form furnished for that purpose.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Every officer and member before entering on his duties shall sign an agreement to be deposited with the Board, that he will abide by and conform to all the rules and regulations established, or which may be established, by said Board for the government of the Fire Department, and be subject to the penalties named therein.
No person shall be eligible for reappointment to any service, either as substitute or otherwise, who has been discharged from the department for cause, except in the manner prescribed by the ordinance governing the Fire Department.
DISCHARGES AND RESIGNATIONS. -
Whenever any member of the permanent force resigns his position, he shall forward a written communication to the Board of Engineers (giving two weeks notice), which shall be duly endorsed by the Assistant Engineer in charge of the company to which he is attached. Other members of the force can resign by giving notice to the foreman.
Whenever charges are pending against a member, the Board will not entertain any request for a resignation from said member.
Whenever any member of the department resigns or is discharged, or in any way vacate his office, he shall surrender to the Chief Engineer all the property in his possession belong- ing to the department, before he receives payment of the sun due him for services in the department.
CHARGES AND PUNISHMENT.
Violations of any of the Rules and Regulations of the Board may be punishable by reprimand, fine, suspension or dismissal ; and it is made the duty of all officers and members of the department to take notice of any such violations, and prefer charges against the person violating, forwarding them through the regular channels.
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Charges may be drawn on either of the following offences, to wit :
Intoxication.
Neglect of duty.
Violation of rule No .-
Absent without leave.
Disrespect towards a commanding officer.
Conduct prejudicial to good order.
Cowardice and shirking duty at fires.
Neglecting or refusing to pay a debt for uniform clothing, or for rent, or necessaries of life.
And the specifications, one or more, will contain a simple recital of the facts and circumstances which make up the offence ; also the fact of any prior charges having been preferred against the member.
Complaints against superior officers may be made by mem- bers of the force personally, or by letter, to the Board.
Any member of the department who being under charges, shall, either before trial or judgment, cause any person to inter- fere personally or by letter in his behalf with any of the Engineers, shall be reported to the Board, and thereupon be tried on the charge of conduct unbecoming a member.
No council will be allowed either for the complainant or defendant.
Judgments of the Board of Engineers, fining, reprimanding, or discharging any member of the force, shall be in writing, and the substance thereof read at the next roll call of the Company.
CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS.
There shall be two classes of members in the department :
Those permanently employed and known as the "Permanent Force."
Those who are to answer bell alarms, and known as the "Call Force."
Each member of the permanent force shall give his entire
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time to the interests of the department, and shall always be at or near the engine house where he is employed, except when assigned by the Board or Chief Engineer to other duty, or on leave of absence.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
All applications for leave of absence from officers or mem- bers permanently employed, will be decided by the Chief Engineer, and must be made, if possible, twenty-four hours in advance, with the reasons for making the request; and the name of a substitute must accompany applications from company officers and members for approval by the chief, and the sub- stitute shall be on duty before the applicant leaves his post.
No officer of the call force shall leave the city without first notifying the Chief Engineer, and procuring a substitute to his acceptance ; and any other member of the call force expecting to be absent shall be required to procure a substitute, subject to the approval of his foreman; failing to do which he will forfeit one month's pay.
Whenever any member of the force finds himself too ill to do duty, he must at once notify the foreman in charge of that company of the fact, and the foreman will employ one of the regular substitutes of the company, or if he cannot be had, some other suitable person to act, and report the fact to the Board of Engineers.
Each member of the permanent force will be entitled to seven days vacation annually without loss of pay, this time to include one of the "days off" of the member, the arrangement of the time for the several members will be made by the Board of Engineers.
Officers and members of the permanent force, while on leave, will be held accountable for their conduct, whether in uniform or not, and if in uniform, strictly so.
HOSE.
All the hose in the department shall be numbered, and a
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record kept in each company of the amount on hand, showing the number, kind and length of each piece, and all communica- tions concerning the same must be made by number, and any transfer from one company to another (temporarily or otherwise ), the acquisition by purchase or issue, the loss by fire, by being turned over, or by any other cause, must be at once reported to headquarters by special report, by the member in charge.
On the first of December, annually, each company shall for- ward to headquarters a statement of the hose on hand, giving each piece, number, kind and length.
Whenever a piece of hose is burst, or injured, report must be made at once as per form issued for that purpose.
Particular attention is called to the proper care of the hose, which must be done subject to the direction of the chief or assistant engineer.
SUBSTITUTES.
Upon the appointment of a substitute he shall obligate him- self to abide by, and conform to, all the rules and regulations during his active service which govern the force and be subject to all the penalties therein, and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the officers in command.
DUTIES OF DETAILED MEMBERS.
All work necessary in the department, or on the property in use in the department, will be done by the permanent members as far as practicable, and details will be made from one company to another for that purpose.
UNIFORM.
All members of the permanent force shall wear the uniform prescribed in orders always when on duty; and at other times when the nature of their work will permit.
All linemen, repairers or employees of the fire alarm branch of
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the department shall wear, when on duty, such badge or dis- tinguishing mark as may be designated by the board of En- gineers.
All uniforms and parts of uniforms shall conform strictly to the prescribed orders, and receive an inspection before being worn ; and no insignia of office, except the one prescribed, will be worn on any part of the uniform.
The assistant engineers will inspect from time to time the uniform of the men in their respective districts, and report to the board of engineers, members who continue to wear shabby uniforms or are slovenly dressed.
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RULES AT FIRES.
RULE 1. The chief engineer shall have supreme command at fires.
RULE 2. In the absence of the chief, the assistant engineer next in rank shall take command, but when the chief is present the senior assistant engineer shall exercise no authority over the other members of the board.
RUI.E 3. The officer in command only shall relieve companies. Engineers having them in charge shall direct their foreman to report to the officer in command when their services are no longer required.
RULE. 4. No engineer shall interfere with, or attempt to give orders relative to, the location or use of a line of hose when he has ascertained that another has com- mand of it, unless by consent of the engineer in charge of it, or by orders of the officer in command at the fire, and it shall be his duty to inquire whether there is an engineer in charge.
RULE 5. In the absence of the chief and assistant engineer, the foreman or assistant foreman first on the ground shall command until the arrival of a superior officer.
RULE 6. On second alarms commanders of hose companies shall not lay their line until they report to an engineer, unless it appears certain that their services will be needed; they will order connection made with the nearest hydrant before reporting.
RULE 7. Commanders of hook and ladder companies shall not permit their carriages to come within one hundred feet of the fire before reporting to the officer in charge.
RULE 8. All call members or substitutes sleeping in the department houses shall aid and assist the driver in his work at alarms of fire.
RULE 9. In responding to alarms of fire no person other than members of the fire or protective department will be permitted to ride on any of the fire apparatus, and on rising ground or bad going they shall dismount and assist in forwarding the same.
RULE 10. The number allowed to ride in addition to the driver shall not exceed three in the tender and four on the hose carriage; on the ladder carriages not exceeding six, on the chemical engine three with the driver.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
RULE 11. Riding on the apparatus when returning from an alarm of fire is pro- hibited except that the engineman, or his assistant, may, if necessary, remain in the tender to do such work as may be required to be done; also members of the depart- ment who may have been disabled while on duty. Members will form in single or double file, either on the sidewalk or street, and walk abreast of their apparatus in returning from a fire.
RULE 12. Members in charge of engines at fires will never allow the water presssure to exceed eighty pounds unless specially ordered to do so by the chief or any assistant engineer.
RULE 13. While on duty at fires the greatest degree of silence compatible with the efficient discharge of duty will be required, and noisy conversation or boisterous conduct will be considered a breach of the rule.
RULE 14. Special report must be made to the board, by the foreman, of the absence of any member under his charge, from alarms of fire, giving the date and cause of such absence. This report will be made monthly.
RULE 15. Whenever at a fire the services of members are not actually required, they shall remain at or near their apparatus unless otherwise ordered, and they will bear in mind that in service they are working for a common cause, and that wherever useful, under command of an engineer, there is their place of duty.
It is expected that they will be courageous without recklessness, and strictly obey all orders of superiors; and cowardice, shirking of duty, or disobedience of orders at fires will be looked upon as grave offences, and will be followed by immediate sus- pension or dismissal from service.
Any of the foregoing rules may be repealed, altered or amended by vote of a majority of the board of engineers, subject to the approval of the Mayor and Aldermen. Notice of the same having been given in writing of such intention at a previous regular meeting.
Adopted by the Board,
SAM'L H. DAY, Clerk.
ENGINEER'S OFFICE, Feb. 26, 1881.
WORCESTER FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
ESTABLISHED 1871.
NUMBER AND LOCATION OF BOXES.
No. 4. CITY HALL. Key-Police Office. 1
No. 5. TRUMBULL SQUARE. Keys-Drug store, 50 Trumbull street; Kendrick's stable, Franklin street; 121 Park street.
No. 6. ORANGE STREET, OPP. PLYMOUTH. Keys-Corner Orange and Plymouth streets; 74 Orange street; 41 Plymouth street.
No. 7. HOSE SEVEN'S HOUSE, LAMARTINE STREET. Keys-Hose house and 42 Lamartine street.
No. S. COR. CHATHAM AND IRVING STBEETS. Keys-37 Irving street, and 40 and 53 Chatham street.
No. 12. COR. MAIN AND CHANDLER STREETS. Keys-Continental hotel; 633 Main street; 34 Chandler street.
No. 13. WEBSTER SQUARE, STOCKWELL & BARROWS' STORE. Keys-Stockwell & Barrows' store; A. G. Coes' counting room; Loring Coes' counting room; 10 Webster street; 1059 Main street.
No. 14. STEAMER THREE'S HOUSE, SCHOOL STREET. Keys-Steamer house, and 17 and 73 School streets.
No. 15. COR. NORTH AND GROVE STREETS. Keys-157 and 187 Grove street; 1 North street; 188 Prescott street.
No. 16. COR. SOUTHBRIDGE AND SARGENT STREETS. Keys-Sargent's counting room; Junction shop engine room; railroad depot.
No. 17. COR. MAIN" AND FOSTER STREETS. Keys-359 Main street; Lincoln House; Waldo House.
No. 18. COR. LINCOLN AND CATHERINE STREETS. Keys-108, 109, and 118 Lincoln street.
No. 21. COR. MAIN AND MAY STREETS. Keys-842 Main street; 9 May street; 7 Hammond street.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
No. 23. UNION STREET, RICE, BARTON & FALES' FOUNDRY. Keys-Rice, Barton & Fales' office; Chas. Baker & Co's office; Headquarters Bigelow court.
No. 24. SOUTHBRIDGE STREET, CHANDLER & CARR'S STORE. Keys-Chandler & Carr's store; Adriatic mill; Drug store, 468 Southbridge street.
No. 25. SALISBURY STREET, NEAR GROVE. Keys-Witherby, Rugg & Rich- ardson's counting room, and 21, 26 and 56 Salisbury street.
No. 26. COR. PORTLAND AND MADISON STREETS. Keys-96 Portland street and 104 Southbridge street.
No. 27. COR. PLEASANT AND WEST STREETS. Keys-4 West street and 143 Pleasant street.
No. 28. COR. MILLBURY AND WORTH STREETS. Keys-62, 63, 64 and 109 Millbury street.
No. 31. COR. MAIN AND RICHARDS STREETS. Keys-7 Beaver street and 978. Main street.
No. 32. COR. EXCHANGE AND UNION STREETS. Keys-D. W. Pond's shop; Merrifield's engine room; 78 Exchange street.
No. 34. GREEN STREET, FOX'S MILL. Keys-Counting room; Crompton Loom. Works; 6 Vernon street; 27 Millbury street.
No. 35. COR. WINTHROP AND VERNON STREETS. Keys-49, 63 and 65 Vernon street.
No. 36. COR. FRONT AND SPRING STREETS. Keys-134 Front street; 9 Trumbull street; Waverly House.
No. 37. COR. HIGHLAND AND NORTH ASHLAND STREETS. Keys-55 Highland street and 64 North Ashland street.
No. 38. SALISBURY STREET, NEAR MILITARY ACADEMY. Keys-C. B. Metcalf's; Dr. Merrick Bemis'; John B. Pratt's; Chas. Baker's.
No. 41. COR. THOMAS AND SUMMER STREETS. Keys-Drug store, 93 Summer street; 1 Prospect street; 92 and 117 Thomas street.
No. 42. COR. SOUTHBRIDGE AND CAMBRIDGE STREETS. Keys-Crompton carpet mill, and 502 and 513 Southbridge street.
No. 43. QUINSIGAMOND WIRE MILI .. Keys-Wire mill and Benjamin Booth's. house.
No. 45. COR. SHREWSBURY AND PINE STREETS. Keys-102, 114 and 199 Shrews- bury street.
No. 46. HOSE TWO's HOUSE, GRAFTON STREET. Keys-Hose house; T. K. Earle's counting room; Washburn's foundry, Grafton street; J. H. & G. M. Walker's office.
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CITY DOCUMENT .- NO. 35.
No. 47. COR. BELMONT STREET AND OAK AVENUE. Keys-60 Belmont street; 18 Oak avenue; 30 Liberty street.
No. 48. COR. SOUTHGATE AND CAMP STREETS. Keys-72, 87 and 89 Southgate street.
No. 51. LINCOLN SQUARE. Keys-11 Main street; 16 Lincoln square; Ex- change Hotel.
No. 52. PRESCOTT STREET, A. P. RICHARDSON'S SHOP. Keys-Counting room; Ames Plow Co's office; 16 Prescott street.
No. 53. COR. PROVIDENCE AND HARRISON STREETS. Keys-56, 57 and 76 Providence street, and Worcester Academy.
No. 54. COR. AUSTIN AND NEWBURY STREETS. Keys-Grocery store, corner Austin and Newbury streets; 111 and 113 Austin street.
No. 56. COR. WILLIAM AND CHESTNUT STREETS. Keys-33 Chestnut street; 1 Harvard street; Extinguisher house, John street.
No. 57. HERMON STREET, TAYLOR & FARLEY'S FACTORY. Keys-Counting room; J. S. Wheeler & Co's; drug store, 725 Main street.
No. 58. COR. WOODLAND AND KING STREETS. Keys-1 Woodland street; 35 King street; boot shop, 60 King street.
No. 61. GARDNER STREET, FOREHAND & WADSWORTH'S SHOP. Keys-Forehand & Wadsworth's office; store, Canterbury street; 4 Hollis street; 29 Wyman street; 71 Southgate street.
No. 62. COR. LAUREL AND EDWARD STREETS. Keys-41 Edward street; corner Laurel and Edward streets; J. L. Baker's stable.
No. 63. WASHINGTON SQUARE. Keys-Union station; 295 Front street; Arcade foundry.
No. 64. COR. GRAFTON AND BARCLAY STREETS. Keys-143 and 153 Grafton street; Stow & Co's boot shop.
No. 65. ELM STREET, OPPOSITE LINDEN. Keys-22 and 46 Elm street.
No. 67. HOSE SIX'S HOUSE, PLEASANT STREET. Keys-Hose house; 240 Pleasant street; 4 Winslow street.
No. 68. COR. BLOOMINGDALE ROAD AND NORFOLK STREET. Keys-Graton & Knight's tannery, and B. & A. engine house and freight house.
No. 71. COR. MAIN AND CENTRAL STREETS. Keys-Harrington Bro's stable, and W. S. Green's stable, Central street; 249 and 265 Main street; Bay State House.
No. 73. WASHBURN & MOEN MANUFACTURING COMPANY'S YARD. Key-Com- pany's office.
.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
No. 75. COR. MAY AND WOODLAND STREETS. Keys-30, 32 and 37 May street; 81 Woodland street.
No. 76. COR. WILLIAM AND WEST STREETS. Keys-30 West street and 48 William Street.
No. 81. CITY FARM. Key-Police office.
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INSTRUCTIONS TO KEY-HOLDERS.
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