Less Than $9,000 Was Lost By Fire Here Last Year

LESS THAN $9,000 WAS LOST BY FIRE HERE LAST YEAR

Fire Losses Only Exceed the Insurance Paid by $100

-Sixty-Three Alarms

Chief Sipley's Annual Report--Fire Losses Averaged Only $140 per Fire--Cost of Maintaining Efficient Fire Department

Fire Chief Sipley's animal report to the fire commissioners shows the nurnler of fire alarms in Ann Arbor for the year ending March 31, 1903, to have been 63. Sixty-one of these alarma were sent in by telephone. In response to these alarms the department traveled 34 1/2 miles and laid 10,650 feet of hose. They discharged 53 bottles of chemicals besides ever so many gallons of water. The property destroyed by fire in Ann Arbor during the years was valued at $8,900 and $8,804.98 insurance was paid on it. The total amount of insurance carried on the buildings on fire was $56,850.

The causes of the fires are as follows: Chimney fires 14, incendiary 6, defective chimneys 3, sparks from chimneys 2, defective fire places 2, hot ashes 2, overheated stoves 3, gasoline stoves 2, gasoline lamps 2, spontaneous combustion 2, unknown 7. The following causes caused one fire each burning rubbish, overheated furnace, parlor match, cigarette, kerosene lamp, boy's bonfire, gasoline torch, electric storm, gas flatiron heater, electric cigar lighter, gas jet in window decorations, Christmas tree, meat on cook stove, thawing out water pipes, wood in oven, gas stove, shavings against hot furnace, coal falling from stove.

The total expenses of the department were $8,361.52, from which should be deducted $220 received for horses sold, leaving the net expenses $8,141.52. Some of the principal items of expense were salaries $6,634, horses S497.43, oats $295.41, hay $168.16, straw $40.57, horse shoeing $80.10. harness $21.55, coal $154.14, lighting 87.70, washing $72, bedding and ticks $24.85, oil $20.10, brushes $6.25, soap $3, polish $5.40, matches $3.30.

The department makes an excellent showing during the year.

There are 152 fire hydrants in the city.