Our Fire Department

About the first thing a careful busi ness man inquires after when he goes into a city, yes, the very first thing, is : "Wha do they charge a man for living here ? ' or in other words, "How high are the taxes? " After finding this out then he usually turns to yon and says : " Wha facilities have you for extinguishing fires?" or "Have you a good fire de partment? " To the first question the citizens o Ann Arbor have always been able to make answer in a way that is very gratifying to the stranger. Our taxes are never to exceed 1L (this year 13) per cent. - lower than in almost any other city of its size in the United States. And we have all the modern luxuries oi electric light, water works, flnely improved streets, etc. To the second question, in regard to our facilities for extinguishing fires, Ann Arbor can now also make a gratifying reply. One year ago last April Mayor Beakes by the power conferred on Mm under the new charter, appointed the various boards, to serve without pay, in whose bands were placed the building up of a new city government. Among others was the Board of Fire Commissioners, the members appointed by him consisting of Moses Seabolt, for three years ; Prof. M. E. Cooley, for two years ; Geo. H. Pond, for one year. These commissioners took hold of the work and found ït in a very chaotic state. The old fire department had been a volunteer deDartment, the men receiving $10 and in some instances $15 and $25 per year, accordin? to thfiir noaitions. T?nt. inanv of the companies had resolved to dismnd, being greatly dissatisfied, and so the departuient was in a helpless condition, unable to cope with anything like even a moderate conflagration. Under the lead of Mr. Seabolt, whose amiliarity with the fire department gave him the necessary knowledge, the ommissioners took hold of the work, ïired horses for a time to draw the necssary apparatus, and supplied the needs of the department in a moderate and economical way as necessity demanded, until now the pressing necessitiea are nearlv all met, and Aun Arbor can boast of as excellent a tire department as any city of its size in Michigan, and at a very moderate cost. The working forcé consista oí the following : Chief Engineer-Fred Siploy. Driver No. 1 - Win. Carroll. Drlver No. 2- Heñir -McLaren. Pipeman - ('has. A. ISdwards. Hook and ladder man- fm, Campion. Minute men - Samuel McLaren, Herman Kirn, Morgan Williams, Robert Koss, ictor Schnelder. Besides these the öth and (ith ward hose companies still keep up an organization of ten members each, but their services are seldom called for. A YEAr's RECORD. For the year 1890 the records show tliat the department has responded to 41 flres, the total losses on whicfa amotmted to $3,751, and the total insurance paid on the same amounted to !f:!,5(6.14, nearly covering the losses, it will be seen. The total amount of insurance held on property where thcs( lires occurred, amounts to .f-50,550. Tliis tact l;o(' f ar to prove the efficiency of the department. The total expenses uí the department for the year, which Lncludes the purchase of new wagons, harness, two horses, etc., have been 4,.'!S0. The receipts for the year for building permita and old apparatus sold amounts to $550. In going to fires the distance of fifteen miles has been traveled, and 11,200 ieet of hose were laid. In two instances the telephone did not respond to the alarm, and time was thus l't in getting to the fire, aud in two other instances the teams were obliged to return for more hose. The department has now two hose wagons, :m exercising wagon, a honk and Ladder truck of very ancient design and very heavy and lambering, with wood enough in it to make more than two modern trucks, also a good Silsby steamer, 2,600 feet of good cotton hose, and !)00 feet of indifferent rubber hose, and four of as bright and intelligent horses as ever ran to a fire. Besides this apparatus there are several hand engines vet held that are good ones, but are not needed and would make excellent machines for small places. Chief Engineer Sipley suggests that when a fire is discovered, no matter how incipient, send in an alarm at once. Do not wait to put out the flamea, for the department had rather be called out a dozen times and flnd the alarm a useless one, than to be called once after the flames have gotten under headway. The idea is that people sometimes t-hink they can put out a fire on the start and find out that they cannot, and by the delay much property is destroyed. The . troit fire department givee out word in this way : "If you smell a srnoke, turn in an alarm and find the fire afterwards." In this same connection the following extract from Fire and Water is of incalculable valué : Mimy of the fires in dweiling houses caused by kerosene lamp explosiona might be prevented if housekeepers would remember that the flames of burning kerosene can be quickly and easily extingalsned by the use of flour, a fact which has been often demonstrated. If a lamp explodes don't waste time in fooling with the water pitcher, but jump for the flour barrel and smother the bhue while it is small. In closing this article it is but just to give Mr. Moses Seabolt the credit that is due hirn in helping to orgauize and care for this department. It is his especial pride and he gives much of his iime and attention to it. The working force under the guidance of Chief Sipley, are always prompt and are never afraid to do their duty al;hough it sometimes takes them in perlous places, and everything about the engine houses is kept up in admirable shape, neat and clean. The department now has the work of delivering the city wood to the poor, which gives the teams considerable exercise. The Ann Arbor Telephone Exehange has been of great service to the departinent, and by its use much valuable time has been saved. There is an attendant at the central office constantly, and no matter what time of night, an alarm can be turned in if a telephone can be reached. For this great favor the people of the city are indebted to he obliging manager, Mr. Thomas J. Keech.