Fire Department Reports.

Fire Department Reports.

RICHMOND, VA.—Year 1890.—W. G. Puller, chief engineer. The permanent force of the department consists of a chief engineer and 36 men, with 94 men on call. There are in service 7 steamers, 4 hose wagons, 2 hose carts, a hose carriage, and 3 hook and ladder trucks, besides several pieces in reserve. Of good hose there was 13,250 feet ; fair, 1400 feet. The alarms of fire numbered 109 regular, 35 still, 2 second and 7 special. The total loss was $105,691. The chief calls attention to the inadequate supply of water in parts of the city, owing to small mams, and complains of the small inlets of the hydrants (1⅝ inches). He also urges the need of appointing a building inspector, and calls attention to the annoying and dangerous obstruction of the streets by piles of building material permitted by the present ordinance.

FIRE DEPARTMENT, LINCOLN, Neb.—Year 1890. Chief engineer, Wm. H. Newbury. The force consists of one chief, one assistant chief, two captains, three lieutenants, one engineer of steamer, eight drivers, twelve pipemen and laddermen, four active substitutes ; total, thirty-two men. Of apparatus there are 2 Silsby steamers, 2 Hutson double tank chemical engines, 2 hose carriages and t hose wagon, with 7000 feet of hose. The department responded to 109 alarms, of which 90 were for actual fires, causing a loss of $65,048. The total cost of running the department was $24,281. Chief Newbury, among other recommendations, calls attention to the need of an aerial ladder truck for use at fires in the modern five and six story buildings. He says : “ In case of a fire in the upper stories of any of our large blocks or hotels we could do but little effective work, and it would be impossible to save any one from the upper floors. I earnestly hope that the council will order at an early date an improved aerial hook and ladder truck so that the department will not be hampered in the performance of their duty. The apology now in use called by courtesy hook and ladder No. 6 was purchased fourteen years ago, then a second-hand piece of apparatus, and is not safe to use on high buildings.”