Racine Improves Its Fire Protection.

Racine Improves Its Fire Protection.

During 1908 the efficiency of the fire department of Racine, Wis., under Chief James Cape, jr., was improved, as follows: A double enginehouse was opened, affording, accommodation for a hose company and hook and ladder company. The cost was $15,000; the lot was the gift of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine company. A new enginehouse was built, at a cost of $10,300. It accommodates four paid men and a combination wagon, with all new equipment. A new Seagrave combination chemical and hose wagon, equiped with a 35-gal. chemical tank of the latest design, was purchased, together with 2,000 ft. of new 2 1/2-in. cotton rubber-lined hose. Two full paid men replace four call men. Chief Capes makes the following recommendations: The rebuilding of one of the city’s with new boiler, etc.; placing the overhead wires underground; the purchase of 2,000 ft. of 2 1/2-in. cotton, rubber-lined hose. During the past year the department answered 104 alarms. The total value of property at risk was as under; Value of buildings, $352,593; of contents, $316,118—total, $668,711. The following was the insurance on property involved: On buildings, $212,525; on contents, $208,575—total, $421,100. The following losses were sustained: On buildings, $18,423; on contents, $41,205—total loss, $59,628. The insurance loss on property at risk follows : On buildings, $18,239; on contents, $38,648—total insurance loss, $56,887. The following details show the class of buildings and alarms: Fires in brick buildings, 31; fires in frame buildings, 46; other than buildings, 23; false alarms, 4—total alarms answered, 104. There was but one fire during the year that extended beyond the building in which it originated, and that was in a 3-story brick clothing store. The apparatus of the department consists of the following: Two combination chemicals and hose wagons, 35-gal. tanks; 2 combination chemicals and hose wagons, 50-gal. tanks; 2 4-wheel hose carts; city-service hook and ladder truck; Silsby fire engine, in bad condition; 2 Clapp and Jones fire engines, in need of new boilers; 6 exercise wagons; 8 3-gal. chemical fire extinguishers. Fourteen horses are in service. The fire alarm system consists of the following: Two hundred and sixty cells of storage-battery; 30 miles of overhead iron wire; 3,000 ft of 10-wire underground cable; 3,000 ft. of 8-wire underground cable; 1,000 ft. of 4-wire underground cable; 8 10-wire underground cable boxes; 43 alarm boxes; 4-circuit fire alarm repeater; 11 enginehouse gongs; tower bell; 5 inking registers; 2 punch-registers; 6-circuit switchboard. The hose in the department is as follows: New 2 1/2-in., 2,000 ft.; good 2 1/2-in., 6,350 ft.; fair 2 1/2-in., 2,600 ft.; good 1-in. chemical, 800 ft.; 1-in. wash-hose, 300; 2 Eastman Deluge sets, 3-way; Eastman Deluge set, 2-way.

The officers and members of the department are as follows: Chief of fire department, James Cape, jr.; Assistant Chief Henry Blake, Superintendent of Fire Alarm John Sisco; captains, 7; drivers, 7; hosemen, 12; truckmen, 3—total, 32 officers and men. These, with the apparatus, are housed in seven stations.