THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

Chief Steere of Providence, R. I., has sent in his report and this is what he says among other things: “ The fire alarm system of Providence is the most complete and extensive of any automatic plant of this kind in the country, and its good condition is due in a great measure to Superintendent Charles G. Cloudman and his efficient corps of assistants. An idea of the labor needed may be formed when the proximity of the wires for alarm purposes to those of the electric light, telephone, telegraph and trolley wires is taken into consideration. Three members of the department have died during the year. The number of accidents has been about forty-four. In connection with this subject the advisability of establishing a pension fund is suggested. The whole amount of expenditures during the past year has been $222,539.16. The loss by fire has been, as near as is ascertainable, $25,297.92. The report further states that the entire force of the department consists of 200 permanent and sixty call men. At present there are seventy-nine horses in the department, and, it) view of the fact that the care and management of the horses requires constant attention, the chief recommends procuring the services of a veterinary surgeon.

The report of Chief Casey of the Cambridge (Mass.) Fire Department shows that the total membership of the department is now 106 men, there being one vacancy. There are thirty-two permanent and seventy-four call men. The chief renews his recommendation of last year, that a chemical engine he located in the westerly section of ward one. Larger water pipes have been laid and fifty, five additional hydrants located, making a total of 753 hydrants in the city. There are now twenty-six horses in the service. The department is sadly in need of a place to store its spare apparatus, and the chief again recommends that a suitable building for that purpose be erected. The appropriation for the maintenance of the department was $61,016.60. The expenditures amounted to $61,016.48. There has been a large number of incendiary fires, supposed to be the work of boys. The whole number of alarms was 208 bell alarms and thirty-six still alarms. There was six second and three third alarms. Ten alarms were given for fires outside of the city. The total loss by fire for the year ending November 30 was $225 292.46.