THE NEW ORLEANS FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE NEW ORLEANS FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The fire department of New Orleans, La., was organised on December 15, 1891, with 269 officers and men in active service, twenty-five; steam engine companies; seven hook and ladder companies —thirty-seven companies in all. It has gradually increased, until now it numbers twenty-seven steam engine companies, eight hook and ladder truck companies, fourteen chemical engine companies, one hose company and a water tower—fifty-one companies in all, with a working force of officers and men amounting to 342—and five on the board and office service—an increase in the past fifteen years of two steam engines, one truck company, seven chemical engine companies, one hose company, one water tower and seventy-three men. The city council having materially increased the annual appropriation, twenty-five men have been added to the working force, and now each of the firemen will be able to enjoy a vacation of ten days between April 1 and December 1, of every year. The board of fire commissioners has authorised the reinstatement of engine company No. 16 in Algiers; but, although it has the money, it cannot house more new apparatus or campanies because of the lack of new stations. President Herman Miester of the board of fire commissioners (who, it may be noticed, is a former volunteer fireman and has just been unanimously re-elected to that office) thus speaks of the fire department and its officers: “The Chief Engineer and his able corps of assistants, with the able co-operation of the men under them, have striven their utmost to maintain the reputation of the fire department of this city as being first class in every respect, and our thanks are due for the very able manner in which they have succeeded in bringing this department to its high standard of efficiency.’’ Chief Thomas O'Connor and his men were called out by 674 alarms during 1906. Of these, 620 were to actual fires: forty-four were unnecessary alarms; ten were false. The estimated loss on fire amounted to $732,113; amount of insurance involved, $4,019,255. During the year the department has lost by death seven members. There have been five dismissals, twelve resignations and forty-six appointments of new members. An increase in the numerical strength of the department has enabled the several engine and hook and ladder companies to be increased to the proper standard, and all chemical engine companies to be provided with four men. By this action, great strength has been added, and the efficiency of the force has also been much improved. An increase of three assistant engineers to the staff officers during the year has added greatlv to the betterment of the service, and has reduced to a minimum the possibility of any part of the service being insufficiently controled by a competent head. New houses have been provided for chemical engine companies 4, 8, and 13 and for engine company No. 15. These houses are all that could be desired and add to the comfort of the men. There is also in course of erection a double enginehouse at Oak and Leonidas streets, in the Seventh municipal district, and provisions have been made for new houses for engine companies Nos. 5 and 7, in the First and Second municipal districts. Chief O’Connor urges the necessity for providing for the installation of new companies in various districts, without delay. The continuous growth of the city requires this, He further points out that, although New Orleans has been “remarkably free from any serious contlagration, it is advisable to keep pace with its rapid growth, and fortify the department by adding sufficient apparatus, that, in the event of great emergencies, we may be enabled to rely upon our own resources, as it would be quite difficult to obtain assistance from any other source, this city being so remote from other large cities."

NEW ORLEANS FIRE DEPARTMENT. September 16, 1896