[Trade Journal]
Publication: Annual Reports of the City Departments of the City of Cincinnati for the Fiscal Year Ending February 28, 1870
Cincinnati, OH, United States
p. 1,21,34,87,93,108,110,1-7,9,24,26, col. 1
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SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CITY AUDITOR,
EXHIBITING THE
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
OF THE
CITY OF CINCINNATI,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 1870.
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CITY FINANCES.
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CITY AUDITOR.
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EXPENDITURES.
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WATCH FUND.
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POLICE TELEGRAPH.
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Paid R. Hemingray & Co. for insulators.. .............. 40 00
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FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
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Paid R. Hemingray & Co. for insulators.. .............. 56 52
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SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
CHIEF ENGINEER
OF THE
CINCINNATI FIRE DEPARTMENT,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 1870.
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SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT.
OFFICE CHIEF ENGINEER FIRE DEPARTMENT,
}
CINCINNATI, April 1 , 1870.
TO THE HON. JOHN F. TORRENCE ,
Mayor of the City of Cincinnati:
SIR - In obedience to an Ordinance prescribing my duties as Chief Engineer of the Fire Department of Cincinnati, I have the honor of submitting to you, a report of the operations of this Department, under my supervision, during the year commencing on the first day of March, 1869, and ending February 28, 1870, being the Seventeenth Annual Report of the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department.
The expenditures of the Department for the year, have amounted in the aggregate to $245,672.63. From this should be taken the sum of $5,251.83, which amount has been realized from sundry sales, rents, etc., and paid into the City Treasury, to the credit of the Fire Department Fund. This gives $240,420.80 as the net cost of sustaining the Department, which is $10,163.33 of a saving over the year previous, and included in the expenditures of this year, is the purchase of two new Steam Fire Engines, one for Marion Steam Co., No. 8, and one for Brighton Steam Co., No. 13, at a cost of $7,000.00 each. There has also been $23,000.00 paid on account of the new engine house on Sixth street near Vine. And we have also largely increased our facilities in the way of new cisterns, fire plugs, and new connections, at a cost of some $13,500.00.
I herewith return my thanks to the Hon. City Council, for its promptness in making the liberal appropriations necessary for the benefit and efficiency of the Fire Department, in behalf of its interests, and the interests of our citizens, and to Mr. W. H. Brickel, Chairman of the Committee on Fire Department, and his associates, Messrs. Bunten, Brookbank, Zeigler and Frintz, for the courtesy extended to me, and for the earnest and effectual manner, in which the wants of the Department, have by them been presented to Council. I also desire to return my thanks to the Board of Water Works, to Mr. Joseph P. Mayer, Superintendent, and to Mr. Henry Ernshaw, Engineer, for their united, prompt and generous aid, in promoting the interests and efficiency of the Department under my supervision.
The valuable services rendered by Messrs. Lewis Wisbey, and W. H. Hughes, Assistant Engineers of the Department, are above all praise, always prompt, and energetic in the performance of their duties, and ever ready to co-operate with me, in forwarding the best interests of the Department.
The members composing the several companies of the Fire Department, are also entitled to their just meed [sic] need of praise, for their general good conduct, and the alacrity with which they have responded to alarms, and their activity, and daring, in the performance of their duties at fires, amid the most appalling dangers, and although some serious casualities [sic] casualties have befallen individual members, but one life has been sacrificed within the last year, that of the noble, intrepid, and generous Capt. Matthias Schwab, of Phoenix Hook and Ladder Co., No. 1, who perished at his post of duty, in the prime of vigor of his early manhood, in the service of the city.
The Fire Alarm Telegraph has been advanced by a large extension of the lines, and the erection of the necessary signal boxes, at a cost of about four thousand dollars, and under the able management of Mr. George Floyd, Chief Constructionist, and Messrs. Gilman, Lockwood and Armstrong, operators, who by their diligence, and strict attention to their duties, have made its operations as perfect, and effective, as the system under which they operate will admit.
The Automatic system of telegraphing, now in use in several of the Eastern cities, has proved to be more practical in its workings, more simple in its construction, more reliable in its operations, and less expensive than any other system now in use. I would most respectfully call the attention of your Honor, the Board of Aldermen, and the City Council, to this system, believing that its adoption here would add to the efficiency of the Fire Department, and the pecuniary interests of our citizens.
It is with pride and gratification, that I refer to the new and magnificent Engine House, erected on Sixth street, near Vine, in place of the old dilapidated shed, so long an eyesore to our citizens and the Fire Department.
This elegant structure has been erected within the past year, for the use of Steam Engine Co., No. 3, and Phoenix H. & L. Co., No. 1. To Messrs. Anderson & Hannaford, Architects, and Messrs. Holtzinger & Edwards, builders, are we indebted for the plans, specifications, and the erection of this superb edifice, so perfect and complete in all its appointments, and, as is generally conceded, at less cost than any other structure of its magnitude in the city, and I congratulate your Honor, and the citizens of Cincinnati, that we can now pride ourselves in having the largest, most substantial, most elegant and complete edifice in all its details and arrangements on the American Continent.
The Chief Engineer of the Fire Department and his assistants, are created by law and ordinance, virtually Fire Marshalls, who in their responsible duties of managing, directing and putting in position their apparatus in time of fire, also demands of them to seek out at the earliest possible moment, the cause of the fire, whether accidental, from defects in buildings, incendiary or otherwise.
It is a lamentable fact, that of late years, nearly one half of the disastrous conflagrations which have occurred in this City, have evidently been the work of incendiaries, originating either in wantonness, malice, or the hope of pecuniary gains from excessive insurance.
In all the catalogue in human crimes, there is none so difficult and perplexing to deal with as that of Arson. Cowardly in its conception, all its plans and details concocted with the utmost secrecy, and carried out with all the devilish cunning the most depraved and wicked can invent, hence this most revolting and detestable crime is generally enveloped in mystery and darkness, and that the tracks of the incendiary are so completely hidden as to almost bid defiance to detection.
The Agent particularly deputed to ascertain the origin of fires should not be encumbered with supervision of the Fire Apparatus, but should be at the point where the fire originated, at the earliest possible moment, and critically examine the premises and surroundings, and ascertain as nearly as possible the cause.
In cases of Arson the most combustible and inflammable materials are used to ignite the flames, and but a short time must elapse before all traces of these preparations disappear, and the investigator is left in darkness and doubt, and it is clear in my judgment, that the interests of our citizens and of the under-writers would be greatly subserved, by the appointment of a Fire Marshall, whose sole duty should be to act in that capacity, untrammeled by other responsible duties.
It may be proper here to remark, that in consequence of the widely extended area of our city limits, by the annexation of adjacent territory, an increased expenditure of money will be necessary during the coming year, to meet the demands of the Department, in purchasing Engines and horses, building Engine houses, organizing new Companies, building fire cisterns, and inserting fire plugs, and furnishing all the necessary appurtenances of the same, in order to place the newly acquired territory on an equal footing with the older and more densely populated part of the city.
Before closing this communication, I can not omit to return to your Honor, to the Chief of Police, and the entire Police force, who, under your directions, have rendered such invaluable service to the Fire Department, and to our citizens generally. The watchfulness, activity and energy displayed at all times, by your very efficient Police force, is worthy of all praise. The early discovery of incipient fires, and their extinguishment by them, without the aid of the Fire Department, has, in many instances, prevented what would otherwise have proved disastrous conflagrations, and incalculable losses to our citizens. The good order preserved at fires, and the protection to life and property, entitles them to my highest commendation.
Having just entered on the fourteenth year of my administration, as the Chief Officer of the Fire Department, I can not forego this opportunity of returning my sincere and hearty thanks to the City Council for its partiality and confidence, and to our citizens generally, for their kindness and approbation, expressed int he management of the important trust committed to my supervision, and it shall ever be my care, my pride, and ambition, to retain that confidence, so generously bestowed upon me.
Respectfully submitted,
E. G. MEGRUE,
Chief Engineer and Sup't of the Fire Alarm Telegraph.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Seventeenth Annual Report of Chief Engineer.
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EXPENDITURES
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Fire Alarm Telegraph.
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" R. Hemingray & Co. for insulators.. .............. 56 52
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