1898-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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85 to trim the trees along the fire alarm wires. A competent man has been employed to keep the line in order and to at- tend to the battery. During the ensuing year it will be necessary to expend much more to put the line in proper shape. Several more boxes should be added to the fire alarm system. One should be located at the Centre Engine House, one in North Lexington near the house of J. M. Reed. We have been requested to locate boxes on Chandler,Mt.Vernon, Bedford streets, Pelham Road and Grant street. This will require an extra appropriation of $500.00. The apparatus was found to be in' a satisfactory condition with the exception of the steamer, which we employed Mr_ Harlow to put into working order. The entire -apparatus will need varnishing the corning year in order to preserve it. The East Lexington Fire Engine House was remodelled in the past year. A decided improvement has been made. It is now a convenient engine house and will answer the East Lexington Department for a great many years. The house at the centre is becoming over -crowded and we would rec- ommend that the town consider the advisability of a new house. We think it will be desirable for the town to purchase an- other pair of horses to be used on the hose wagon. At pres- ent the livery stable furnishes two pair of horses, one for the hose wagon and one for the ladder truck. While the livery stable can ordinarily provide one pair, it is a matter of chance as to whether two pair may be furnished. Hence we think it advisable for the town to buy one pair of horses and to have the livery stable furnish the other. A hose carriage has been placed in North Lexington which is manned by volunteers. Mr. James Shelvey who is at present driver of the steamer, has received an engineer's license. Thus we are fortunate in having a man who is thoroughly versed in either of these 86 duties. It will be an economy in the future to have Mr. Shelvey fill both positions. The repairs on the steamer, the fire alarm, and the expense incurred in consequence of change of quarters in East Lex- ington, have caused an extra outlay, but we have endeavored to keep as close to the appropriation as possible. We would recommend an appropriation of $4500.00 to defray the ex- penses of the entire fire department for the ensuing year. Furthermore we would recommend an appropriation of $1000 to be used for the purchase and keeping of a pair of horses for the centre hose wagon and also another permanent man. If one pair of horses at East Lexington and also one pair at the centre were used on the watering carts, it would cover the expense of the man and the extra pair of horses. We believe that this could be done without impairing the effici- ency of the fire department. E. J. B. NOURSE, P. F. DACEY, H. H. TYLER, Engineers.