CHIEF ENGINEER'S OFFICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT,
San Francisco, July 29th, 1865.

To the Honorable the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco

GENTLEMEN : In compliance with Resolution No. 4,326, of your Honorable Body, I herewith submit my Annual Report on the condition and expenses of the Fire Department, for the Fiscal Year ending June 30th, 1865.

Hoping that the recommendations herein contained will receive the attention they merit, I have the honor to subscribe myself

Your Obedient Servant,

DAVID SCANNELL,
Chief Engineer.

FIRES.
The number of fires during the past year have been much larger than in any year preceding, in my term of office, and the damage or loss from the same has been nearly doubled.

The most disastrous fires have either originated or taken place in buildings containing hay, and generally the only cause that could be assigned was incendiarism.

The most extensive fire that took place during the year occurred on Sunday evening, June 18th, 1865, at half-past seven o'clock, on the block bounded by Drumm, Commercial, and Market streets. This commenced in the hay barn of Rider & Somers, and was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary, and occurring at that early hour of the evening, under ordinary circumstances, it would not have assumed the magnitude it did ; but, unfortunately for all parties, the Fire- Alarm Telegraph was only in working order sufficient to strike once for Box, No. 3, corner of Stockton and Greenwich streets, thus starting some of the Companies and members of the Department towards that section of the City, instead of the locality where the fire actually was. The correct locality of the fire may have been transmitted to the different Engine Houses notwithstanding the inability of the operator to strike the City-Hall Bell ; but this was of little avail, so far as the general mass of the members of the Department were concerned, as it did not reach them, and it was only some fifteen to twenty minutes afterwards, when some one by hand rang a " general alarm," that they became apprised that an extensive conflagration was under way, at which their services were required.

In this manner did the fire gain such headway that it was found a difficult job to subdue it ; and it was only after superhuman efforts on the part of the firemen, and the destruction of some couple of dozen of buildings, that it was finally subdued. A scant supply of water in the hydrants was again experienced at this fire, and had not the tide in the Bay been favorable at the time, a more serious loss might have taken place. As it was, some of the Steam Engines, as well as Hand Engines,- took suction through the wharf, from the Bay, and after getting in position done most efficient service. Indeed, this can be said of every Company in the Department, as well as of the Independent Companies, for they were all represented, even Young America, No. 13, coming in from the Mission with their Engine, Hose Cart, and Hose Carriage, and getting into service.
The fact that hydrants, placed on small mains, will only supply a few Engines with sufficient water at a time, was again realized at this fire, and induces me to reiterate my former expressed opinion, that they should only be attached to six-inch mains certainly nothing less in size. The number of fires during the year past amounted to about two hundred, of which some forty took place in the month of May, the first month after the completion of the Firm Alarm Telegraph.

However, the month following the number of alarms only amounted to eighteen, 'being but little, if any, above the average for the year. The estimated damage to property resulting from these fires was about 1275,000.

In addition to this large loss of property it is my painful duty to state that at least eight lives were lost from the same cause, as follows :
Thomas Gerness, November 16th, 1864, Market Street fire.
John Hayes, December 2d, 1864, Third Street fire.
Ten Young (Chinaman), January 26th, 1865, Sacramento Street fire.
Caroline Lewis, February 5th, 1865, Greenwich Street fire.
P. O'Keefe, April 20th, 1865, Valparaiso Street fire.
Samuel McDoltray, June 1st, 1865, Jackson Street fire.
John Doe Gibb, June 1st, 1865, Jackson Street fire.

DAMAGE TO APPARATUS.
As more or less damage is done to the apparatus of the Department on every alarm of fire, it may be readily supposed that the expense of keeping it in repair during the past year, when so many alarms took place, has been very great ; and this has been the case, since we learn from the Auditor's Report that the bills for repairs to Engines, Hose Carriages, and Trucks for the year amounted to $8,976 57.

This amount, together with the cost of purchasing a new Steam Engine for Tiger Engine Co. No. 14, a new Hose Carriage for Washington Hose Co. No. 1, two relief Hose Carts for the Department at large, the necessary supplies for the Corporation Yard, and a quantity of new Hose, absorbed all of the appropriation for the Department, except the amount reserved for salaries, etc., by the middle of March, and left a deficit at the close of the year, principally for Hose, rent of Corporation Yard, and repairs, of some $14,000. Some disappointment and inconvenience was therefore experienced by those doing work for, or having bills against, the Department, after March 15th, as they could not be paid until after July 1st, the commencement of the next Fiscal Year. However, the appropriation for the construction and repairs of Cisterns and Hydrants was not exhausted, but on the contrary contained a balance of $4,146 at the end of the year.

BADGES.
Your attention is again called to the necessity of providing Badges to be worn by the members of the Department at fires and alarms. They would be found most useful to the members themselves, and will also tend to prevent strangers and minors from intruding themselves within the lines at fires, and in many other respects will be beneficial. They are used in many cities of the Union with great advantage to the firemen, citizens, and police- men, and there cannot be adduced an argument against them, except the trifling amount they will cost ; and this I feel sure, nine-tenths of our citizens would justify your honorable body in incurring, were the matter left to them to determine. I consider them almost as necessary for firemen as the star is for policemen, and they would answer in a measure the same purpose.

I would also remind you that as long ago as May 14th, 1862, an Act was passed by the Legislature authorizing you to furnish such Badges, but up to the present time it has remained a dead letter on the statute book, for the reason, as I understand, that the Act spoken of did not designate the fund out of which they might be paid for. If this is the case, the omission can very easily be remedied the coming winter, as the Legislature will be then again in session.

HYDRANTS.
The number of Hydrants now set in the City is 409. Of this number 37 have been set during the past year, and owing to the rapid extension of the City, and laying of the Water Pipes, the supply has not kept pace with the demand. The supply of Hydrants we had on hand were exhausted some time ago, and as more are imperatively required at once, I would recommend that you make provision for purchasing one hundred more for future use.

This might be done by advertising for proposals to furnish them, and giving the contract to the lowest bidder. In this way it is probable that they would be supplied at a less rate than charged heretofore.

CISTERNS.
There are forty-eight cisterns in the City, in good order, ranging in capacity from 15,000 to 45,000 gallons, and there are three in bad order, being nearly worthless. Of the cisterns in good condition, two were built during the past year, viz. : corner of California and Davis streets, and corner of Fremont and Mission streets, at an expense of about $ 2,800.
A list of the Cisterns, with their location and condition, will be found at a later period in this Report.

The expense of building the two Cisterns above-mentioned, was rather large, but that was owing in part to the bad condition of the ground in which they were constructed, and the fact that one of them from this cause caved in when nearly completed. Notwithstanding the large expense attending the construction of Cisterns in the most favorable localities, I would recommend that a number of them be built during the present year at deterrent points in the valley south of Market, and west of Second Street. When well built they will last for years without additional expense, and the security they afford against extensive conflagrations, under contingencies which might arise, will warrant the outlay for their construction.

The water in the mains is frequently shut off in different parts of the City for the setting of Hydrants, laying of Pipes, and other purposes incident thereto, thus at times leaving certain sections for a time entirely without protection. To guard against accidents from this source, as well as to be prepared for any emergency that may occur from a lack of water in the hydrants, caused either from a scarcity of supply, or accident to the pipes or flumes conveying it to the City, it is deemed necessary that more Cisterns should be provided.

The part of the City here mentioned, containing as it does, nearly all wooden buildings, requires that provision be made for the speedy extinguishment of fires, as owing to the inflammable character of the structures, a fire when once started, spreads with amazing rapidity, and an abundant supply of water at its incipiency is the best surety against extensive damage being done.

HOSE.
In my last Annual Report I recommended the purchase of 10,(500 feet of the best double-riveted Eastern Hose. About 5,000 feet have been purchased, and I would now renew my recommendation for the purchase of 5,000 feet more, without delay. There is in use by the different Companies of the Department about 10,000 feet of good Hose, and about 4,000 feet more in poor condition, or not to be relied on for service at a fire. Owing to the fact that we now have a number of powerful Steam Engines in the Department, it is necessary that a good supply of strong new Hose should be provided for them at all times, so that when in service, accidents by the bursting of the Hose, and the delay consequent thereon in replacing a defective length, oftentimes at the most critical moment of the fire, may be avoided.

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
On the twenty-fourth of April last the Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph, having been accepted by the City Authorities, went into operation, and since that time the members of the Fire Department have been summoned to their duty by alarms through its signals. It is yet comparatively a new institution, and may do better in the future ; but I regret to be compelled to say that so far it has not realized the expectations we had formed we would derive from it. It has been frequently out of order on some portions of the different circuits, as well as the striking apparatus of the bell on the City Hall, thus leaving the operator in some instances unable to sound the alarm at all, and in others giving it incorrectly, hence causing delay and confusion to the firemen and increased damage to the property of our citizens. These irregularities and defects may be remedied hereafter, but until they are, no positive reliance can be placed on the certainty of its operations. In order, therefore, that the property of the City may no longer be placed in jeopardy through accidents of this character, I would recommend that it be thoroughly overhauled and repaired immediately wherever required, so as to be put in complete and perfect working order.

DISTRICTING OF CITY AND COMPANIES.
Since my last Report, new locations have been secured for the following Companies Lots purchased, and Houses erected to which they have moved, to wit :
Broderick Engine Company, No. 1, to Bryant Street, near Third.
Volunteer Engine Company, No. 7, to Sutter Street, near Jones.
Crescent Engine Company, No. 10, to Stockton Street, near Greenwich.
Pennsylvania Engine Company, No. 12, to Sixth Street, near Folsom.
Eureka Hose Company, No. 4, to Geary Street, near Mason.

This distributes the force of the Department in a more judicious manner throughout the City, yet places some of the Companies in positions that involves lengthy runs to reach a fire down town, or anywhere east of Montgomery Street. As it often occurs that the services of all the apparatus is not required at all fires, I deem it proper, since now they are located at almost the extreme points of the City, to district at least some of the Companies, so that when a fire occurs at one point they will not all rush to it, thus leaving a large portion of the City, for the time being, unprotected. If we take, for instance, the location of Broderick, No. 1, or Pennsylvania, No. 12, and then say that a fire occurs at North Beach, it will be seen at once that the distance is very great, and it would therefore take them a long time to reach it, and if they did so before it was extinguished, they would be so exhausted as to unfit them for vigorous work, while at the same time all the property in their own immediate neighborhoods would be left at the mercy of the elements during their absence. I have therefore designated the districts to which a number of Companies will not be required to run ha case of a fire, unless a “general alarm " is given, and have issued orders to them to that effect.

EXTENSION OF THE FIRE LIMIT BLOCKS.
By the adoption of amendments to the Fire Ordinance, extending its limits to Fourth and Harrison streets, which went into effect the first of the present month, a great good will ultimately accrue to the City by the erection of fire-proof buildings. The labor of the Fire "Wardens, in consequence, will be greatly increased, and unless they are sustained in their endeavors to see the law enforced, both by the Mayor, Fire and Water Committee, and the Police Judge, it is hardly worth their while to attempt it. We find that it too often occurs that permits are given by those possessing that authority, and without making the proper examination, for alterations and repairs to wooden buildings, that are not warranted by the spirit of the Ordinance or justified by the necessity of the case ; while at times the Court, whose duty it is to assist in enforcing its provisions by punishing for violations of the same when brought before it, is disposed to look with too much leniency on slight infractions of its provisions, thus in a measure encouraging persons to undertake to do what they require without procuring a permit, with the expectation of getting off with a nominal fine if they should happen to be arrested.

While the ordinance exists its provisions should be enforced, and if it is found defective, your Honorable Body has the power at any time to change it.

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