To the Honorable the Board of Fire Commissioners of the City and County of San Francisco:

GENTLEMEN : I have the honor to present to you this the fourteenth annual report of the San Francisco Paid Fire Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880.

The report contains a statement of the condition and workings of the Department; also, a complete roll of the companies in the Department, with the property under their charge, including engines, hose-reels, hook-and-ladder trucks, and appurtenances, material and property belonging to the Department contained in the Corporation Yard, the number and location of the fire hydrants in the different portions of the city, a list of the number, location and capacity of the cisterns, the number of alarms responded to by each company, number of times in service and time at work at fires.

HOSE.
There have been purchased for the use of the Department during the year eight thousand feet of new hose. In the report will be found a statement of the quantity and location of all of the hose in the Department available for fire purposes. Our supply of hose is ample and in excellent order.

CISTERNS.
In the report will be found a statement of the number, location and capacity of cisterns from which the Department can, in case of necessity, obtain a supply of water.

HYDRANTS.
Herewith will be found a report of the number and location of the hydrants. There are thirteen hundred and fifty-two (1,352) fire hydrants located in different portions of the city, of which thirteen hundred and nine (1,309) are the property of the city and forty-three (43) are owned by private parties. The hydrants that are the property of the city are kept in repair and paid for out of the running expenses of the Department.

DEPARTMENT APPARATUS.
The apparatus of the department is in first class order, having been thoroughly overhauled and repaired during the year. I would recommend the sale of the old Leverich Relief Truck and the purchase of a new one with all new inventions and improvements for use of Truck Company No. 4. I would also recommend the purchase of a new third class Amoskeag engine for use in the upper portion of the city. Engine Companies 3, 5 and 8 are all third class engines, and we have no relief engine of the size to be used in case of necessity. I would also recommend the formation and location of a hose company in the vicinity of Mission, Valencia and Twenty-sixth streets, hose carriage to be four-wheeled and capable of carrying 1,000 feet of hose. That portion of the city requires some protection, as the nearest company is No. 7 Engine, located on Sixteenth street.

DEPARTMENT HOUSES.
The houses of the Department are all in excellent state of repair. I would urgently recommend the exchange of the lot of Engine Company No. 11, located on Fourteenth avenue, South San Francisco, for one situated on Railroad avenue, and the erection of a suitable house on the same for the use of the company, as the present one is unfitted for use on account of the street not being graded, thereby rendering it difficult for the company to respond promptly to alarms of fire.

STREET LAMPS.
I would recommend that the upper- part of street lamps in the immediate vicinity of fire alarm boxes be fitted with red glass having ground thereon the letters "F. A.," and that the lamps be kept burning during the entire night, so that any person having a key may, upon discovery of a fire, be immediately apprised by means of this signal of the locality of a fire alarm box. I would also recommend that for the use of firemen the upper part of street lamps nearest to hydrants be fitted up with plain blue glass, so that firemen in going to a fire may at a glance determine the location of hydrants.

FIRE BOAT.
Since' my last report the tug-boat Governor Irwin, used as a fire-boat when occasion required, was withdrawn from the service by the State Board of Harbor Commissioners. Subsequently a serious fire occurring among the shipping at the Pacific Mail Dock demonstrated the necessity of a fire-boat for the protection of shipping from fire. Through the exertions of the Board of Underwriters and others, they succeeded, through the kindness of the Board of Harbor Commissioners, in again placing the tug Governor Irwin at the service of the Department. A company was organized by authority of the honorable Board of Supervisors which has been in service since the 1st of May and responds promptly to all alarms on the water front. I would strongly urge upon you the necessity of applying to the proper authorities for authority to build a complete fire-boat, with all modern improvements and with machinery for generating carbonic acid gas for the extinguishing of fires on shipboard, as the use of water as a means of extinguishing fires proves wholly inadequate, for it is a well-known fact that a fire afloat, unless promptly overcome, is almost certain to result in large loss of property. The use of chemicals on shipboard for extinguishment of fires has proved very successful in New Orleans and elsewhere, and it has been fully demonstrated that by battening down of hatches tightly and a free use of carbonic acid gas forced in the holds of vessels on fire has proved a great success in every case where applied, and is not injurious to cargo.

REMARKS.
There is just cause -for congratulation at our exemption from large conflagrations during the past year. When we consider the great number of frame buildings throughout the city, it is more than remarkable that we have not met with more serious losses by fire. The fire law is practically inoperative. It is violated daily with impunity, and although we have endeavored to enforce the penalty, we have been unsuccessful through lax administration of the law by the officers thereof, fires constantly occurring through carelessness in depositing ashes in wooden barrels or alongside buildings. Neglect in not cleaning chimneys is the cause of many alarms, and a consequent loss to the city in the wear of apparatus.

There having been considerable controversy the past year in relation to the reduction of the salaries and expenses of the Department, I deem it proper now to enter my protest against such action, and I think it would be well that the public should be informed of the reasons why any proposed reduction would be unwise and impolitic. The time of our permanent men is entirely occupied day and night, their absence from their posts on any ac- count being prohibited, except upon the employment of substitutes, whose wages have to be paid by them. The extramen, who have to leave their employment at a moment's notice, who literally have to face death and injuries in a far greater ratio than the soldier, certainly receive too moderate a compensation to admit of any serious argument. The advantages of discipline and experience, the danger and troubles incident to too frequent changes and ignorance of their duty are too important to be overlooked, and I feel assured that it would endanger the efficiency of the Department, should a reduction of salaries be enforced.

In the matter of economy and a reduction of the expenses of the Department, I feel justified in challenging comparison with any other branch of the State or city government. Economy is defined as getting the full value of your money, and if there are any disbursements made for materials and sup- plies that this Department did not get the worth of, you would certainly be cognizant of it. Regarding the necessity of those expenditures, you and the honorable Board of Supervisors have been the judges. That nothing has been ordered for the use of the Department that was unnecessary, and that nothing has been paid for beyond its value are facts that the records and your personal knowledge will readily sustain; yet I regret to observe that there is an evident disposition to curtail and reduce our appropriation, and in a measure depriving you of the credit of promoting efficiency and economy in the interests of the Department.

I wish to tender my thanks to the honorable the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors and the Fire Department Committee of the Board of Supervisors for their cordial support and prompt response to all requests made to them to provide for the Department, to which hearty co-operation is due in a great measure the success attending the efforts of the Department during the year. To Chief Crowley and the Police Department, who have during the year rendered such service as has been required of them in. the most satisfactory manner, and it is gratifying to know that the most friendly relations exist between the two departments. To Captain White, of the Fire Patrol, and this company, for the very great aid rendered the Department on many occasions. To Superintendent Curran and his assistants for the efficiency displayed by them in their department. To Mr. Lohse, of the Spring Valley Water Works, for the prompt and efficient manner in which the water pipes and hydrants have been attended to during the year.

I wish to compliment the officers and members of the Department for the promptness with which they have responded to all alarms during the year and the efficient manner in which they have labored in subduing fires, and I can say that the department is fully equal to any emergency likely to arise.

In conclusion, allow me to return thanks to your honorable Board for your untiring efforts to maintain discipline and efficiency in the Department, and aid me in the discharge of my duties a credit to your management in the interest of the city and taxpayers.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

DAVID SCANNELL,
Chief Engineer San Francisco Fire Department.
San Francisco, July 1, 1880.

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