22 - THE 3&OB3sTNGr OKEGOIsIAX. TTJESDAX, JA3$UAB,Y 1, 1S95. FOR FIGHTING FIRE Portland's yell-Disciplined. 3?aid. iFire 3D epartrq en t. EARLY VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR GOOD WORK History of the Local Fire Companies Covering: Nearly Hall a Century The Great Fires Described The Low Prevailing Insurance l?ates. t;.V HE firstattempt to organ-' ize a fire company in Portland was made in the spring of 1S3L On the 6th day of May of that year the old Pio neer engine company was formed. Among the 37 charter members of this company were A. B. Hallock, J. M. Breck, George H- Flanders, A. Dodge. Shubrick Norris, Robert Thompson and Dr. R. B. Wilson. This company enjoyed but a. transitory existence, for in the annals of this city no record of Its existence after 1832 has ever been found. In 1853 there occurred a small fire during midsummer which awoke the people to the necessity of making arrangements which would Insure adequate protection against a serious conflagration.. At that time the mayor of Portland was Josiah Failing. Immediately after the fire re ferred to. Mr. Failing took prompt steps to obtain the protection which to him seemed necessary, and, with the view of effecting a lire organization from which satisfactory results could be expected, he appointed Stephen Coffin, Thomas J. Dryer and I. B. Smith, who were to act as fire wardens. Nearly two years after the Pioneer company was organized, a call was made for a meeting to organize a liook-and-ladder company and to perfect a system which would provide for effi cient work by the fire department. This meeting took place on July 28, 1853. A res olution was passed which declared the whole city a district for the organization of the proposed hook-and-ladder company, and it was the sense of the meeting that Portland should bo divided into two sub districts. In each of which should be formed an efficient engine company. The dividing line between the two subdistricts ;vas Washington street. The result of the meeting was the or ganization of Vigilance hook-and-ladder company No. 1. The first officers of this company were: I. B. Smith, foreman; H. W. Davis, assistant; C. A. Poor, secre tary; S. J. McCormick, treasurer. The company adopted its constitution and by laws on Monday evening, August 1. 1833. The list of charter members included 36 jiames. The company was admitted for duty by the city council one day after its organization. The first headquarters of this company were on Yamhill street, between First and Second, where they remained until the memorable lire of 1873 destroyed their house. The company's first truck con sisted of a common wagon, with the orig inal reach removed, and the ladder was formed of long poles, made from a tall sap ling split in two parts. With its primitive apparatus this company did most effective work, however, and for many years it was one of the great companies of the Portland volunteer fire department. At the meeting referred to above, two committees were appointed for the pur pose of completing arrangements for the organization of two engine companies, one for the northern and one for the southern district of the city. The organization of the company for the northern district was effected on August 1 following, with an t nrollmcnt of 52 names. The first officers, were: C. S. Silver, foreman; B. Stark, first assistant foreman; D. C. Coleman, second assistant; Charles Hutchins, sec retary; and Justus Steinberger, treasurer. The first name proposed for the company was Protection. At the meeting held on August 8 there was some little discussion over the final selection of a permanent name. Mr. Falling suggested Cascade, Mr. Barnhart thought Pike would be sug gestive; and Northerner was offered by Mr. Stark. This latter designation was finally adopted. At this meeting 21 men signed their names to the roll, which made them members of the company. The company, like its predecessor, had Hone of the elements of permanency in its make-up, and in less than two months after its formation it was disorganized. not in a formal way, but as an Implied J agreement on the part of Its apathetic members. In the southern district, Willamette en gine company No. 1 was organized on August 6 of the same year, with the fol lowing officers: Neeson Ham, foreman; David Monastes, first assistant; Asa Strong, second assistant; A. M. Berry, secretary; and C. E. Williams, treasurer. This company contained among Its active members many men who have since be come prominent in Portland's affairs. Among these may be mentioned C. H. Lewis, William S. Ladd, Henry Failing, George H. Williams, R, B. Knapp and M. S. Burrell Those gentlemen served in the department for many years, and the a.J and support they rendered the old fire department was of incalculable benefit to the city. The same interest these gentle men have always taken In their private affairs was devoted unselfishly to the af fairs of the fire department, and with the support of such men nothing could have In-en expected of Willamette engine com pany but the great degree of success It attained from the day of Its first organi- and was loaned to the Willamette fire company. The vicissitudes of the Vaughn engine carried it to the temporary use of the Multnomah engine company, after ward organized in Portland, and finally to the fire department of Eugene, where It did most efficient service for many years. THOROUGHLY ORGANIZED. iCTrJ -mm Tlie Volunteer Department Placed on a Very Strong: Footing:. HE next fire company organ ized in Portland was Multno mah engine company No. 2. The first enrollment list of 56 names was closed August 26, 1836. Four days later the com pany's first meeting was held. B.F.Goodwin was made chair man of the meeting, and T. B. Trevett was appointed secre tary. The proper steps were taken in the work of drafting a constitution and by-laws, and at a sub sequent meeting, held on September 6, these constltutionand by-laws.were adopt ed, as was also the name of the company. At the meeting held one week later. 29 men enrolled their names as members of the company, and the following officers were elected: B. F. Goodwin, foreman; L. M. Starr, first assistant; David Mqn nastes, second assistant; A. M. Starr, president; A. C. Ripley, secretary; and Thomas A. Davis, treasurer. The city council passed an ordinance admitting this company on November 25 of the same year of its organization. Multnomah No. 2 was an Independent company, its equip ment having been purchased with money obtained by popular subscription. The engine for this company arrived from New York in November, 1857. This company afterward owned the first steam fire engine placed in service on the coast. It was a Silsby rotary, and was purchased at Seneca Falls, N. Y., and shipped to Portland by way of the Horn. It reached Portland in 18CS, just in time to be made available for the big Stitzel mill fire. It was In constant service for an entire week at that time In the endeavor made by the fire department to extinguish the smolder ing fire In the sawdust, which had started from the fire in the mill. One of the early presidents of Multno mah engine company No. 2 was Josiah Failing. Among the other prominent members were A. B. Hallock, Thomas A. Davis, Archie Williams and T. B. Trevett. Mr. Trevett was the last of the charter members of this company on the com pany's rolls when the present efficient paid department was organized. He had seen 26 years and three months' continuous service with the company, and his valua ble services during that time entitled him to the lasting gratitude of the Portland people. On May 22, 1831, the council passed an ordinance organizing the Portland fire department. The first chief engineer of the department was H. W. Davis. Shu brick Norris was assistant. In 1855, at an election held for the chief and assistant of the Portland fire department, the first officers were re-elected. In September, 1850, Davis was again the successful candi date for the position of chief, and Orln Joynt was made assistant. At the elec tion In the following year, the successful contestants for the respective offices of chief engineer and assistant were S. J. McCormick and Charles Hutchins. Dur ing Mr. McCormick's Incumbency he was absent in the East for several months, and during his absence the council de clared his office vacant and A. M. Starr was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Starr, however, had been elected mayor of the city, and he failed to qualify as chief engineer of the local department. On April 13, 1S3S. the assistant, Charles Hutchins, was elected chief. When Mr. McCormick again returned to Portland, he was elected to the office of assistant of the fire department. For many years tills gentleman was a prominent bookseller and publisher here, but he afterward re moved to San Francisco, where he gained considerable distinction as editor of the Catholic Monitor. In 1857 the local fire department was reorganized as the result of a special or dinance passed by the city council on September 21 of that year. "Under the terms of this ordinance Willamette en gine company No. 1, Multnomah engine company No. 2 and Vigilance hook and ladder company No. 1 were included in the department. The total number of men enrolled in the department at that time was 157. In June, 1859, the department was strengthened by the organization of Co lumbia engine company No. 3. This company elected the following officers: F. Carter, foreman; E. Devine, first assistant; William Cook, second as sistant; George Porter, president; Thos. Ncally, secretary; E. E. Kelly, treasurer. The engine used by this compeany was what was known as a Jeffer's side-stroke. In addition, the company owned a hose carriage, which carried nearly 1000 feet of an excellent quality of hose. The engine house and the headquarters of the com- ized in Portland until February 13, 1873. when Tiger engine company No. 5 was formed. The great fire of December 22, 1872, had awakened the people of Port land to the necessity of affording ad ditional protection to the city and it was this which led to the organization of the above company. The first enrollment of Tiger company included 2 names. The last fire company organized under the old volunteer fire department was Couch engine company 6, which was formed in 1850, with a total membership of 35. BOARD OF FIRE DELEGATES. Under "Whose Authority the Fire De partment Wat Conducted. N February 12, 1S63, a board of fire delegates was organ ized. The duties of this body vere similar to those now performed by the board of fire commissioners. The first officers of the fire del egates were Captain E. G. Randall, president; T. B. Trevett, secretary; and E. Seymour, treasurer. A short time prior to the formation of this board the legis lature had passed an act exempting fire men from jury duty and fixing the salary of the chief engineer at 5300 a year. This act was signed by Governor John Whit taker in 1862. In the fall election of 1S3S Chief Engineer S. J. McCormick was suc ceeded by J. M. Van Syckle. This gentle man had reached Portland several months before that time from Stockton, Cal., where he had been connected with the lo cal fire department, and it was through his personal efforts that the Stockton de partment was made one of the most ef ficient organizations of the kind on the coast. He long held the position of local agentof Wells. Fargo & Co., and such was his ability that he was soon recognized as the foremost man in the Portland depart ment. At the same election Joseph Web ber and F. Sherwood were also elected chief assistants. In 1859 Mr. Van Syckle was re-elected as chief, with M. Lucas and J. A. Messenger as first and second 8 brick Norris, L. C. Millard. W. H. D. Joyce, H. Slnshelmer, Blaise Labbe, John H. Wolf, William Young; 'Benjamin F. Goodwin. T. A. Davis, J. H. Lappeus, C. C. Phillips. S- G. Skidmore, A. J. Walling. Henry Weinhard. C. A. Bur chardt, C A. Alisky, Jacob Mayer, E. J. DeHart, Thomas A. Jordan, Henry Mor gan. After the old volunteer fire department went out of existence, the surviving1 mem mers of Multnomah engine company, No. 2, and the sons of the members, formed the Multnomah Engine Company, No. 2, Benevolent Association. The association now has a fund of $12,090, the income from which is devoted to aiding sick and needy members, and upon the death of any member the funeral expenses are paid out of this fund. The officers of the asso ciation are: T. B. Trevett, president; Jo seph Buchtcl, vice-president; Benjamin 1. Norden, secretary, and Charles H. Dodd, treasurer. The other local firemen's association is known as the Veteran Volunteers. This is not strictly a benevolent society. It is made up of ex-volunteer firemen from aU parts of the United States in addition to its many members made up from those who were connected with the old volun teer organization in Portland. The Portland volunteer fire department did a great work in the early history of the city, and even after Portland had attained distinction as a metropolitan cen ter of population the department was able to insure the same protection against fire as was guaranteed at the time in any large city in the West by the best or ganized paid fire department. The mem bers of the volunteer department included many representative men of the city, and while there wasconslderable rivalry be tween different companies there was none of that ill-feeling between different factions In the department which threatened the disruption of that good fellowship which always existed among the members. The fact that the city council failed to tender the old volunteer firemen a vote of thanks en vlous year. In the interests of economy, the force has been somewhat reduced dur ing the past year, the number of men now enrolled being- 146, as against an enroll ment of 170 during 1SS3. Even with this reduction, the department was never be fore on a more efficient footing than it is today. The department is equipped with a most modern and complete fire-alarm telegraph apparatus, which has cost over $23,000. The total value of the entire fire alarm property Is about $33,500. The su perintendent in charge of t&e fire alarm is Captain A. J. Coffee, one of the most competent electricians on the coast. It would be difficult to improve the water service in connection with the de partment. The water pressure from the new Bull Run system, in all mains throughout the lower portion of the city. Is not less than 95 pounds to the square inch, and the supply is practically inex haustible. The department owns 477 fire hydrants, 13S of which are distributed over the districts north of Morrison street, 124 south of Morrison street and 163 on the East Side. . Besides these there are the 52 hydrants of the Elevator Com pany, distributed along Front and First streets. The department is also provided with SI cisterns, 70 of which are distrib uted on the West Side and 11 on the East SK: The combined capacity of these cis terns Is 1,510,000 gallons. The department is made up of seven steam engine companies, three chemical engine companies, five hook-and-iaxiaer companies, and four hose companies. These companies occupy 14 separate houses, of which four are double. The companies cover some remarkable dis tances in answering fire alarms in dif ferent parts of the city, but it would be hard to find a department of any city the size of Portland in the United States that gives quicker service in reaching fires than the department of this city. The Portland paid fire department is un der a most thorough discipline, all rules and regulations being strictly enforced. y the disbanding of the volunteer fire de- ', No man on the force who gets Intoxicated during" each-year since its organization is shown below: 1SS3 $ 5S.933 00 18S4 65.SS0 00 1SS5 66,800.00 18S6 66,478 00 1SS7. 72.S1S 00 1SSS 69,469 00 1SS9 77.025 00 1S90 124,921 00 1S91 117,403 00 1892. 137.745 00 1S23 150.15S 00 1S94 (to November 30. 11 months).. 124,299 17 1S94 (estimate for December) 890 00 ME3IBERS ARE CARED FOR. The Firemen's Relief Association Its Beneficent Aim. -' 'HE first board of fire commis sioners organized a relief asso ciation, composed entirely of members of the department. On May 9, 1SS3, a set of rules and by-laws for the government of the association were adopted. These rules provided that each member of the department should pay into the relief fund the sum of 50 cents on the 1st day of each month. This fund was to be specially set aside for the care of sick or injured members of the department. The rules provided that any member who either through sickness or accident should become incapacitated for duty as a fire man, and who was not able to work at his accustomed calling, shall receive from the fund of the association the sum of $40 a month, said payments to continue during the time of his disability. On the death of any member in good standing, the sum of $1 is levied on each member of the de partment to defray the funeral expenses of the deceased. The rules further provide that the officers of the Fireman's Mutual Benefit Association shall be members of the fire commission, with a board of di rectors, including the three members of the commission, together with the secre tary and chief engineer. This association is one of the many excellent features of the department, and It has rendered most valuable assistance to the individual mem bers. The following table shows the total receipts and disbursements of the assocla tion from May 9, 1883, to December 31, 1894: I Disburse ments. Year 1SS3.... 1SS4.... 1885.... 1SS6.... 1SS7.... 1888.... 1SS9.... 1890.... 1891.... 1892.... 1893.... Balance on hand, bills receivaDie Balance on hand, cash Receipts. 691 00 623 00 1.3S150 811 00 830 00 669 50 934 3S 1,391 40 1,510 25 1,832 40 1.74S 39 I ($12,422 82 : S6SS4 473 81 685 72 337 67 5SS76 722 80 855 48 1,162 14 S60S5 2443 10 1,644 32 $ 9,941 99 2,477 S3 $12,422 S2 Sources of revenue. 1883 to 1893, inclusive Amount received from dues and fines $ 9,974 63 MOUNT HOUD-A XEAR VIEW. assistants, respectively. During the in-' curabency of Mr. van Syckle a bell tower was erected in the city and a big steel bell, weighing over haif a ton. was brought from the East and placed in this tower. The cost of this bell, including freight charges, was $518. In 1S60 Mr. Van Syckle moved to Wal lula to engage in business. Joseph Web ber was appointed to succeed him, and he was re-elected in 1863. with A. C. Rio- partment on the last day of December, 18S2, called for considerable comment from the community which had received such signal benefit from the efficient work done by the department, and while the failure of the council to officially recognize this valuable service by., tendering a vote of. thanks was an o,yerf4gl;t,nitliwas felt by the pepple that this lapse 'snpuld not have been made, and- that.4t was a, renecuon on the spirit of gratitude which Portland ley as first assistant, and J. J. Thompson, had always shown in attesting the city's appreciation oi gouu.,X.urjx uuuc ni cor pora le public bodies. A CIIIXESE BU1LDISG, rORTLAXD. zatlon. Mr. Falling, one of the most prominent early members of this com pany, has always been interested in the matter of ofiieient fire protection for Port land, and he is today one of the most r tive members of the Exempt Firemen's Association. Willamette engine company Tas admitted by an act of the city coun t 1 passed July 7, 1J54. On June 38, 1S53, the council authorized the purehaee of one of Smith's New York machines for th use of the local depart i n ut. The boys Uieu dubbed the primitive re pumps "piano-boxes." On August 2. "vTt, the council pfs-sed a resolution which awarded this engine to Willamette com pany. It had been shipped to Portland Ma Cape Horn, and it was unloaded at the towR wharf eight days after it had "xen awarded to the WHlamettes by the touncil. This was Portland's first fire mrine owoed by the city. Two engines nd been brought here before this time, rowever. by W. B. Otway. on the bark Man- Melville, which sailed Into Port- and's harbor July 2S. ISC For a time fter their arrival the machine were In i harge of P. A. Marquara. One of the-ensiles was subsequently purchased and v as loaned by this gentleman to the Northern tire company on Its organization, ihe other was purshased by G. W. Vaughn pany were on Washington street, be ewecn Second and Third. Columbia engine company No. 3 was the first of the Portland fire companies to use horses. These horces were purchased by the company, who also stood the entire expense of their care. When the rid de partment was disbanded. Columbia en gine company No. 2 had a considerable sum of money in the treasury. With this money the company voted the endowment of a bed in each of Portland's large hos pitals. Good Samaritan and St. Vincent's, and the remainder of the funds on hand were contributed to the Exempt Fire man Association, to provide for the care of the Volunteer Firemen's burial plot at Lone Fir cemetery. The rapid growth of Portland soon de manded the formation of another fire company, and on November 12. 1862, Pro tection engine company. No. 2, was or ganised, &ui promptly admitted to the de partment by the city council. The follow ing were the first officers of this com pany. R, Hendry, foreman; II. Bullough, first assistant; J. Byrnes, second assist ant: A. Rosenheim, president: W. T. Patterson, secretary, mid John B. Miller, trvasuxer. This was the last fire company orsaa- secdnd assistant. Webber held the office of chief until December 1, 1864. At that time the mayor of Portland was Henry Failing. Owing to the increared Import ance of the local fire department, the sat nry of the chief engineer was increased from $300 a year to $500. in 1864. The im mediate successor of Webber was Joseph Buchtel, the present able head of the Port land paid fire department. Mr. Buchtel was re-elected to servo until 1866, when he was succeeded by H. Weed, who held the office for two years. In 1869 T. G. Young was elected chief engineer, and he was succeeded in 1870 by Robert Hol man, who remained at the head of the department until December, 1872. The next chief wa3 Archibald Williams, and his successors in the order named were W. O. Bruen, who held the office for two years; A. B. Hallock; John Lyons, whose terra expired on December 1. 1877; J. 11. Morgan, who served until December 1, 1S79; Thomas A. Jordan, who held the office two years, and W. A. Hart. Mr. Hart was the last chief engineer of the volunteer fire department, his tertn ex piring when the old organization went out of existence, on the last day of 1882. On the night of December 21. of that year, the town and the entire department turned out for a big demonstration. Whistles blew, bells rang, and horns tooted, and everybody joined in bidding adieu to Port land's old volunteer fire department, which gave place the following day to the pres ent efficient paid department. Three local fraternal firemen's organiza tions contain all that Is left of the sur viving members of the old volunteer de partment. The first and most Important of these is the Exempt Firemen's Asso ciation, which was organized early in 1875 as a benevolent association. The first meeting of the board of trustees was held April S following, and at a later meeting, held on the 22d day of the same month, the articles of incorporation of the association 'were adopted and signed by the following seven charter members: A. B. Hallock, president; Benjamin F. Good win, secretary; C. H. Lewis, Peter Tay lor, T. A. Davis, A. Zleber. The present officers are Peter Taylor, president and John O'Connor, secretary. The requirements of membership In this association are that the candidate shall have seen seven yeais' service in the vol unteer department, except those who joined the department four years prior to the time It was disbanded, and who per formed continuous service up to January 1, 1SS3, when it was disbanded. After the great fire of August 2, 1S73, a large sum of money ves raised for the relief of the sufferers. Of this fund there remained the sum of $1781 74. which had not been used. The authorities in charge of this money decided to turn it over to the board of trustees of the fire depart ment as an irreducible fund, the income from this fund to be used only for the relief of members of the Portland fire de partment who may be injured while in the active discnarge ol tneir amies, -mere was a further provision made In the trans fer of this fund, which allows the trus tees, in case any serious calamity of fire occurs which might render necessary the raising of any considerable fund for the relief of the immediate wants of the suf ferers thereby, to use the whole or any part of the principal and Interest of said fund for that purpose. On the organiza tion of the exempt association this fund was placed in charge of a board of trus tees composed of seven members of that organization. These members were A. B. Hallock. C. II. Lewis. H. Falling, T. A. Davis, Peter Taylor, A. Zieber and B. F Goodwin. The association now has a fund of about $SwOO, which can be used for the care of injured firer en or for the assist ance of sick or indigent members. The exempt association also cares for the vol unteer Firemen's plot at Lone Fir cem eterv. one of the best kept and most beautifully located spots in, the ceme- tery- The following are the names of some of the older members of the association. A. B. Hallock. Henry Failing, W. S. Ladd. W. O. Bruen, C. H. Lewis, Philip C Schuvler. L. Baum, A1 Zleber. Ed F. Albright. Peter Taylor. T. B. Trevett, John Thompson. 'Richard M. Field. Shj- THE PAID DEPARTMENT. Its Formation and the Causes "Which. Led Up to This Organization. HE Portland people realized even before the city had at tained a population of 30,000 that there must be every pro vision made for affording ad equate protection against lire within the municipal lim its. The old volunteer de partment had done most ef ficient work, but it could not be expected that men who were devoting what time they could spare from their business to the onerous duties performed by firemen should be able to render as efficient service as salaried men of a paid department. The discipline cf a volunteer organization, too, could not be quite so strict as the discipline of a paid department. The day of the primitive hand engine and the later steam engine pulled by men tugging at a long rope, was passed. New and tall buildings were hz ing erected here, the territory covered by tho citv was rapidly being extended, and the rates of insurance as well as the safe ty of the city demanded the formation of a paid department. The legislature of 1882 passed an act which authorized the formation of the present paid department. By the terms of this act a board of three fire commission ers was appointed. The first members of this commission were Henry Ackerman, George L. Story and James Lotan..j"jllY lam Eppinger was secretary of the board. Thomas A. Jordan was appointed chief of the department, and C. C. Dobelbower and James Klernan first and second as sistants respectively. During the first year of its organization $11,000 was expended in the purchase of new materials, horses, etc., for the department. The total value of the property of the department held in trust by the commission December 31, 1SS3, was as follows: Real estate (estimated) $110,000 Equipment 66.142 Amount received from donations Amount received from theater benefit Amount received for interest.... Amount received from miscel- laeous sources 856 00 737 00 799 67 35 50 Deceased. Total $177,1'2 The following is the value of the prop erty of the Portland paid fire department today: Real estate $205,500 Equipment 132.47S Total 337,978 Chief Engineer Jordan was succeeded January 1, 1SS4, by Harry Morgan, who held the position for eight years. He gave way to Robert Holman, January 1, 1S92. Holman was succeeded one year later by Joseph Buchtel,, the present ef ficient head of the department. The present assistant engineers are David Campbell, first assistant; M. Lauden klos, second assistant, and A. M. Donald son, third assistant. The district cf the first assistant engineer covers all the ter ritory within the city limits south of Morrison street, and that of the second assistant the territory north of Morriicn street, and that of the third assistant all that part of the city included within the limits of old East Portland and Albica. There was no change made in the board of fire commissioners until July 1, 1SS7, when Henry Ackerman was succeeded by T. B. Trevett, and George L. Story by J. H. Steffen. On July 1, 1891. Theo. Wygant succeeded James Lotan, the last member of the original commission. The board composed of Trevett, Steffen and Wygant was succeeded on July 1, last, by the present commissioners, Sylvester Farrell. who is president of the board, H. S. Rowe and William Flledner. Tne secretary of the commission is H. IL Holmes. It has been the endeavor of the new board of commissioners to operate the department on as economical a basis as Is consistent with good service. They have especially aimed to keep the expen ditures within the estimated cost of $11S,S5B for running- the department dur ing 1S34, and if possible to save enough out of this appropriation to wipe out the J deficiency of $8215 incurred In the pre- is retained in his position, prompt dis missal following all breaches of this kind. The entire equipment is kept in the best of order. The horses are all sleek and well fed, the brass and nickel ornamenta tions of the engines are all kept highly polished, and the houses are all scrupu lously clean. Every permanent member of the department is required to be con stantly at his post, with the-exception of one night a week accorded him, .when his place must be filled by a substitute who is satisfactory to both the chief and the district engineer. But few people outside of the de partmentappreclate tho discipline that it is necessary to preserve and the necessity which exists at all times for obeying promptly any order, given by the chief or his assistants. The rules for the govern ment of the department are complete, but they are thoroughly mastered by every active member. The system adopted for governing the matter of responding to alarms by the different companies shows the thorough discipline of the department. A fire alarm first calls out all the compa nies assigned to the district in which the alarm is sounded. An alarm for a second fire in this same district, however, while the first companies arc on duty in this district, is promptly answered by the companies from another district. This system becomes very complicated when several alarms are rung in from different parts of the city before any recall has been sounded. A portion of each fire com pany is composed of "extra men," who are employed in the vicinity of the company's house, who serve for $20 per month. When the recall for the first alarm does not sound within 20 minutes, all the ex- tramen belonging to the companies as signed to the district where the fire is burning, must leave their work and go to their posts and remain there until relieved by word from the officers of the depart ment. If a second alarm is turned in, all extramen in the city must go to the houses of their companies and remain until re lieved. On September 13 last, 11 alarms were turned In within a period of six hours, and on that day six fires were burning In different parts of the city at the same time. All of these alarms were promptly answered by the department without the least confusion, and the fact that nothing serious followed from any of these fire3 was due, as the chief engineer remarked with pride, to the efficiency of the compa nies, which made a mistake or a break of any kind in answering an alarm an im possibility. ""uring the past year Chief Buchtel has inaugurated a system of extinguishing fires which is something of an innovation in the Portland department. In place of the wholesale use of water on nearly all occasions, whereby more damage is often done to the contents of buildings than by the fire extinguished, the plan now is to use chemicals whenever possible. Instead of closing all doors and windows and other outlets for smoke in a burning building.the improved method of procedure is to open everything, so that the firemen can get at the fire. As the chief expressed it, it is better to tear out the fire than to dnswn it out. For in stance, when a fire is ever a store full of valuable goods, If water is used, the goods are sure to be badly damaged. Con sequently, the chiefs orders are to hurry the chemical engines In advance of all other apparatus, and as a result these engines, together with the use of the Babcock fire extinguishers, hooks, axes, etc., have extinguished about 90 per cent of all fires within the pre scribed distances covered by the chemical apparatus. The following table shows the number of men enrolled in the Portland paid fire de partment, during each year since it was first organized: 2 1 a 1 5 : o - YEAR, : 33 5 : : .3 : . :52 2 : L!iL,LIJ 1SS3 18 34 i 52 1SS4 20 40 bO 1SS5 20 30 70 1SS6 20 50 70 1SS7 20 30 70 1SSS 22 5S SO JS9 22 i 58 SO 18E0 28 J 72 - 100 1891 52." 84 100 1S92 58 112 170 1833 55 - 1 US 170 1S94 Si St 14S Total $12,422 82 The total receipts up to November 30, 1894. were $1324 23, and the disbursements up to the same date were $753 31. The average yearly losses by fire in Portland are less than in any other large city on the coast. The credit for this exemption is due directly to the efficiency of the department. Portland, during its existence, however, has not escaped some disastrous contacts with the fiery ele ment. One of the most serious of these conflagrations nearly wiped the city out of existence, and it entailed much subse quent suffering. There have been but ex tremely few fatalities from fire in the history of the city, however. This has been due, principally, to the fact that previous to the era of modern brick and stone buildings few edifices here attained a height above two stories, and few fatal ities from fires ever occur in low struct ures. Previous to the great fire of 1873, the only important loss Portland has ever suffered was from the conflagration of December 22 of the previous year. On that occasion it seemed at one time as though the whole town was doomed, but the hign wind which prevailed during the height of the fire suddenly died away to a calm, and with the heavy rain which commenced to fall at the same time, the department was able to quickly get the flames under control. The fire started in a Chinese washhouse in the rear of the block on the cast side of Front street, between Morrison and Alder. Nearly all the buildings along the city front at that time were constructed of dry, light wood and they stood on piles. The open space beneath these buildings supplied a draft which swept up through the frame struc tures with a force that carried embers of the burning timbers for blocks distant. The flrc rapidly spread toward the north, being fanned by the wind which was blow ing a gale. The heat was so intense that the buildings on the east side of Front street were soon in flames and the fire men were compelled to leave the strcer. Within half an hour from the time the fire had started it had consumed everything on Front street from Morrison north to Washington, as well as the blocks along the river front. The old American Ex change hotel, on Front street marked the line of the fire, this building having- been providentially saved by the subsidence of the wind at a time when the structure was all but ignited. An explosion of coal oil and chemicals in the drug store of C. H. Woodard, during the height of the fire, injured several firemen. One of the exciting features of the fire was the rounding' up of a lot of Chinese by the po lice and pressing the Celestials Into serv ice in manning the engines, as the regu lar firemen became exhausted. The Orc- gonian building at the corner of Front and Stark streets, for a long time seemed in danger, and the forms were locked up. and these, with the type and office fur niture were rapidly removed to places of safety. The fire, as stated before, how ever, did not cross Washington street, and the paper on the following morning came out at the old stand. The loss reached over half a million, a little over one-fifth of which amount wa3 covered by insurance. The great fire of August 2, 1873, was far more disastrous in its effects. It swept away 21 blocks of buildings in tha center of the city and destroyed a large number of saw and planing mills, furniture fac tories, flour mills, sash and door factories, foundries and other industrial enter prises which gave employment in the ag gregate to hundreds of men. In propor tion to the size of Portland at that time this fire was a more disastrous blow to this city than the great conflagrations of Bcston or Chicago had been. The firs was first discovered at 4:20 A. M. in the large wooden building which stood it the corner of First and Salmon streets, and occupied by Hurgren & Shindier as a furniture factory. This building was sur rounded by other wooden structures, many of which contained highly inflam mable materials. There had been no rain for weeks previous, and the manner in which the flames devoured the tinder like blocks was something apalling to ob servers. Everybody said that the whole city must go. Telegrams for assistance were seut to other citie3 in the vicinity early in the day by Mayor Henry Fail ing, and these were promptly responded to by the departments of Vancouver. Oregon City and Salem. The hand engine from Vancouver, vith about 60 men, was brought over from Vancouver by the steamer Qncatta In the fastest time on lecord, 72 minutes, the stt-amer carrying on -the entire trip of IS miles 10 pounds more steam than her license permitted. truck to guard tho city during tho ab sence of the engines. Ben Holladay, who was at the head of the Oregon & Cali fornia railroad at that time, gave orders that all volunteers who came to assist Portland in her-extremity should be car ried over his road free of charge, and hun dreds of men. boarded the trains ovvr zhl3 road between Salem and Portland in answer to thl3 call for help. The train which brought the Salem firemen to Port land made the entire run of 52 miles be tween the Salem tfepot and the station t n the East Side in 52 minutes. This knocked out all previous records for fast time over the roads of the ccast. W. H. Calllcott. the engineer of the lightning train, earned the lasting gratitude of Portland for driving his engine at such a frightful rate of speed over the poorly built road of the old Oregon A California railroad system. With the valuable assistance of these outside fire companies the Portland vol unteer department obtained control of the fire a little after the noon hour. The boys of the department had performed an her culean task, and they justly earned on that day all the subsequent honors which were heaped upon them oy a grateful city. The record of the fire was appalling for a city as young as Portland. During the short space of eight hours 215 buildings had gone up in smoke. The burnt district extended back from the river to Second street, an average width of 800 feet, and reached from Morrison street on the north to Clay street on the south. The figures representing the total loss by tills fire reached about $1,250,000. The amount of Insurance carried en the property de stroyed was only $245,290. During the afternoon of the day of the fire Mayor Failing sent out notices to the effect that fool and lodging would be pro vided for the homeless and destitute on application at certain designated places. The council chamber, Ankeny hall, the Methodist church, Presbyterian and Bap tist churches, as well as the homes of many of Portland's people, were opened for the shelter of the homeless. A relief com mittee was promptly appointed, and a fund to aid the destitute sufferers was contributed by those able to atslst, with a spirit of generosity which practically opened their pocketbooks. Other cities of the coast promptly offered contributions, the generous people of San Francisco alone subscribing over $12,000 as a relief fund for Portland. Telegrams offering as sistance were received from all parts of the United States. Portland, however, was able to care for all Its destitute unaided. The total amount of money expended for relief immediately following the fire was $13,000. Hardly had the embers of the great conflagration cooled before plans were being drawn for commodious brick, buildings to occupy the sites formerly oc cupied by the less pretentious frame struc tures, and a year after the fire there was but little evidence to show that any dis aster had ever visited the city. The only great fire that has occurred since the memorable 2d day of August, 1873, 'was the one on September 23 last, which destroyed a lot of valuable proper ty situated in that part of Portland; known as Albina. This fire consumed the Pa cific Coast wheat elevator, warehouse and contents, the railroad coalbunkers and contents, all the wharves in that vicinity, 60 freight cars with contents, a number of cars containing valuable electrical ma chinery for the Portland General Elec tric Company, the river steamer Willam ette Chief and four miles of railroad tracks. The loss at this fire was nearly two-thirds as great as that of the fire of 1873, it having amounted to about $750,000, but so rich had Portland grown in the 22 years between the two fires that this loss, divided among a few great corporations, was not felt in the least by the general public, nor was it anything of a setback to Portland's prosperity. This loss, too. was principally covered by insurance, and the money which has since been paid out in rebuilding the destroyed property was of somo considerable benefit to the work ing population of the city during the late fall and early winter months of 1S94. The following valuable table will show the losses by lire and the amount of In surance paid for each year from 1SS3 to 1891, inclusive: Hi m F year : S- s s-s w : g : Z : go J2 : S Z a Z ora 1SS3. $ 319,092 $ 699,730 252,721 $ 56,371 1S4 403,031 752,148 340,223 62.821 18S.1 59,329 119,150 29,761 29,566 1SS6 93,146 324,514 65,662 32,481 1KS7 81,173 331,960 S0.2U 3,962 1SS8. 54.347 114.025 30.112 21.234 18S9 37,730 91,600 34,129 3,601 1890. 70.9S7 128.900 47,145 23,852 1891 231.759 429,975 178,188 73,671 1S9 373,885 1,091.004 460.719 llS.hw 1S93 133,459 275.60S 136,560 18,893 1S91 S69.633 1,216,436 592,405 277,228 THE EFFICIENT CHIEF ENGINEER. For nearly half a century Mr. Joseph Buchtel, the present popular and efficient chief engineer of tho Portland paid fire department, has been one of the recog nized figures of the city's history. Mr. Buchtel was long prominent In business here; he has always taken an active Inter est in public matters, and the high esteem in which he is held In the estimation of fellow citizens is attested by the hearty sunnort which has been accorded him in his honest attempts to place the fire de partment under his control on the most efficient working basis. Mr. Buchtel was born In Stark county, Ohio. November 22. 1830. In 18.W he re moved with his parents to Urbana, 111. He crossed the plains in 1852 and reached Portland on September 27 of that year. In the following year he established the first photographic gallery in the village, a busl- Jos. Buchtel Photo by Daies. The cost of maintaining the department ness he followed successfully fcr 33 yeara, when he disposed of his interests in what was at that time the leading gallery of the Pacific Northwest to William II. Towne, founder of what is today known as the B. C. Towne Photo Company. All old Portlander3 remember Mr. Buch tel, and the hundreds of views of primi tive Portland which he still retains in his possession bring vividly to the memories of these oidtlmers the remembrance of the scenes of the early '30s, when all Port land was domiciled in cheap structures and log huts. Mr. Buchtel Is no novice in the business of successfully fighting lire. He was one of the charter memocrs of the old volunteer fire department of Port land, No. 2 engine company, and as a ju3t tnbute to his recognized merit as a fire man it can be stated that he was a mem ber of Portland's fire department, in dif ferent official capacities, from the time of its fir&t organization until it finally gave way to the present efficient paid depart ment. Mr. Buchtel is a natural-born leader, but. like most men capable of ascuminn I command, he has been extremely modest In his claims, and ho has left nis abilities N.. ......... ,.-.......... , - - ....,,...., .... .-- Salem sent two engines and two hose i to oe recognized Dy n asoociuiea. j i- 1 carts, leaving only a hook and ladder occasion oi two ol tne greuieai urea in