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ANNUAL REPORT

FIEE DEPARTMENT

\l> WIRE DIVISION

(ITV OF BOSTON

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138

ANNUAL REPORT

FIKE DEPARTMENT

AND WIRE DIVISION

CITY OF BOSTON

TEAE ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1937

CITY OF BOSTON

PRINTING DEPARTMENT

1938

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2010 with funding from

Boston Public Library

http://www.archive.org/details/annualreport1937boston

OFFICIALS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

William Arthur Reilly,

Fire Commissioner.

William D. Slattery,
Executive Secretary of the Department*

Samuel J. Pope,
Chief of Department.

George L. Fickett,
Superintendent of Fire Alarm Division.

Frank L. Kelley,

Provisional Superintendent of Wire Division.

Edward E. Williamson,

Superintendent of Maintenance Division.

Thomas H. Downey,
Deputy Chief in Charge of Fire Prevention Division.

Martin H. Spellman, M. D.,

Medical Examiner.

[Document 12 — 1938.]

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

FIRE DEPARTMENT

FOR THE YEAR 1937.

Boston, January 4, 1938.

Hon. Maurice J. Tobin,

Mayor of the City of Boston.

Dear Sir, — I have the honor to submit herewith a
concise report of the activities of the Boston Fire
Department and the Wire Division for the year ending
December 31, 1937. An annual report is required
under section 24, chapter 4, of the Revised Ordinances
of 1925. The delay in publishing this report was occa-
sioned by the fact that the amount of the fire loss for
the year 1937 was not officially available until May, 1938.

During the period covered by this document the Hon.
Edward F. McLaughlin was Fire Commissioner, com-
pleting his eighth year in office.

Respectfully submitted,

William Arthur Reilly,

Fire Commissioner.

Fire Department.

SECTION I— THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

FIRE LOSS.

The total fire loss for the City of Boston, estimated
by the insurance companies, amounted to $2,204,366.93,
of which $1,363,660.42 was on buildings and $840,706.51
was on contents.

This loss is the lowest experienced in many years, and
continues the downward trend begun in 1931. The per
capita loss for the city thus has been steadily decreasing.

FINANCES.

Expenditures of the department decreased slightly
over 1936. I submit below a table showing how ex-
penditures of 1937 compared with those of previous
years.

Year ending December 31, 1937

1, 1937

$4,084,327 54

" 1936

4,123,856 68

" 1935

4,161,328 20

" 1934

3,677,085 02

" 1933

3,804,226 83

" 1932

4,377,844 00

" 1931

4,620,818 60

" 1930

4,642,216 53

" 1929

4,552,265 18

" 1928

4,357,568 28

NEW BOOK OF RULES.

During the year 1937, the Rules and Regulations of
the department were revised and a new book of Rules
and Regulations was issued to the department. This
new book was very much needed, inasmuch as the pre-
vious one was issued in 1917, and should be of great
assistance to all officers and members of the department
in carrying out their respective duties.

A new set of regulations governing the response and
covering of apparatus on alarms of fire was issued to
the department on January 2, 1937, the major change
being the striking of the nearest street box following all

4 City Document No. 12.

Boston Automatic Fire Alarm Company and American
District Telegraph Company alarms, thus giving a full
complement of apparatus in response to such alarms.
This complied with a recommendation of the National
Board of Fire Underwriters, following their inspection
and survey of the department in 1936. The wisdom
of this practice justifies its continuance as severe losses
have been avoided in many instances through the full
response of apparatus. Incidentally, the first alarm
received for the most serious fire to which the depart-
ment responded during the year, namely, the Danish
steamship "Laila," was an automatic alarm. This
vessel, which was moored at Pier 45, Mystic Docks,
was laden with nitrate and miscellaneous cargo, and
the department met and controlled one of the most
hazardous conditions it has ever encountered.

HIGH PRESSURE SERVICE.

The records of the two high pressure service stations
for the year are as follows:

Station No. 1.

Station No. 2.

238
78,000 gallons

252
409,000 gallons

* Owing to the construction of the Venturi meters they do not record flows under 600
gallons per minute.

MARINE SERVICE.

All three fireboats regularly assigned to the marine
service were taken out of service during the year for the
annual inspection by the United States Steamboat In-
spectors and necessary painting and repairs of boats,
main engines, pumps, fire pumps, auxiliaries, etc., were
made.

PERSONNEL.

The following changes in personnel of the fire force
occurred during the year: twenty-five (25) retirements,
twelve (12) deaths and three (3) resignations. The
promotions were: one (1) district chief, eleven (11)
captains and twenty-eight (28) lieutenants. One hun-
dred and ten (110) new men were appointed, two (2) of
whom later resigned. These promotions and appoint-
ments were greatly needed and aided considerably in
the strengthening of the fire fighting force.

Fire Department.

FIRE COLLEGE.

The sessions of the Fire College were conducted during
the year (except during the vacation period). One
hundred and fifty-eight (158) members of this depart-
ment and one (1) officer from a neighboring city received
instructions at the college during the year.

DRILL SCHOOL — COMPANY DRILLS.

Ninety-one (91) men on probation successfully com-
pleted the course of instructions at the Drill School.
Regular weekly drills were held by all companies in the
department. In addition, each company in the de-
partment was given a thorough drill by the department
drillmaster.

MUTUAL AID.

The department responded to seventy-one (71) alarms
of fire outside of the city limits, divided as follows:

Milton

38

Brookline

• . . .4

Somerville

24

Newton

4

Everett

1

FIRE ALARM DIVISION.

Fire alarms were received and transmitted with no
delays or failures. Of the 4,948 box alarms received
and transmitted to the department, 1,400 were false,
about 28 per cent. This compares with 4,860 received
in 1936, with 1,328 false, about 27 per cent. The
Police Department made thirty-five (35) arrests of
persons sounding false alarms and thirty-five (35) con-
victions were obtained in court, as compared with
forty-one (41) arrests in 1936 and thirty-six (36) con-
victions.

Because of the small appropriations, only the most
essential construction work was performed. The streets
prescribed for the removal of poles and overhead wires
affected this division but little. In the regular work
eight (8) box posts were installed, one (1) was relocated
and eight (8) were reset or replaced; one thousand six
hundred and fifty-four (1,654) feet of ducts were laid
underground and two (2) handholes were built.

6 City Document No. 12.

Approximately four thousand eight hundred and four-
teen (4,814) feet of cable was used to extend the under-
ground system and seven thousand seventy-seven
(7,077) feet was used for replacements.

In order to give the new housing project at Old
Harbor Village proper fire alarm service, an agreement
was made with the Works Progress Administration to
share the expense of installing four (4) fire alarm boxes
with connections thereto. In this work four (4) posts
were set; two thousand four hundred and sixty-two
(2,462) feet of ducts were laid underground; four (4)
manholes and three (3) handholes were built and three
thousand seventy-five (3,075) feet of cable was installed.

Eleven (11) public fire alarm boxes, two (2) school-
house boxes and three (3) private boxes were connected
into service. Six (6) boxes were removed from service
and fifteen (15) old obsolete type boxes were replaced.
The numbers of forty-seven (47) boxes were changed.
One (1) new box and one (1) new tapper circuit were
made. Considerable old line wire was replaced and
many improvements were made in the electrical systems
of department houses.

All chiefs' cars are now equipped with radio receivers,
sixteen (16) sets being installed during the year. Ampli-
fiers were placed on some cars to improve telephone
service between fire alarm boxes and fire alarm
headquarters.

FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION.

(A.) Inspection Force. — All classes of buildings were
inspected, including many one and two family houses,
with the permission of the occupants, as under the law
this department has no authority to inspect such types
of buildings without their consent.

(B.) License and Permit Division. — The fees received
for permits, permit and license renewals for the year
1937 amounted to $27,754.75, as compared with
$24,430.25 for 1936.

(C.) Arson Squad. — Under authority of chapter 383
of the Acts of 1931, two hundred and forty-one (241)
fires were investigated by the arson squad during the
year.

MAINTENANCE DIVISION.

Thorough inspections and tests of apparatus, equip-
ment and hose were conducted at various times during

Fire Department. 7

the year, and where defects were found, replacements
or repairs were made immediately so that the efficiency
of the department might be maintained at a high
standard at all times.

During the year, only one (1) motor vehicle was
purchased, namely, a Studebaker de luxe cruising sedan,
and a Hupmobile sedan was turned in as part payment
on this car.

PUMP SCHOOL.

One class of the motor pump school was held during
the year, at which six (6) members of the department
were instructed in the care and operation of motor fire
pumps.

CHAUFFEURS' SCHOOL.

Seventy-nine (79) members of the department received
instructions in the chauffeurs' school during the year
and were certified as operators of department motor
vehicles. All members rated as chauffeurs were given
instructions in the care and operation of motor vehicles.

W. P. A. PROJECTS.

(A.) W. P. A. Project No. 5578 started during 1936
and was completed on June 25, 1937. The work con-
sisted of painting interiors of fire stations, bricklaying,
carpentry, roofing, steamfitting, concrete work and
general building repairs. During this time work was
done in twenty-eight department buildings.

(B.) Project No. 13160 consisted of painting interiors
of fire stations, bricklaying, carpentry, roofing, steam-
fitting, concrete work, general building repairs, and the
making of fifty-seven (57) safes at W. P. A. work shop
at Fire Department garage. It was begun and com-
pleted in 1937 and work was done in four department
buildings.

(C.) Project No. 13886 consisted of painting interiors
of fire stations, bricklaying, carpentry, roofing, concrete
work and general building repairs. This project was
started September 25, 1937, and was still going on
December 31, 1937. During this time work was done
in nineteen department buildings.

City Document No. 12.

BOSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
STATISTICS— 1937.

RECAPITULATION OF EXPENDITURES, 1937.

Fire Department
Wire Division .

t, 084,327 54
97,622 53

1,181,950 07

ANNUAL REPORT OF REVENUE, BOSTON
DEPARTMENT, YEAR OF 1937.

Permits for fires in open spaces; fireworks; blast-
ing; transportation and storage of explo-
sives; garage and gasoline storage; oil

burners; etc $2

Sale of old material (condemned hose)

Sale of old material (junk)

Miscellaneous sales

Sale of badges

Property damage:

Fire alarm boxes and posts ....
Fire apparatus

BUILDING STATISTICS.

Number of brick, etc., buildings
Number of wooden buildings .
Fires in brick, etc., buildings .
Fires in wooden buildings
Fires out of city
Not in buildings, false and needless

2,024

1,577

90

5,996

FIRE

,824 65
444 65
409 97
103 24
372 00

552 93
512 43

5,219 87

44,425
93,911

9,687

Population, January 1, 1938, 825,537; area, square miles, 47.81.

FIRES IN BUILDINGS.
Construction of Buildings.

Fire resistive
Second class
Frame .
Other types

155

1,869

1,563

14

Total

3,601

Fike Department

Point of Origin.

Basement .
First floor .
Second floor
Third floor .
Above third floor
Roof .
Outside

1,120
1,028
443
335
137
110
428

Total 3,601

Extent of Fire.

Confined to point of origin 2,940

Confined to buildings 594

Spread to other buildings 67

Total . 3,601

Causes of Fires in Buildings.

Chimneys, soot burning 415

Defective chimney 48

Sparks from chimney 52

Defectively installed heater 98

Rubbish near heater 50

Hot ashes 78

Fuel oil burners 307

Starting fires, kerosene or gasoline .... 30

Careless smoking 1,087

Children and matches 249

Other careless use of matches 119

Defective wiring 75

Electric appliances and motors 192

Home dry cleaning 2

Flammable liquids near flame ...... 35

Kerosene lamps, stoves . . ... . . . 12

Grease, food on stove 85

Clothes, furniture too near fire 48

Spontaneous ignition 133

Fireworks 45

Thawing water pipes 2

Sparks from machines 19

City gas and appliances 20

Miscellaneous known causes 191

Incendiary or suspicious 52

Unknown 157

Total 3,601

10 City Document No. 12.

CAUSES OF OUTDOOR FIRES.

Automobile 827

Rubbish (vacant lot) 413

Rubbish (near building) 150

Dump 126

Brush 916

Marine 20

Other outdoor fires '. 808

Total . . . . 3,260

Rescues (emergency calls) 464

Out of city calls 90

Fire Department.

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14

City Document No. 12.

Fires Where Losses Exceeded $15,000.

Date.

Location and Owner.

Loss.

1937.

Jan.

6

519-523 Atlantic avenue, Osborne Office Furniture Com-

$101,758 15

Feb.

5

5

23,479 90

Feb.

235-237 Congress street, Donovan and Sullivan Engrav-

47,031 59

Feb.

13

19,555 40

March. 2

28,355 50

March. 20

148-156 Brighton avenue, Harvard Garden, Inc., et al. .

62,511 21

Marcl

i23

i28

24,700 87

Marcl

8 B street, T. M. Buckley Company

21,966 21

April

5

875 Massachusetts avenue, Harvey Tire and Rubber

31,534 49

April

21

180-186 Purchase street, Office Furniture Exchange

26,192 57

April

21

49-51 South street, Besse, Osborn & Odell, Inc., et al.. .

33,909 31

June

20

1863 Commonwealth avenue, F. G. Deban

18,787 21

July

4

975 Massachusetts avenue, Troy Brothers & Co., Inc.. .

28,014 18

Aug.

27

33,730 07

Aug.

28

644-646 Washington street, Hotel Brigham Company. .

48,360 29

Sept.

5

162-164 Lincoln street, H. Simons Shoe Company et al.

19,346 27

Sept.

21

13

16,043 01

Oct.

91 Braintree street, Thompson Norris Company et al.. '.

105,302 62

Oct.

30

43,290 15

Nov.

6

68-74 Warrenton street, La Salle Hotel, Inc., et al

16,018 00

Dec.

10

15,570 30

Dec.

22

Somerset street (Court House), George A. Fuller Co.

17,000 00

Dec.

29

197-199 Friend street, Royal Textile Company et al

22,375 00

Fiee Department.

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16 City Document No. 12.

FIRE ALARM STATISTICS.

Operating Records.

First alarms 5,520

Second alarms 69

Third alarms 19

Fourth alarms 6

Fifth alarms 1

Still Alarms Received and Transmitted.

Received from citizens by telephone . . 2,756
Received from Police Department by tele-
phone 415

Received from Fire Department stations . 1,119

Received from boxes but treated as stills . 12
Mutual aid alarms (adjacent cities and towns)

treated as stills 71

Emergency service treated as stills . . 317

Less

Still alarms received by telephone for which
box alarms were afterwards received and
transmitted 203

Still alarms received by telephone from
which box alarms, not received were
transmitted (11 p. m. to 7 a. m.) . . 333

5,615

4,690

536

Net total still alarms to which appara-
tus responded 4,154

Automatic and A. D. T. Alarms.

Boston Automatic Fire Alarm Company:

Transmitted by company to this depart-
ment 177

Box alarms received and transmitted after

automatic alarms had been struck . 1

Box alarms not received but transmitted

after automatic alarms had been struck, 167

Automatic alarms transmitted — no box

alarms 3

Automatic alarms received at fire alarm

office but not transmitted ... 6

Fire Department.

17

American District Telegraph Company:

Transmitted by company to this depart-
ment 80

Box alarms received and transmitted after

A. D. T. alarms had been struck . . 0

Box alarms not received but transmitted

after A. D. T. alarms had been struck, 72

A. D. T. alarms transmitted — no box

alarm 1

A. D. T. alarms received at fire alarm office

but not transmitted 7

Total alarms, with eliminations, to which appa=
ratus responded:

First alarms 5,520

Still alarms 4,154

Automatic alarms 3

A. D. T. alarms 1

9,678

Multiple Alarm Fires.

With two alarms
With three alarms
With four alarms
With five alarms

54

16

5

1

Fire Alarm Box Records.*

Boxes from which no alarms were received .
Box tests and inspections ....

439
11,923

False Alarms.

Box alarms received and struck
Box alarms treated as stills

Telephone

A. D. T

Automatic .

1,400

6

34

1

1

1,442

Accidental and Needless Alarms.

Accidental 247

Needless (bell and still) 583

Fire Alarm Boxes in Service.

Total number

Owned by Fire Department

Owned by School Buildings Department

830

1,708

1,256

255

* Note. — All street box doors are tested weekly.

18

City Document No. 12.

Owned by Boston Automatic Fire Alarm Company

Privately owned

Total boxes on posts

Total boxes on poles

Total boxes on buildings

Total boxes in buildings

46
151
887
467
175
179

Summary of Work Done. — Fire Alarm Repair Shop.

Line wire used in new work (approximately)

Line wire used for replacements (approximately)

Aerial cable installed, new work

Conductors in same ....

Aerial cable replaced

Conductors in same ....

Underground cable installed, new work

Conductors in same ....

Underground cable replaced .

Conductors in same ....

Submarine cable replaced

Conductors in same ....

Ducts laid underground .

Ducts abandoned ....

Manholes built

Handholes built

Fire alarm boxes installed by Fire Department

Fire alarm boxes installed by School Buildings De

partment

Fire alarm boxes installed, private

Fire alarm boxes relocated

Fire alarm boxes removed from service

Box posts installed ....

Box posts relocated ....

Box posts reset or replaced by new

Underground cable box (attached to pole) installed

Underground cable boxes removed from service .

Feet.

4,200

55,800

1,200

6,800

2,600

5,200

7,890

47,492

7,077

116,550

250

4,750

4,116

796

4

5

11

2
3
1
6
12
1
8
1
2

Fire Department.

19

20

City Document No. 12.

FIRE PREVENTION STATISTICS.

Inspections, Etc., by Fire Prevention Division.

Number of inspections 100,413

Number of personal inspections (by captain in

charge of inspection force) 2,551

Number of oil burners, alleged defective, inspected . 1,517

Number of reinspections (conditions requiring cor-
rection) 12,762

Number of corrections (including those made at time

of first inspection) 13,695

Number of conditions found corrected on reinspec-

tion (other conditions being followed up) . . 10,771

Number of court prosecutions (for violations of Fire

Prevention laws) 2

Inspections by Fire Force.

Buildings inspected by district officers ....
Inspections by district privates (weekly), reports from

district officers

Schoolhouses inspected by district officers .
Theatres inspected by district officers .
Public buildings inspected by district officers
Carhouses inspected by district officers
Deer Island (monthly inspections) by District 1
Long Island (monthly inspections) by District 3

19,002

54,082

3,791

3,980

861

72

12

12

Hazardous Conditions Reported to Other Departments.

Building Department 835

School Department 3

Health Department 9

Penal Institutions Department 2

Public Works Department 7

State Fire Marshal 52

State Department of Public Works .... 6

Miscellaneous.

Notices to correct hazardous conditions sent to

owners and occupants of premises .... 494

Personal services by constable 427

Reports from Building Department . . . . 319
Reports from district officers, causes of fires unknown

and undetermined 157

Reports from district officers, suspicious fires . . 52

Fire Department. 21

Arson Squad Activities.

Number of police inspectors assigned to Fire Prevention

from Police Headquarters 2

Number of Fire Prevention Inspectors on Arson Squad . 6

Number of investigations by Arson Squad .... 241

(a) Reported as being suspicious . . . .44

(b) Reported as being unknown or undetermined, 103

(c) Miscellaneous 94

Number of persons interviewed by Fire Prevention Office, 24

Number of hearings held 13

Number of hearings that on account of insufficient evi-
dence were not presented to District Attorney . . 6

Number of cases presented to District Attorney . . 7
Number of cases presented to Grand Jury by District

Attorney 3

Number of cases where indictments were returned . . 3

Number of "No Bills" 0

Number of cases awaiting action by District Attorney . 4

Number of trials 4

Number of cases conviction obtained 2

Number of persons convicted 2

Number of persons found "Not Guilty" .... 5

Number of persons arrested 8

Number of persons under indictment awaiting trial . . 4

Number of persons summoned at hearings .... 82

Civilian witnesses 82

Department witnesses 55

22

City Document No. 12.

MAINTENANCE DIVISION STATISTICS.

Motor Equipment Inventory.

Type.

Pumping engines

Hose cars

Aerial ladder trucks

City service ladder trucks

Water towers

Mack wrecker

Rescue cars

Fuel cars

School car

Foamite wagons

Lighting plants

Chief officers' cars

Ford coupes

Emergency Ford cars

Commercial trucks

Hose Inventory.
Hose Purchased.

2|-inch leading cotton hose .
3-inch leading cotton hose .
3|-inch leading cotton hose .
4§-inch hard rubber suctions
f-inch chemical hose
1-inch deck hose .

Total ....

Hose Condemned.

2|-inch leading cotton hose .
3-inch leading cotton hose .
3§-inch leading cotton hose .
4^-inch hard rubber suctions
f-inch chemical hose
1-inch deck hose .

Feet.

8,000

2,000

500

63

4,500

50

15,113

Feet.

8,100

3,700

422

53
2,350

50

Total

14,675

Fire Department.

23

Hose Repaired.

2^-inch leading cotton hose .
3-inch leading cotton hose .
3|-inch leading cotton hose .
4|-inch hard rubber suctions
1-inch deck hose .
1-inch chemical hose

Feet.

18,750

4,550

700

10|

150

5,450

Total ....

29,610^

Hose in Service.

Feet.

2|-inch leading cotton hose 121,200

3-inch leading cotton hose .

33,200

3^-inch leading cotton hose .

7,567

3-inch flexible suction hose .

825

3§-inch deluge hose

613

4|-inch hard rubber suction

1,239

1-inch deck hose .

1,000

f -inch chemical hose

23,050

f-inch Foamite hose

900

Total

189,594

Hose in Stock.

Feet.

2J-inch leading cotton hose 11,550

3-inch leading cotton hose .

2,350

3-inch leading cotton hose (reissue)

1,400

3J-inch leading cotton hose .

775

3-inch flexible suction hose .

66

3^-inch deluge hose

12|

4|-inch hard rubber suctions

55

1-inch deck hose

100

f-inch chemical hose

2,200

Total . . . - .

18,508!

24

City Document No. 12.

HYDRANTS.
(In service, December 31, 1937.)

Type.

Private.

Ordinary post

Boston post

Lowry

Boston Lowry

Batchelder & Finneran post.

Boston

High Pressure

Chapman post

Ludlow post

Matthew post

Coffin post

Total.

127

28

33

5

55
13
4

384

Fire Department.

25

SECTION II— THE WIRE DIVISION.

WIRE DIVISION.

Personnel.

Superintendent Peter F. Dolan of the Wire Division
died January 25, 1937.

Inspector Frank L. Kelley was appointed as Acting
Superintendent of the Wire Division January 29, 1937,
and was made Provisional Superintendent, with the
approval of the Civil Service Commission, July 22,
1937.

The following is a summary of the personnel of the
Wire Division as of December 31, 1937:

Quota.

Rating.

Number
Working.

Number of
Vacancies.

1 *

0

1

0

22

0

7

3

1

0

1

0

7

0

1
1

22

10

1

1

7

Superintendent

Chief Inspector

Interior Inspector. .
Exterior Inspector..
Chauffeur-Stenciller

Chief Clerk

Clerk

: Provisional.

Regular and periodical inspections were made of all
theatres, places of amusement and public halls, together
with inspections of new installations and changes in
electrical work throughout the city.

Thorough investigations were made of all fires and
accidents reported as due to electrical causes and
reports of same are on file in this division.

During the year there were eighty-seven (87) fires in
buildings reported as due to electrical causes, seventy-
three (73) of which were found to be due to such causes
and fourteen (14) found not due to electricity. There
were six (6) manhole troubles, three (3) fires on poles,
eight (8) accidents to persons, ten (10) miscellaneous
troubles and one (1) fatal accident (auto ran into pole,
killing driver) reported.

26 City Document No. 12.

Permits.

The income received from permits to perform electri-
cal work was $46,677.94.

Underground Cables.

The underground district for the year 1937, as pre-
scribed under authority of chapter 101 of the Acts of
1931, comprised the following streets:

East Boston. — Putnam street, from Condor street to Ben-
nington street; Havre street, from Sumner street to Bennington
street.

South Boston. — East Fifth street, from G street to P street.

Dorchester. — Park street, from Dorchester avenue to Wash-
ington street.

Brighton. — Braintree street, from Franklin street to Everett
street; Everett street, from North Beacon street to Braintree
street.

South Boston and Roxbury. — Southampton street, from
Andrew square to Hampden street.

Hyde Park. — Hyde Park avenue, from River street to Dana
avenue.

making a total distance of four (4) miles as prescribed
bylaw.

In these prescribed streets from which poles and over-
head wires were to be removed there were standing on
January 1, 1938, one hundred and one (101) poles and
nine hundred sixty-three thousand, eight hundred and
forty-three (963,843) linear feet of wire.

During the past year the inspectors of this division
have reported one hundred and ninety (190) poles
decayed at base and ten (10) poles leaning, or a total
of two hundred (200) poles which were replaced or reset
by the various companies at the request of this depart-
ment.

The ducts used for the underground conduits of the
drawing-in system are of the following types:

1. Vitrified clay (laid in concrete).

2. Fiber (laid in concrete).

3. Creosote wood.

4. Iron pipe.

In side or residential streets special underground con-
struction for electric light and power purposes (one
hundred and ten (110) and two hundred and twenty
(220) volts), of the type known as " Split Fiber Solid
Main System," has also been installed.

Fire Department.

27

WIRE DIVISION STATISTICS.

Interior Division.

Notices of new work received ... . . 14,864

Number of permits issued to turn on current . 12,662

Number of incandescent lamps inspected . . 2,251,721

Number of motors inspected 18,745

Number of arcs inspected 2,634

Number of inspections made of installations for

light, heat and power 39,287

Number of inspections made of theatres, places of

amusement and public halls .... 1,563

Exterior Division.

Number of poles set in new locations .
Number of poles replaced, reset or straightened,
Number of poles removed ....
Number of poles standing in public streets .
Number of defects reported ....
Number of defects corrected ....

(Other defects in process of correction.)
Number of notices of overhead construction
Number of overhead inspections
Number of overhead reports
Number of feet of overhead wires removed by

owners

Number of underground electrical approvals
Number of inspections of underground electrical

construction

Number of reports of underground electrical

construction

14

1,027

198

17,136

1,381

1,126

2,232

•19,295

22,716

424,157
1,759

2,294

6,645

28

City Document No. 12.

Table Showing Underground Work for the Year 1937.

Company.

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Boston Consolidated Gas Com-
pany.

Boston Elevated Railway Com-
pany.

639

6,103

79,649
903

2,331

6,941

1,444

37,085

140,932
903

2,329

7,780

20,316

2,569

506,152
7,890

19,142

24,052

2,330

2

15

112

2

12

12
1,252

Boston Fire Department (Fire
Alarm Division).

Boston Police Department (Police
Signal Service).

New England Telephone and Tele-
graph Company.

10

12
80

pany.

Totals

96,566

190,473

582,451

143

1,366

Note. — 3,508 feet of " solid main, " installed by the Boston Edison Company, is included
in the above figures.

Fiee Department. 29

INDEX.

Page

Arson Squad 6, 21

Building Statistics 8

Chauffeur School 7

Drill School 5

Finances:

Comparative Summary 3

Expenditures 8

Revenue 8

Fires :

Buildings 8

Origin 9

Extent 9

Causes:

Buildings 9

Outdoor 10

Fire Alarm 5, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19

Fire College 5

Fire Loss:

Summary 3

Classified . 12, 13

Largest losses . 14

Comparative 15

Fire Prevention 6, 20

High Pressure 4

Hydrants 24

Maintenance Division:

Motor Equipment 22

Hose Record 22, 23

Mutual Aid 5

Personnel 4

Pump School 7

Wire Division:

Personnel 25

Income — permits 26

Expenditures 8

Underground work 26, 28

Interior inspections 27

Exterior inspections 27

CITY OP BOSTON PRINTING DEPARTMENT