9

GOLD HILL FIRE DEPART-
MENT.

Yesterday afternoon the Board of Town Trustees, by invitation of Chief Engineer Abe Jones, accompanied by Assistant Engineer Joseph Bish and Justice Putnam, paid a visit to the various engine and hose houses of the companies belonging to the Fire Department, in order to examine and see what sort of condition the fire extinguishing apparatus is in at the present time. By special invitation we also went along. and will report accordingly.

LINCOLN HOSE COMPANY NO. 3.

We first visited the house of this company, in lower Gold Hill opposite the Rhode Island mill. Their house is a good one, conveniently located, and their two-wheeled hose carriage constantly in good trim, ready for a run. As to the hose itself, they have 40 feet on the reel, in first-rate condition, well oiled, clean, and just as good as new. The company consists of twenty-six active members. At this house we found some beer, cheese and crackers, also in good condition, provided by the foreman of the company, Hank Blanchard.

YELLOW JACKET HOSE COMPANY NO. 2.

Passing up Main street, a few doors below the News office, we came to the fine new house of Yellow Jacket Hose Company No. 2. This company consists of 35 active members, and Richard Mercer is foreman. They have an excellent four-wheeled hose carriage in first-rate order, with 550 feet of hose on the reel, also in the best possible condition. No beer, cheese or crackers at this house.

LIBERTY ENGINE COMPANY NO. 1.

The house of this company is the farthest up the street, at the upper end of town, just below the railroad crossing. It is the best house of the three, and indeed second to none in the State. This company consists of 55 members, and A. A. Putnam is foreman. The hose cart is a two-wheeler, in good trim, with 500 feet of hose on the reel. Their hose, like that of the other companies mentioned, is in good order; in fact, the whole 1,500 feet of serviceable hose is in better condition than ever before, and the balance of the hose belonging to the Department--250 feet--is now being put into the same excellent and reliable condition. The machine belonging to the company is the old Howard engine, formerly belonging to San Francisco, and one of the most serviceable ever in that city. She is in complete order, and ready to do just as effectual work as ever in case she is required. Cheese and crackers scarce at this house, and no beverage except California wine furnished by Foreman Putnam.