Page:History of West Hoboken NJ.djvu/83

 are not equalled by any other town organization, and are looked forward to with eager delight by a host of Protection's friends.

Under the old system of answering alarms rung from the bell towers by hand, much valuable time was lost in locating the fire, and the chiefs, among whom were ex-Chiefs Haag McCourt and Tournade, would, in their annual reports, recommend the installation of an electric alarm system, and in the year 1894 the present electric fire alarm was installed at a cost of $6,000.

With the growing population of the town the demands made on the water system had a tendency to weaken the pressure considerably, especially was this the case in the high part of the town, in the vicinity of Central avenue and Malone street, and during the incumbency of Chief Geo. T. Johnson, he let no opportunity escape him in bringing forth the fact that it was time the town provided itself with a steam fire engine. By some citizens and officials he was laughed at, and his remarks were taken as the result of over-zealousness in fire department affairs, but the wisdom of his words soon became apparent, for in February, 1902. Helffs factory, in Lossburg, took fire and burned to the ground, and the pressure from the hydrants at this fire was miserable, and to cap the climax, a week later Givernaud's stable took fire and also burnt to the ground. It was at this fire that a stream could not be thrown ten feet, and if their had been any houses near this stable there is no telling where the fire would have ended.

The following spring, 1902, the council seeing they could no longer delay it, purchased the present steam fire engine, which is a new engine built by the American Fire Engine Co., and with its advent our department is second to none in the State.

From an insignificant village fire department, which, in 1861, fought fire with a hand engine and four lengths of hose, it has grown to a department which at present numbers about 375 men, divided into 7 companies, with 13 apparatuses, as follows:—

Neptune Engine Co. 1.—1 steamer, 1 hose carriage and 1 jumper. Columbia Hook & Ladder Co. 1.—1 hook and ladder truck.

Empire Engine Co. 2.—1 hose carriage and 1 jumper.

Eagle Engine Co. 3.—2 hose carriages and 1 jumper.

Americus Hook & Ladder Co. 1.—1 hook and ladder truck.

Friendship Hose Co. 1.—1 hose carriage and 1 jumper.

Protection Hook & Ladder Co. 3.—1 hook and ladder truck.