Minutes 09/27/1932 - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 27~h, 1932. caused it to remain unfinished for the time being. The Council has more than tentatively approved the proposition, by purchasing land adjacent to the incinerator plant which would cover ~ll the present needs and provisions for the future. The project means release of present stables at Effingham St.. near the 0edar Growe Cemetery. The stables, as you doubt- less know, are fast becoming a garage, as we are cutting down the horse power gradually from year ~o year, chenging it to motor ~vehicles, which policy has proven more economical and more adaptable to the present day needs. The project contemplates dispensing with the store yard on Race Ave., also_ the~ unloading and handling of material would be gre,atly faci- litated by having an ade~q~uate siding r~ning through the property which could be worked from both sides. By placing the stables~ garage, construction eGuipment and supplies in the same location, the present watchman ceui~ oversee all property at~ this point and prevent thefts of stone, lumber, coal, etc., which occur from time to time. The City would have a storage place of ample capacity, more material could be purchased in ce~ lo~d lots for all depart- ments o~ the city, thereby creating a saving over the method of ourohasing by local deli- very. ~By having all city equipment adjacent to the shop for repairs, same could be carried out wit~ greater efficiency and with less expense. The central tool house on this property would give uea better check on tools. The ~ata which we gather and which is necessary un- der our~ new accounting system could be gathered in a m~zcn~ · more complete manner. The location which the Council has agreed on, upon my recommendation, has cer- tain social advantages and it will act as a buffer between the property at that location and Prentis Place. The site could be made very attractive in appearance' with such trees and shrubs as grow in abundance in the Oity Park and would be a great improvement over the pTesent conditions. The beautifying of the incinerator would have gone ahead but for the fact that I felt it would be a waste of money with the question of the storage yard still pending. The consolidation of the four fire stations a~ter the store yard plan i~s put into effect, as recommended, would include the hook and ladder company, C-hambers and Inde- pendent companies; these three to be combined with ~h~e?ark View station. The Southeastern Tariff Engineers have approved the site at Glasgow ~ Ezfingh~m Sts., the present site of our fire station. A survey of the fires of several years has proven t~hat the larger number o~ fires occurring in the city were west of Washington St. This approval was made as early as 1~2~. A continuous demand has been made on the city to increase the number -of firemen by t~en or fifteen men, which, as you know, would cost considerable money, and I feel that the consoli'dation is more practicable and economical, and would give us a more flexible working organization. It would at the same time save ~he city money because it would de- crease the coot of overhead, release properties for eat~e and make a return in taxable val- ues. In this motor age, it is believed ~that it is entirely urn~eoessary to have these rotor separate engine companies. I also believe ~that the morale of the companies would be bet- ter if they were oonso~lidated. The tentative plans and specifications are on file in the engineer's office. (The plans, b?th ~or the establishment of= this yard and the proposed new fire s~ation at Glasgow & Eff~ngham 8ts.) It was my thought that the selling of our old city property, school .property, as well as the released fire property, would certainly finance the entire proposition. I am fully convinced that now that conditions are L~roving, an early oonsi- dertaion of these_ uncompleted matters, which were recommended by me in 1929, in regard to the store yard and fire station, would save many thousand dollars for the city and should be gone into as stated above, as early as practicable. ~or that reason, I feel it is my duty at this time to call it to your attention., Motion of Mr. Ogg to refer to incoming Oity Manager, was ~dopted. 3rd- "Permit me at this time to call your attention to 'the condition of what we call the old town clock, !seated in the city hall building, where the 0hambers end Hook and L~ider companies are housed. This clock is known as a Seth Thom~s town clock. It car- ries with it total weig~hts to the amount of l~00 pounds.' Sometime back, these weights fell, tore through two floors and splintered joists, plastering and flooring,~ di~reotly over the bed of one of the firemen, and there the weights stopped. I have been told that the ss~me thing occurred some twenty or twenty five years ago. Upon examination of the premises af- ter the falling of ~ o~e weights, I could not get the consent of my mind to restore them in the old building, so that the bell could strike. I felt it would be taking too great a risk. Ia 192~, upon my order, from a standpoint of public safety, I discontinued the use not only of this bell, but the other fire bells in giving the alarm of fire. This was done because the thoughtless action on the part of motorists in rushio~ to fires at the sound of a bell, made. conditions tmsafe, ~e have noted that practically all cities have done the same thing. The alarm sounds in the engine houses, the siren blows, and that is regarded as sufficient in this day of heavy traffic.~ I mig~ht, say th.at quite a few of cur citizens as well as myself, feel that if possible, the strikmng of this clock should be re- I took the matter up some time ago with Mr. C. S. Sherwood, Jr., whose fLvm has been keeping the clock in repair since its installation, possibly forty or fifty years ago, for ~the sm~l~ sum of $2~5.00 p?r year. There has been very little mc.ney spent on the clock and~I~feel that~ ~asmuon as the matter of scenting an estimate from Mr. Sherwood f r t~ r - '~ ' (1' ' ' ,o' · . . - 0 D.e _e ~on ~on~no o~ zne clock so that the bell may st~ke again, by electrical arrangement, is now pending, the Oouncil could consider the advisability at such time as the budge~ is made 'ap, of restoring this old custom, which I feel would be appreciated by a very large nt~mber of our citizens, particularly those who hafe resided in Portsmouth for a good many-years. I trust this may receive the consideration of the 0ity Manager and 0ounoil at s~zch-time as the budget is taken up." 0n motion, ~ame was referred to 1~33 budget. 4th - "On my recommendation and request, the 0oumcil approved the ~gineering Department making a system of real estate m~os~for the city on which ~he assessment values would be shown completely. I had seen the need for a good many years, both in the tax of- lice and in the office o£ the Oity Manager, of these maps for an accurate and convenient