Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
FIRE DEPARTMENT: Difference between revisions
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hook and ladder truck and three or four ladders; public cisterns supplied water. (4) The expenses of the city for the fiscal year 1870-71 included $7,580.93 for the fire department fire department. (5) In 1870 during the fire at the [[DUBUQUE STAMPING AND ENAMELING WORKS]], the hand engines became frozen. Fortunately, the city had just received its steam engines which were put to work for the first time preventing much more loss of property. (6) | hook and ladder truck and three or four ladders; public cisterns supplied water. (4) The expenses of the city for the fiscal year 1870-71 included $7,580.93 for the fire department fire department. (5) In 1870 during the fire at the [[DUBUQUE STAMPING AND ENAMELING WORKS]], the hand engines became frozen. Fortunately, the city had just received its steam engines which were put to work for the first time preventing much more loss of property. (6) | ||
In 1883-84 the fire department was fully established on a paid and permanent basis. | In 1892 Mayor Saunders proposed at the same meeting that this proposal was written that a home company could be responsible for the water needs. With stand pipes on the bluffs supplied with water from the river, sufficient pressure would be created that steam fire engines could be eliminated. This would save $10,000 annually. | ||
department cost $15,811.51. (8) | |||
In 1883-84 the fire department was fully established on a paid and permanent basis. In 1885-86 the fire | |||
department cost $15,811.51. (7) | |||
In 1892 Mayor Saunders proposed that a home water company could be responsible for the water needs in the city. With stand pipes on the bluffs supplied with water from the river, sufficient pressure would be created that steam fire engines could be eliminated. (8) The issue of sufficient water, however, remained important--especially to people of the hill district. The destruction of a barn by fire was blamed on insufficient water as well as water pressure--actually half of what was needed to shoot water onto the fire. (9) The water company responded that it had never been obligated to furnish water pressure or power sufficient to fight a fire. Undeterred by their problems with the water company, the fire committee of the council increased the number of hydrants from 286 to 300. According the the charter, when 300 hydrants were placed in operation, the cost for each dropped from $60.00 to $50.00. (10) | |||
With the beginning of the city-manager form of government, a total of $650,000 was spent to improve water service. Along with the reorganization of the fire department, the improved water department reduced the city's insurance rates by $675,000 annually. (11) Hopes were raised that guaranteed water pressure would lower resident's fire protection insurance premiums by guaranteeing water pressure to all neighborhoods. (12) | |||
In 2015 the Eagle Point Water Plant was supplied by five shallow and four deep wells and did not use water from the Mississippi River. The plant daily produced an average of seven million gallons of treated water. The plant had a capacity of up to eighteen million gallons daily. (99) The distribution system for the water included 321 miles of water mains; 5,770 control valves; 2,876 fire hydrants and 23,500 service connections. (13) | |||
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6. Goodspeed, p. 185 | 6. Goodspeed, p. 185 | ||
7. Ibid., p. | 7. Ibid. | ||
8. "The Water Works," ''Dubuque Daily Herald'', August 19, 1892, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18920819&printsec=frontpage&hl=en | |||
9. "Must Have More Water," ''Dubuque Daily Herald,'' July 31, 1894, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18940731&printsec=frontpage&hl=en | |||
10. "Compared with Others," ''Dubuque Daily Herald'', September 25, 1894, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18940925&printsec=frontpage&hl=en | |||
11. "History of Dubuque and Dubuque County," ''Telegraph Herald'', January 15, 1939, p. 5. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dtdBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BaoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5766,3140247&dq=dubuque+electric+company&hl=en | |||
12. Phase V Architectural/Historical Survey/Evaluation Final Report. Online: http://weblink.cityofdubuque.org/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=44950&page=1&searchid=9d0a32ca-655e-4868-b2d1-db38eb62e79b, p. 30 | |||
13. "Drinking Water," City Focus. City of Dubuque Publication. Fall 2014, p. 5 | |||
[[Category: City Government]] | [[Category: City Government]] | ||
Revision as of 00:15, 11 March 2017
FIRE DEPARTMENT. We encourage you to visit William K. Hammil's website at http://www.dfdhistory.com
In January, 1850, Dubuque was without a fire department of any kind.
When a building takes fire here, as was the case
with the Goodrich building, everyone runs toward
the scene, anxious to assist in subduing the destructive
element; but what avails an unorganized set of men and
boys without apparatus of any kind whatever — without an
engine, buckets or hose?
Express, January 16, 1850 (1)
A well ten feet in diameter was dug on Tenth street between Jackson and Washington for the use of the fire department, in November, 1860. It was thought the well would be better than cisterns. (2) S. S. Palmer was chosen chief engineer of the fire department on December 3, 1860. (3)
In 1869 the fire department consisted of two steam engines, three hose carts, one hose carriage, sixteen men, eight horses, 4,500 feet of rubber hose, two hand engines — Washington No. 1 and Protection No. 2 — an old hook and ladder truck and three or four ladders; public cisterns supplied water. (4) The expenses of the city for the fiscal year 1870-71 included $7,580.93 for the fire department fire department. (5) In 1870 during the fire at the DUBUQUE STAMPING AND ENAMELING WORKS, the hand engines became frozen. Fortunately, the city had just received its steam engines which were put to work for the first time preventing much more loss of property. (6)
In 1892 Mayor Saunders proposed at the same meeting that this proposal was written that a home company could be responsible for the water needs. With stand pipes on the bluffs supplied with water from the river, sufficient pressure would be created that steam fire engines could be eliminated. This would save $10,000 annually.
In 1883-84 the fire department was fully established on a paid and permanent basis. In 1885-86 the fire department cost $15,811.51. (7)
In 1892 Mayor Saunders proposed that a home water company could be responsible for the water needs in the city. With stand pipes on the bluffs supplied with water from the river, sufficient pressure would be created that steam fire engines could be eliminated. (8) The issue of sufficient water, however, remained important--especially to people of the hill district. The destruction of a barn by fire was blamed on insufficient water as well as water pressure--actually half of what was needed to shoot water onto the fire. (9) The water company responded that it had never been obligated to furnish water pressure or power sufficient to fight a fire. Undeterred by their problems with the water company, the fire committee of the council increased the number of hydrants from 286 to 300. According the the charter, when 300 hydrants were placed in operation, the cost for each dropped from $60.00 to $50.00. (10)
With the beginning of the city-manager form of government, a total of $650,000 was spent to improve water service. Along with the reorganization of the fire department, the improved water department reduced the city's insurance rates by $675,000 annually. (11) Hopes were raised that guaranteed water pressure would lower resident's fire protection insurance premiums by guaranteeing water pressure to all neighborhoods. (12)
In 2015 the Eagle Point Water Plant was supplied by five shallow and four deep wells and did not use water from the Mississippi River. The plant daily produced an average of seven million gallons of treated water. The plant had a capacity of up to eighteen million gallons daily. (99) The distribution system for the water included 321 miles of water mains; 5,770 control valves; 2,876 fire hydrants and 23,500 service connections. (13)
---
Source:
1. Goodspeed, Arthur Weston. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago, Goodspeed Historical Association, p. 87
2. Ibid., p. 135
3. Ibid., p. 136
4. Ibid., p. 165
5. Ibid., p. 170
6. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, p. 827
6. Goodspeed, p. 185
7. Ibid.
8. "The Water Works," Dubuque Daily Herald, August 19, 1892, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18920819&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
9. "Must Have More Water," Dubuque Daily Herald, July 31, 1894, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18940731&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
10. "Compared with Others," Dubuque Daily Herald, September 25, 1894, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=_OG5zn83XeQC&dat=18940925&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
11. "History of Dubuque and Dubuque County," Telegraph Herald, January 15, 1939, p. 5. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dtdBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BaoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5766,3140247&dq=dubuque+electric+company&hl=en
12. Phase V Architectural/Historical Survey/Evaluation Final Report. Online: http://weblink.cityofdubuque.org/WebLink8/DocView.aspx?id=44950&page=1&searchid=9d0a32ca-655e-4868-b2d1-db38eb62e79b, p. 30
13. "Drinking Water," City Focus. City of Dubuque Publication. Fall 2014, p. 5