California Biographies, Santa Cruz County. R. S. TAIT. Transcribed by Peggy Hooper Source: History of Santa Cruz County, California Pacific Press Publishing Company San Francisco, Cal. 1892 By E. S. Harrison This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm R. S. TAIT. The chief of the fire department of Santa Cruz, who also holds the responsible position as manager of the Santa Cruz City Water Company, was born in San Andreas, Calaveras county, this state, in November of 1863, being tlie son of pi- oneer parents identified with the west from an early period of its occupancy by Americans. From the age of four years he has lived in Santa Cruz, where he received a grammar school education and afterward learned the trade of plumber. Throughout all of his active life he has been identified with movements for furnishing water to the city. By efficiency and perseverance he worked his way upward until he was appointed manager of the Hihn Water Company and for ten years he filled that responsible position, eventually resigning in April of 1905 in order to take the position of City Electri- cian and which he held for four years, and during the year 1909 was appointed by Mayor Drullard to the position of Superintendent of the water works. This municipal movement has proved satisfactory to customers. From its reser- voir is supplied the most of the water used in the city. Worthy of note is the fact that the company supplies water free to all of the churches, the public schools and the public library, by which act the interests of the tax-payers are considered. In early life Mr. Tait acquired a thorough knowledge of electricity and for four years he filled the position of city electrician with the greatest efficiency. However, he is doubtless most widely known through his long and intimate identification with the volunteer fire department of Santa Cruz, which he joined in 1884 at the age of twenty-one years. When the department was still in its infancy he ran with the old hand-cart to answer alarms of fire. It was while he was serving as foreman (to which position he was appointed in 1894) that Chief Ely reorganized the entire system and con- verted it into a pay department. The present complete organization and excellent equipment may be attributed to his persevering efforts. Realizing the need of adequate protection in case of destructive fires, he has spared no pains to secure the latest improved equipment. The present equipment, although a great advance upon that of other years, is not satisfactory to him, and he is urging the advisability of providing an automobile fire equipment. That now in use consists of a combined chemical and hose firewagon, one hose cart with horse, and three hand hose carts. The water pressure of eighty-five pounds can be increased to two hundred pounds, if needed. The water reservoir covers seventeen acres and has a capacity of sixty million gallons. After he had filled all the other positions in the fire department, Mr. Tait was elected chief in 1899 and ever since then he has remained at its head, diligently advancing its interests, en- hancing its usefulness and developing its equipment as the means at hand will permit. The system of alarms consists of twelve boxes and is operated by electricity, being thoroughly modern in construction. Indeed, the entire plant is modern and complete, to such degree as the available funds will allow, and there is little doubt that future years will witness an increasing interest in the needs of the department and an increasing desire to institute an equipment sec- ond to none among cities of this size throughout the state. It has not been possible for Mr. Tait to take an active part in politics, by reason of the multitude of private duties. However, he is a stanch Democrat and never fails to cast a ballot for the party ticket. Fraternally he holds member- ship with the Maccabees, the Foresters of America and the Knights of Columbus. His comfortable home in Santa Cruz is presided over by Mrs. Tait, formerly Miss Margaret Peterson, a native of the state. Their family comprises five children, May, Harry, Margaret, Robert and Josephine, to whom have been and are being given the best educational advantages the city of Santa Cruz affords.