American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-03-31
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

The POLlCE AND FlRE DEPARTMENTS.
To the Editors ofthe american Telegraph.
Messrs. EDIToRs: During the last year the
public mind has been much exercised in rela-
ton to disturbances between fire companies in
nearly all the large cities, including Washing
ton; and numerous communications have APP
peared in the National Intelligencer, Republic,
and Saturday Euening Netcs, designed to draw
the attention of the people to some plan of Or
ganization, which would prevent the disgrace
full scenes 80 frequently passing under their
notice. Among others, two articles appeared
in the first-named paper about a year ago, sug-
gesting the pay principle instead of the voln,-
teer, and the propriety of the Corporation be-
coming the insurer Of all taxable improvements,
with view to raise the necessary funds to
maintain the fire department upon that princi-
pie. l think they proposed to give some twenty
five or thirty men to each engine, and to make
these men police officers as well as fremen,
both for night as well as day service. These
communications were written, if | recollect
Alright, over the signature of Reform, and
were reviewed and fayorably spoken Of by q
writer in the Republic, and subsequently more
fully by a correspondent of the National Intel
ligencer. To this latter article there was re-
ply signed tsPersererance," the burthen of whose
objections seemed to be that the premium to
be paid the Corporation for insurance would
not be sufficient to defray the expense Of the
pay system.
Let us see what the pay system would be
likely to cost. BY my calculation it need not
exceed $25, 900 per annum for several years to
come
How much does the police system for this
city cost the General Government and our Cor
poration? Without going into calculation,
will venture, without the fear Of contradiction,
that it exceeds by several thousand dollars the
amount stated as necessary to maintain fire
and police system combined, and which, if
adopted, would secure the preservation of the
fire apparatus, efficiency at fires, and the pub
lie peace in every alley, square and street of our
extended and rapidly-improving Metropolis.
Add to this the amount that would accrue to
the Corporation from premiums for insuring the
improved property of the city, and you would
have fund sufficiently large to maintain bet
ter fire and police system than any now organ
lied in any city Of this glorious Union.
What is the experience of the people of St.
Louis, Missouri, in relation to the volunteer
system of Fire Companies? Hear them:
"The Fire Department at St. Louis is to be
reorganized by abolishing the present system
OF volunteer companies, and establishing six
companies Of forty men each, at salary of
$50 per annum for each man. The salary of
the chief engineer is to be 81 200, and he is
: to be allowed two assistants at 5000 each.
The total annual expense Of the department
after the first year is set down at $29, 400;
the expense for the first year, in providing
houses and apparatus, would be $50, 900 more.
To meet this expense, it is proposed to tax
= the insurance companies"
The editors of the Baltimore Sun, in copying
the above article, remark:
"Why cannot some such system be adopted
Z in Baltimore? 1t would be worth the trial to
see what might be the result as to the good
order of the city"
Both st. Louis and Baltimore have suffered
immensely from this volunteer system, which
answers every purpose in the towns and villages,
but are only promoters of disturbances in cur
populous cities; for the reason, that those who
ought to be most forward in volunteering their
services ON such occasions, give themselves no
trouble about it, and, with few exceptions, leave
it to those who really own nothing, and too often
care for nothing except to be in mischief These
remarks are more applicable to larger cities
than our own, but will fully apply to this before
very lonp TuIpD WApp