Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-05-07
municipal Affairs.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED.

About the year 1888, several attempts
were made by incendiareS to fire the city
in various places, and the Board promptly
increased the number of watchmen, and
established secret police. A resolution
was also adopted to ascertain what houses
were unprovided with fire buckets On
the 18th September of this year, Alder
man Vaulx proposed the purchase of
large fire engine, and the Board cOncurred
in the proposition. In the autumn of 1884,
the incendiaries were again at work, and
alarms of fire were frequent. About this
period, the Tennessee Marine and Fire In
surance Company (of which II. L. Doug
lass, Esq, was then President) purchased
a large fire engine for the city. This was
an act of praiseworthy lberality, and the
present was most opportune at the time.
The corporation erected a cheap house for
its protection.
The example set by the above named In
surance Office, was subsequently followed
by the Nashville (Porter's) Office, and
another new engine was the result.
The old small engine was removed to
the neighborhood of Broad street, and
was kept at the Broad street market house,
until that concern was abandoned and torn
down. 1t was at one time kept in Ray
burns warehouse.
The volunteer fire companies were kept
up with Indifferent attention, and without
systematic organization from the time they
were established until the year 1887, when
an entire reorganization took place, and a
new impetus given to the Fire Department.
Fire Co No l had charge of the engine
bought 10y the Nashville Insurance Office,
and which cost $500. The engine house
now in the rear of the State Bank was
built in 1886, the year in which the splendid
steamboat John Randolph was burnt, and
which landed at point opposite the pres
ent upper wharf, whilst on fire. One
thousand feet of new hose was purchased
by the corporation during this year.
After the organization of Fire Co. No.
2, Andrew Anderson made a motion in
the Board to raise committee to look out
for suitable place to erect an engine
house for the use of said company The
additions to the upper end of the market
house to be pSed as an engine house and a
house for hose was erected in 1887.
We will remark, in passing, that the great
fire in New York took place in December
1885, ten years after (lS45,) was a most
disastrous year, in the way of conaagra-
tons. In this year, another large fire oc-
Cured in the city of New York-this was
the year of the great fire at Pittsburg,
which took place in April, lS45. Large
fires occurred also at Quebec, Montreal,
Sag Harbor, and at Matanzas (Cuba-)
The incendiaries being again at work in
this city IN 1888, increased vigilance was
observed on the part oil the hremen ana
citizens. This year, hose carriage was
bought for Fire Co No. /.
No fires occurring for a series Of years,
all the companies ceased operations, and
regular meetings we're discontinued until
about ~ or As.
In October 1874. npoH the motion Of
Alderman Knowles. regular standing
committee Of three was raised in the Board
styled committee on the Fire Depart
ment," and the committee has been in ex-
istence ever since. The first committee
thus raised was composed Of Aldermen
Horn, DASHED and Harris. On the gath
Jan. ls45, all active members Of the Fire
companies were, by order Of the city cOun-
ell, exempted from corporation poll tax.
AS far back as the year 1879, the Legis-
lature exempted active fremen from the
performance Of military duty. AT the
same session of the Legislature, another
act was passed providing that no Gre COM