Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-29
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.


IL, 1906, and Board of Mayor and AL
dermen took charge of the municipal gov
eminent, in the place Of the Commissioners
who had been before appointed by the Leg
islature. The municipal council was or
ganized by the election of the Mayor and
Aldermen on the first Monday in October,
1906 In June, 1907, Aldermen Deade-
rick and Dickinson were appointed COM
mittee to procure nine ladders and four
fre-hooks, to be used in case Of fire. The
committee made a contract with Thomas
Deatheridge for the purchase of three lad
ders 80 feet length, six ladders Is feet in
length, and five poles for fre-hooks-thre
of which were 80 feet long and two 90 feet
long. This indicates the size Of the houses
then built in the town.
A bill was introduced by Alderman Scar
cy about the same time, to prevent fires,
false alarms, &c, and became law on the
29th July, 1907 The law was published
by order of the Board, in the Impartial
Rer1c10," one of the two newspapers then
printed in Nashville. This law provided
for the appointment, by the Board, of a
captain of the fire company, and five fire
masters. The Board appointed Duncan
Robertson captain, and Christopher Stump,
James Jackson, Peter Brown, John Som
erville, and Richard Wynn, fire masters
This was the first fire company established
in Nashville, and all the free white male
inhabitants of lawful age, were members
10y ordinance.
On the 28th October, 1907, the Board
appointed Aldermen Robertson, Currey and
ElliSton, committee to examine the bluff
of the river and report the best places
and modes of getting supply of water
from the river in times Of fire" 1t must
be borne in mind that the bluff, at this
day, was high and PERCEPTIONS, and the riv-
er was difficult of access. Of course there
were no wharves, as such a thing as a
steamboat had never even been heard of in
these western wilds. At the same meet
ing, Messrs. Deaderick, Dickinson and Rob-
ertsOn were appointed to make choice of
suitable place for an engine house, and to
contract for the erection Of the same. The
committee reported at the next meeting
that they had fixed upon the lot Of George
NJ Deaderick, adjoining the store Of VIM.
Wright & Co, and fronting the public
square; but this site was rejected by vote
of g. A resolution was then adopted
to erect a wooden engine house near the
market house, which was on the square. A
shed was built at the northeast side of the
then court house, for the protection of the
hooks and ladders The engine house was
finished, and the engine bought by sub
scription from the citizens) placed in it on
the 18th December, 1901 The committee
appointed to examine the bluff, reported
that it was advisable to cut way to the
river from the top Of the public ground be-
low Spring street Aldermen ElliSton and
Deaderick were appointed committee to
contract for the cutting Of passage to the
river at the point named.
To show the desire of the people for
water facilities in those early days, we may
mention that the General Assembly was
applied to for authority to draw lottery,
the profits of which was to 90 to increasing
the facilities for obtaining water, especially
for the purpose of subduing fires The
General Assembly gave authority for the
lottery, and it was drawn on the 10th of
August, 1910, and yielded a profit of
$3,S99,O8 The lottery was let, by con-
tract, to John Anderson who managed it,
and received per cent commission on the
amount of tickets sold.
On the Odd of December, 1911, the
Board Of Mayor and Aldermen passed the
the following resolution:
Resolved That the Rec, rider endeavor 10
procure by subscription a fire company, who
shall form rules for their own government, not
inconsistent with the laws of the corporation;
shall take into their care the fire engine, and
sl.all receive such assistance from this Board
as they shall require, and as shall be thought
advisable.
We cannot say whether the Recorder
succeeded in obtaining enough names to
form an independent fire company or not;
but presume that he did rot, as he never
made a report on the subject, and as the
Board continued to elect a captain and fire
masters. The Board required every head
Of household to have ready for use at all
times, a leather fire bucket
On the 9th Of March, 1912, James Jack
son was appointed captain of the FIRE com
pany. January 30, 1913, Mr. Jackson
was removed and Stephen Cantrell, jr.,
was appointed. Mr. Cantrell resigned in
November, 1914, and Mr. Woods was APP
pointed captain; but being elected an Al
derman soon after, he gave way TO James
w Stittler, who was appointed captain,
January 6, 1915. just previous to this pc
riod, the changes in the Board Of Mayor
and Aldermen, as in the fire department,
were rapid, owing to the number Of per-
sons volunteering for the war then in pro-
gress with Great Britain The Board made