Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-01-09
Si7l &c


S471 06
I'y the sth section of the " ACT, authori-
zing the Sclcc;men of the several towns to
establish Err Distract, in certain cases, =" an
proved Nov. II, 1851, the prudential COM
mlttcc Of the district are authorized to ex-
pend the money received by them from the
collector " in such manner as they shall
| deem necessary for the preservation of pro-
perry in such district from damage or dcs-
truction by fire.
The District, in ordering a tax of $500,
plainly did not intend the purchase Of fire
engines, or any great outlay for an cnla, &C.
mcm oil the apparatus for putting out fires in
town. The sum raised would be altogether
inadequate for any such purpose. The most
which the Prudential Committee could do
with the means at their disposal, would be to
apply them so as to enable the existing ap-
pnratus to be kept in suitable condition for
scryice-to pay some bills which were in
Cured more to add to the force of the Fire
Companies, by proving to tho mcml crs that
their services were appreciated by the tax
payers OF the district than to make any
material enlargement of the FIRE apparatus to
be usedby thcm-and to do something towards
supply OF water in case Of fire.
1t is to be noted that the practical conduct
Of tic business connected with the Use and
application of what, in sort of general way,
may be called the fire department of the
town, is subject to some embarrassment from
the following considerations. There is Fire
Soc'ciY Incorporated in town, as well as a
FIR DiShio. The Fire Society appoint Fire
Wardcns, who have by law important and res
ponsible powers. Though there has been no
conflict Of action or opinion, between the two
bodies, there is at least some natural Difficult.
ty in deciding which body, by its proper Off
GERS should be held the responsillc one before
the community, in all cases, for good state of
efficiency in the means and arrangements for
protecting the place from fire Besides this.
none of the existing fire apparatus in town
bo'on9S to the Fire District. 1t Of course
must be controlled and cared for by those
who own it.
Under these circumstances, the Prudential
Committee have seen no better way Of pro-
cccding than for them to apply the means
at their disposal in the way they have. In
some eases they have paid money directly to
the fir' Socicfywherc they had reason to be-
lieve it was wanted. In more, the bills paid
by them, have come directly to them, and
though the expenditure in detail was under
the control Of the Fire Socity or it's officials,
they ave made it a rule to inquire Ms far as
they easily could, into the character Of the
outlay, and to he satisfied that it was proper
for tho Prudential Committee to meet it, be-
fore paying such bills.
1t will be noticed that little more than
SO has been expended to purchase uniform
caps for the iircmcn. The committee believed
that encouragement was due to the fremen
and they think it was beneficial in its ten
dency.
On the subject of a better supply of water
there has been much discussion. From ex.
pcrimcnts made, it was believed to be well
worth Il trial to get supply from the pipes
Of the Burlington A4ueduct Company, in
such parts of the district as the Aqueduct
Company's pipes were laid. That company,
having made n repair Of their works, and |
provided apparatus whereby they can keep a
full head Of water in their largo cistcrn,
near the head Of Pearl Street, offered to CON
tract to keep such a head there for use in |
case of fire, and to allow tho District to at
tach hydrauts to their water pipes at the
annual charge Of S25 for each hydrant so |
attached, So long az it remained 80 attached,
and TIL the number Of hydrants should reach |
n certain limit
The Prudential Committee made such a |
contract, and have caused two hydrant. to |
be applied, The expense for getting the hy-
drants from New York, for extra Pipe and |
all expenses incurred in laying them down
was little over Sl5j. The water rent for
these two hydrants is paid up to May /,
1857.
The expenditures for other items, repair
Of hose and engines, care of the same fuel |
g., do not call for any special remark
When the tax was laid on the district. it
was necessary to 90 through the whole list of |
the town-at least all that part Of it in this
vicinity, and TO make out with care a special
list for the di'trtct. This was a work of con-
siderable labor, which the listers of the town |
did not suppose properly devoIved on them,
to be done Grltuitously or at the expense OF
the town. The Committee accordingly paid |
them for that service.
The Prudential Committee have reason to
believe that additions should be made to the
hose at present applicable in case Of FIRE; and
quite likely other Improvements are needed
Under the present arrangements.it seems tothe
Committee that thcWardcns of thcFireSociety
should be requested to make an early inyest-
CATION on that subject, and be ready to pre-.
sent to a special meeting Of the FIRE DIS
mt a statement Of what is necessary to be
done, and how much money will be needed
to accomplish it. When that is done the
district will he in condition to take inteli-
gent action thereon and If they Judge best
t. order tax accordingly.
q. W. BENEDICT, } p.,.,.-,
&, +, WARD, i ,'""'n,I'
G., &. CATLIN. commute
Burlington, January 9TH, 1857.