The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-03-13
LOCAL MATTERS.

4 FIRE DEPARrMExr.--The present Fire
Department has defacts that ought to BE- rsmsdied
by the City Council at once, in order 10 sdd 10 Ws
eiieiency and usefulness. No institntiou of tbs.
pendent--snd the Principsl Engipssr and Nsrdens
can never be entirely independent 90 long - they
are elected by the 1remen. The Council phouid,
thereore. have the appointment of fhess olicers,
the letter. Let the compsnies:ele their company
officers, IL you choose, but as the city owns the
apparatus and bears the burtheus sof the depart.
ment. her representatives should have the power
TO appoiqt the heads Of the organization. a.. d
: Again The ordinance shouid be 90 amended a.
TO prohibit all boys under twenfy-one years Of
age from becoming members Of the Departmsnt,
OF running with ths engines aud reels; and ths.
police, should be required to drive from the rppss
all minors, and to report them to the Mayor Tor
punishment. 1T this were done, the grand csuse
OF disturbances would be. removed AID many Arss
prevented. Boys rnn With the machiass fOr the
excitement, aud some Of them are yicious euopsh |.
70 ife an out building, merely to have rpoe with
the engines, aud quarrel af the ire. Being cnt
from the ropes, they would then abandon thervi
its to the engine houses, without tosing aHything
in morals by the change. surely the Coancii
will need DO argument to convince them that
change 10 needed in the particulars vs have Emu !
nerated, tor every maa in the city knows that
boys are being ruined BY foanging shout engins /.
h"pses. running TO fires and forn,isg imprspsrss
sociates. ~ t. s. s...s ....Iss..sssg al Z
lndeed, we are NOT at all ssre that > Paid Do
parfment would not be the BEST, after sff. Soms'
Of the large cities have bee0 compelled 10 resort
to that system 70 put down rowdyism, ,.snd Others
will have to follow the example. or eontinne 10
suffer as ut present. Men work best when paid !,
for their abor-but if they did not, the city would
then have the power to get rid Of bad irensen and
sscura good ones, without the fear Of offending
and disbanding whole company. sLs .
Voluntary organizations operate veil enough In
small towns aud villages, where fires rarely occur,
INIT In ci.v the siye of Ricfnt,td thev are a m r
outof place as would be - voluntary police We
! know that there many esfimabe etixeDa cDh.
Tected with the present Fire Department, who are
ever ready to hazard their lives to save the pro-
perty of theii 'neikhbors, and we give them All
credit for their PhiisR'horpic keal, but thor are
others in the Department who have no other OBJ.
ject in view than to enjoy the ex element incident
I % fire, and who seem tQ lqsss al eontroI over
their Judgments when The alarm. bell 10 sounded.
This class often get up distotbshces aiming fheni-
selves, bring di-crpdit on their eousr rxniss, ana
drive out better disposed persons, who had become
firemen to do good. II Aes..a - ks4 Gtsss ~.
| But another objection to . voluntary Depart.
uaent Is that boys from twelve to twenty years OF
age permitted to act as s'runners,n aud BY do
ing so. get into bad habits that grow with their
growth and strensthen with their strength. The
city il TO itsef TO tolerate thas
/ leads its youth into vice or crime. .af
| On the score II economy, We have 20 doubt that
a Paid Departments would be prefefabs. One hun
| died abie-bodied men, under the direction. Of o.
competent enginser. would be amply snficispt for
ordinary purposes. III greater force were needed
at any time, these men might have fhe power TO
summon aid, and no good citizen would refuss 70
assist them when called upon to do aas siSsass
| III the Council think ..volnnteer departmcnt',
better than "paid one, let them make snch re-
forms as win save the youth from DISTRACTION and
we are content; bat il some change il not made,
aud that speedily, the people themselves will tats
the matter in their own hands aud conzprl rsfor.
niaton. through their voice st the ballot box. :. I.