Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-11-06
in bargaining for the "two Engines" with
John Agnew, of Philadelphia.
HOPE NO. | ORGANIZES

III oai SaiiiiiS ior lLe TWO LilSlneS VIII
!, John Agnew, of Philadelphia.
HOPE NO. ORGANIZES.
Contemporary with this, too, meetings wer
being held by the citizens jim the upper par
of the city, which resulted in the organization
of Hope Company No. l, on Monday eve
ming September IA, 1857. The company i'm
mediately informed the Common Council:
That they had organized in accordance with Or
dinance No. q, and petioned to be recognized
as regularly constituted fire company, conform
ably thereto.
That they purposed taking the little Engine ther
stored in the Pioneer Truck House:
And petitioned to be provided with house fol
their objects,-and
That 500 feet of hose be procured for the use O.
the Engine.
The company was recognized, and the
prayer of the petitioners granted, except thai
in relation to the hose
THE ENGINES ORDERED
On Tuesday, September 5th,-Ald. Branch
introduced resolution, which was adopted
unanimously appropriating $4,000 to beplaced
at the disposal of the committee appointed te
purchase Fire Engines, to paytor two engines
and two hose carriages, with a a-su6ieient guam
tHy of hose for the use of both engines in case
of fire, and that the City Clerk be directed
to issued orders for the said amount in such
sums as the committee may directed
This looks like business, and had such
earnest legislation been adopted; in the first
instance, instead of fruitless dilly-dallying for
two years, st. Paul would have had well
organized and equipped fire department a
year ago. Large bodies move slowly, though,
philosophy teaches us, and we should rejoice
that we are as well off as we are
Meantime, the contract had been made with
MIR. Agnew, and the engines were already
under way in his celebrated shops, and were
to have been finished by the following spring
A few days subsequently, a resolution was
sedauthOrizing the orders to be issued for the
payment Of the engines and hose carriages,
&c, to bear II per cent. interest per annum
from January 1st, 1853.
| MINNIE HA-HA NO. 9 ORGANIZES.
In the fall, as soon as it was a fixed fact
that the engines had been ordered, the citi-
zens in the lower part of the city after some
preliminary meetings, organized "Minne ha-ha
Engine Company No. g" for the purpose of
receiving the other of the engines designed
for that portion of the city. On December
9Th, 1857, the company was recognized by the
Common Council, and their petition for the
charge of the second engine granted.
Shortly after the organization of Mime ha-
ma company No. 2, another company styled
Eagle No 3, was formed, but fourished only
short time, as their application for recogni-
ton, and to be supplied with apparatus met
with no favor 1t was about this time that
Mr.. Thomas B. Winston, of New Orleans,
proposed to donate second hand Engine for
merly owned by that city, to ST. Paul Eagle
No. 3, made application for this, but as such
Engine was never forthcoming, Eagle No. 3
went out Of visible existence, or amalgamated
with other companies. The time is undoubt-
edly coming, if not already come, when a
third company and Engine will be needed.
Our present Mayor in his inaugural, charges
the council ''that it would be advisable to pro-
cure an additional Fire Engine, so that they
might be better distributed through the city,
and the force Of our Fire Department would
be more effective. Appropriate sites and
| h,,ilIipoc cho1lI 1o JoI
pose, and the Fire Department carefully reg
ulated by ordinances.
The new charter of the city of Saint Paul,
adopted about this time, contained very IA
vorable provisions in regard to the creation
and regulation of Fire Department, the draft
of which was submitted by committee for
that purpose.
On March Cd, 1853, the building committee
of the Common Council were directed to as
certain where three lots could be obtained,
one in each Ward, and the price thereof, for
the purpose of erecting Engine Houses and
Truck House for the use of the Department.
The committee on Buildings soon reported,
recommending the purchase of the following
lots. On Rosabel street, near Eighth. On
Sixth, near Cedar, and on Fort and Walnut,
at cost altogether of S4,45O,OO. This was
too bitter pill to swallow in one bite, and as
the report brought out the Third Ward Dele
gation-their Ward being ignored, the matter
was laid over, and nerer taken up!
THE FIREMEN REMONsTRATE.
The Fire Department naturally felt aggriev-
ed, and on Thursday, April first, the Firemen
held a general mass meeting at the Court
House, to demonstrate against the proposed
location of the companies, as it would impair
their efficiency and cripple their strength.
Resolutions to that effect were passed, and
communicated to the council. They were re-
ferred to the committee Public Buildings, who
submitted most remarkable report, in effect
"That while your committee are at all times
willing to consult with the Fire Department touch
ing matters affecting the discipline efficiency and
well-being of that Department, yet in the location
of an Engine House, which should be determined
on by considerations other than those which may
suit the personal convenience of the members OF
the company, we think the Council fully as compe-
tent to decide as the members of the Fire Depart
ment RI
!, Your committee trust that in future the members
of the Department will see the propriety of confn
ing themselves exclusively to matters within the
scope of their duties as laid down in the charter
and ordinances of the city," &C.,
and recommending that the petition be re-
| h. H.
Now, we protest against such things stand
ing on record against the Fire Department, as
it would seem that they had unwarrantably
, interfered with the Common Council W.
: cannot credit that. Had the respectful sug
gestions of the leading men of the Depart
!, ment been listened to, however, the city nigh
f have been saved over 50 900 expense in pro