Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-02-08
An Ordinance fer the Formation And
Government of the Fire Department.
BE IT ENACTED, by the City Council Of
the CITY Of Dayneport.

/ G'OIm0y1On
Government of the Fire Department.
BE 1T ENACTED, BY the CITY Council Z
the City Of Davenport:
SEC /. The Fire Department of said cit,
shall consist OF Chief Engineer, two Assis
tant Engineers, and "a many Fire Wardens
Fire enginemen, losernen, Hook and La,de
men, As are or may from time to time b.
appointed by the City Council, Us is herein
after provided.
| The Aldermen of each Ward shall, err Off
cio, he Fire Wardens of their respectiy,
Wards
SEC. 2. The nomination of the Chief En-
gineer and Assistant Engineers, shall l.,
made by the Firemen, By ballo., at such
time as the City Council may hereafter an
point, and the persons receiving the great
est number of votes for the respective
offices. shall be thereupon. entitled to nom
ination TO the City Council for appointment
to such Offices; such appointment to con,in-
uc during the pleasure Of the City Council
or until new election, which shall be asked
for by njority Of the Firemen, shall have
been held, and the nomination made by
them duly confirmed Whenever vacan
cy shall occur in either of the Offices OF
Chief Engineer or Assistant Engineers. the
Engineer and the Foreman of the Fire Com
panies, collectively. shall have power, and
it shall be their duty, to call special elec-
tion a1d esignate the time for holding tie
sa'he, to the end that q nomination, p,rsu.
ant to the provisions of this Ordinance, NAV
be made to the City Council to supply such
vacancy.
SIC. 3. The Chief Engineer shall. in all
cases of fire, have the sole and absolute com
mand and control over all the engineers
and other persons connected with the Fire
Department. 1t shall be the duty OF the
Chief Engineer to direct other Engineers to
arrange the several fire engines in The most
advantageous manner, and to cause them to
be duly worked fer the extinguishment of
fires 1t shall also be the duty of the Chief
Engineer to examine. twice in each year, into
the number and condition of all fire engines.
hose carriages, hose, and other apparatus
connected herewith, and all engine houses,
and other buildings used for housing fire
apparatus, and report the same to the City
Council once in each year, aud oftcner. If
required by the City Council. He shall al
so report IA list OF all the members of the
Fire Department; and the respective asso
Citations to which they belong. He shall
also report in writing an accurate list of all
accidents Ly fire that may take place within
the city, with the causes thereof, and the
number and description of the buildings de-
stroyed or iniure J, together with the names
OF the owners and occupants
SEC. 4. The Chief Engineer shall receive
for his services such annual salary as the
City Council shall prescribe and before en-
tering upon the duties of his office, he shall
take and subscribe an oath or affirmation.
well and truly to perform such duties He
shall also execute bond i'll The peEal sum of
Five Hundred Dollars with two suretles, to
be appro, ed by the Mayor. conditioned for
the faithful performance Of tie duties of his
office.
SIC Whenever any vacancy shall oc
cur in the office OF Chief Engineer, it shall be
the duty of the senior Assistant Engineer,
to perform the dUties OF the office until the
vacancy be fill d. The Senior Assistant
Engineer, (and in his absence, the Junior
Assistant Engineer) shall exercise the duties
OF the Chief Engineer in his absence and
in general have control over the Fire De.
partment subordinate TO him
Sec 6. Whenever any repairs are required
TO keep the fire engines and apparatus in
good condition, the Chief Engineer shall
forthwith report the same to the Fire Depart
mcnt committee Of the city Council.
SEC. 7. The Chief Engineer shall report to
the city Council the name Of any member
OF the fire department. who is reported to
him hy the Foreman of the company Of
which he is a member, to be inefficient, un
faithful, Incorporate, or otherwise unfit for
duty; and the city Council may remove
such person at plea :ure.
SIC. s. The Fire Warlens of each Ward
shall attend upon ali fires occurring in their
respective Wards, act AS special policemen
in guarding the property oi citizens exposed
by reason of fires, and perform such other
duties as now or may be hereafter rrescribe,,
by the ordinances of this city.
SEC 9. 1t shall be the duty of the Fire
jured at fires, and to keep all idle and sus
pected persons at proper distance from
the fire, and from the vicinity. Allpersons
are hereby enjoined to comply with the or
ders and directions Of said Fire Wardens in
the premises.
SIC TO- The Foreman Of each fire com
pany shall, on the inst Monday OF March
and the first Monday of August, in each
year, make out report to the Chief En-
gineer of the number, residence and occu-
patton Of all the members Of his company,
and also all misconduct of any member of
his company.
SEC. H. The Firemen shall be divided in
to Companies to consist of as many mem
bers as the city Council shall from time to
time direct, to attend the Fire Engines,
Hose wagons and hooks and ladders, belong
ing or that may hereafter belong, to the cor
pOration of the city, or to such fire engines,
hose wagons, hooks and ladders, as the
city Council shall direct; and it shall be
the duty Of the firemen, as often as any
fire shall break out in the city, to repair,
Immediately upon TIE the alarm thereof, to
their respective engines, hose wagons,
hooks and ladders, and convey them to, or
near the place where such fire shall happen
unless otherwise directed by the Chief, or
other Engineer; and there, in conformity
with the directions given by the Chief En-
gineer, or other Engineers, to work and
manage said engines or apparatus and imple.
ments with all their skill and power; and
when the fire is extinguished they shall not
remove therefrom but by the direction OF
an engineer; and on such direction they
shall return their respective hose wagons,
engines, hooks and ladders, and other ap-
paratus, to their several places of deposit.
SEC. IL. Ifany Assistant Engineer. Fore
man, Assistant Foreman, or any other Fire
man, having charge of any fire company,
disobey, or refuse to obey any order or d.
rection Of the Chief Engineer. he may, for
such offence, be expelled from the firs de.
partmsnt
6pc ls. Il shall be the duty Of al mem.
bsEs Of the ars department te prevent all