Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-11-06
and effective Company, which, for long time
constituted the Department, will be found IN
another place.

"ho ShSStNS Souipdiy, WHICH,, loi a ioiiS '"i'
constituted the Department, will be found
|, another place.
VI THE FIRST FIRE ENGINE.
The first fire engine brought to st. Pau
namely, the little one just given up by tn
Hope Engine Company No. l, was brougil
here in 1885 by private enterprise, and 10
some time owned by citizens PROMINENT.
known for their zeal in the behalf of the DE
partment, tor rather Dcprtment,) for tn
past six years We refer to Messrs K. W
and JOHN McCLouD. and THOMSON RITCHIE
who purchased the Engine in Philadelphia
and brought it to St Paul at their own ex
pense. This little engine was afterward pur
chased of them by the city, and for four year
nearly, did active service in the hands of th
, Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company, in who's
house it was kept, after their Truck Hous
was built Prior to that time it stood il
the Messrs. McClOuds back yard w,
are ourselves cognizant Of several instan
ces where it did execution worthy of more
powerful machine, and undoubtedly savet
much property-as we'll as other instances
where much might have been done had there
been any water attainable with its Limited
supply Of hose. This doughty little engine
was in 1857 given into the hands of Hope
Engine Company, and hundred additional
feet of hose purchased by the Company, and
afterwards transferred to the city This lit
tie Engine should be slowed away and care
fully preserved, and on all future parades be
drawn at the head of the procession, as a relic
of by-gone days.
| Probably the impeling cause to this was
the fact that i'll 1854, our hitherto Town of st.
Paul entered on her existence as City. The
Charter provided among other things
That the Common Council shall have pow
er to purchase apparatus, authorize the forma-
ton of Fire Companies and provide for their
support members to he exempt from mill
tary, jury and road duty, etc; the annual
meeting to be held on the Sd Monday of Nov;
three Fire Wardens to be appointed; one-half
nett Of all fines, penalties, etc., for breach of
provisions of the ordinance to go the Depart
ment. Any person dsobeying officers to be
punished-and any one intoxicated or being
called on, refuses to work, to be fined, &C.;
a I" sack company" to be organized to take
charge Of property at fires, and qucll disturb
ances, etc.
But little seems to haye been done by the
city under the privileges of this section, ex-
cept what has been enumerated, until 1856.
That spring Hon. Geo. L. Becker, a member
of the Department, was elected Mayor of the
city, and but few chief municipal officers any
where, have been more devoted to the pros
perity of the city whose head they are, than
Mr. Becker. The idea seems to have suggest
ed itself to him, in regard to the DUTY of the
Common Council to furnish the city with suit
able means to eXtinguish fires. In his inaug-
| ural address to the Board of Aldermen, while
congratulating them on the prosperity of the
young city which, once "the obscure western
hamlet, has, within period short, even in
American history, been transformed into a
|
choice has a name and place among the cities
of the land calls their attention to the fact
that we have the nucleus of an efficient Fire
| Department" and adds elsewhere:
| The Department deserves liJerM and 7cilling
support The Company already organized should
| be placed firm footing, and, at least, TWO FIRE
ENGINES should be provided for the use ofthe city.
The treasury of the city warrants the expenditure
and the vast amount of property exposed to de-
struction by the devastating element IMPERATIVE
| LY DEMANDS 1T.
| THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO PROCURE ENGINES.
Accordingly, on May 9th, 1856, the fol-
lowing resolutions were offered by AID En-
ersOn:
Resolyed, That the City Comptroller be in
structed, and hereby directed to issue Bonds OF
the City of st. Paul, to the amount of $4,000, un-
der the power granted to him in chap. 8, Sec "a
of an act to incorporate the city of st. Paul, and
that the bonds so issued, be, and is hereby appro-
prated, much may be necessary therefor,
for the purchase of Fire Engine and apparatus OF
the most approved construction. The said Engine
and apparatus to be purchased under the direction
of the Fire Department Committee Of the Common
Council, and the Chief Engineer of the Fire De.
partment."
An accompanying resolution authorized the
City Surveyor to make and report an esti-
mate Of the cost and practicability of con
structing three reservoirs for the use of the
Fire DEPARTMENT. of this city," to be located on
Third street, at its sjunction, respectively with
Robert, Wabashaw, and Exchange streets
The resolutions were referred to the Com
mittee on Fire Department. which that yeal
consisted of Wm Branch of the First, and
Charles Rauch of the Second Ward.
On the third of June, this committee it ap
pears, reported the same back with recon-
mendation that they be adopted by the Coun
Gill;" on which the yeas and nays were called
and the nhOle council voted for their passage
with wonderful unanimity, and the citizen.
congratulated themselves that they were really
to have engines, cisterns and department.
The various reports and proceedings had il
regard to supply of water for the use of the
Department, we do not deem of sufficient re
lation to this subject to mention. Suffice i
to say, after all that has been said and writer
on the subject, we are not whit better oi
now than when the matter was first discussed
by our City Fathers We shall revert to thi!
perhaps, at another time.
On Thursday, July II, 1856, it appears
from the council records that the following
| communication from w NJ Stees-who wa
elected Chief Engineer of the Fire Department
in November, 1856, according to the provi
sions of the city charter, was read and refer
red to the appropriate committee.
} "The undersigned would inform your honorabl
body that he has examined the fire apparatus, an
found the Truck painted, and an additional suppl
of ropes, hooks, &c. The Engine is in good orde
but great deficiency of hose. l would recon
mend that your Honorable body would make a