Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-02-06
An Ordinance for the Formation an,
Government of tie Fire Department.

shall consist of Chief Engineer, two Assis
tant Engineers, and a. many Fire Warlen-
Fire engineInen, Hosemen, Hook and Ladde
men. as are or may from time to time b,
appointed by the City Council, a. il herein
after provided.
The Alderman of each Ward shall, ex off
ci". be Fire Wardens Of their respective
WardA
SIC. 2. The nomination of the Chief En-
gineer and Assistant Engineers, shall bs
made by the Firemen, by ballo., at sncl
time as the City Council may hereafter ap
point, and the persons receiving the great
est number Of votes for the Representative
Offices shall be thereupon, entitled to nom
ination to the City Council for appointment
to such offices; such appointment to contin
ue during the pleasure Of the City Council
or until new election, which shall be asked
for by majority Of the Firemen, shall have
been held, and the nomination made bv
them duly confirmed. Whenever q yacan.
ey shall occur in either of the Offices al
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 cleo
tion and designate the time for holding the
sane, to the end that a nomination, pLrsl,-
ant to the provisions Of this Ordinance, may
be made to the City Council to supply such
vacancy.
SEC. g. 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
he duly worked for 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, and oftener, il
required by the City Council. He shall al
report list of all the members of the
Fire Department aud the respective asso.
Citations to which they belong. He shall
also report in writing an accurate list Of all
accidents by fire that may take place within
the city, with the causes thereof, and the
number and description Of the buildings de-
stroyed or injured, together with the names
Of the owners and occupents
SEC. 4. The Chief Engineer shall receive
for his services such annual SALARY as the
City Council shall prescribe and before Ell
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 a bond in the penal sum of
Five Hundred Dollars with two suretles, to
be approx ed by the Mayor. conditioned fo..
the faithful performance Of the duties of his
office.
SEC. 5. Whenever any vacancy shall oc-
cur in office of the Chief Engineer, it shall be
the duty of the senior Assistant Engineer,
to perform the duties of the office until the
vacancy be filled. The Senior Assistant
Engineer, (and in Lis absence, the Junior
Assistant Engineer) shall exercise the duties
of the Chief Engineer in his absence, and
i'll general have control over the Fire De
partnent subordinate to him.
SEC 8. 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
ment committee Of the city Council.
SEC. 7. The Chief Eng gineer shall report to
the city Council, the name of any member
OF the fire department, who is reported to
him by 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.
SEC. 8. The Fire Wardens of each Ward
shall attend upon oil fires occurring in their
respective Wards, act as special policemen
in guarding the property of citizens exposed
by reason of fires, and perform such other
duties as now or may be hereafter prescribe
by the ordinances of this city.
SEC. .. 1t shall he the duty Of the Fire
Wardens to prevent the hose from being in
jured at fires, and 10 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.
SEC. 10. The Foreman of each fire com
pany shall, on the first 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. IL. 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 to or that may hereafter belong, the cor
poration of the city, or to such fire engines,
hose wrgons, hooks and ladders, as the
city Council shall direct; and it shall be
the duty Of the tireinen, as often as any
fire shall break out in the city, to repair,
Immediately upon the the alarm thereof, to
tn ir respective eng ines, 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 al 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. II. If any 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 di-
rection of the Chief Engineer. he may, for
such offence, be expelled from the fire de-
partment
SEC, lS. It shall be the duty Of all mem
bers Of the fire department to prevent all
persons. not belonging to the department
from lettering in or about any house belong
ing to the department.
SEc. IA. No fire engine, hook and ladder
or hose cart, during any fire in this city, o.
any other place, or any report OF fire. at any
time, under any pretence whatever, shall be
taken or removed out of its house, unles:
the foreman, or assistant foreman, or one
of the engieeers, or at least two Of the fire
men Of the company to which the same be
longs, shall be present and consent thereto
under q penalty of ten dollars for every
such offence, to be forfeited and paid by
and received from, any and every person
aiding or assisting in such act.