Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-11-06

partment submitted quite a lengthy report
setting forth that there was but one smal
Fire Engine and Hook and Ladder Company
to protect the whole extended area of our city
from the ravages of fire. That many wood
Ell buildings were being erected, and shoult
a fire occur, many large districts might b'
entirely destroyed. This fact rendered thu
rates of insurance very high. The committed
therefore recommended:
"That taco 'aeac Engines and twelve hundred fee
of hose, be purchased by the Council to enable the
Fire Department to reach a fire from the rarer IL
any part of the city, the Engines to be stationed
one in each Ward and also that lots be selected b5
purchase or lease on qchich to ect buildings for the
accommodation of the Engines and companies
having them in charge"
The committee further stated that the diff
| ference in insurance would more than make
up to the taxpayer the amount necessary to
purchase the Engines and Hose, and erect the
buildings. And further recommended that
the Mayor be authorized to select some person
to go east, purchase the Engines and Hose,
and contract for their delivery before the close
of navigation. They thought the cost of the
Engines and Hose (12OO feet would be about
$4,000 On the strength of this, resolution
was adopted authorizing the Mayor ''To pur-
chase for the city two suction Fire Engines
and Hose, provided the cost does not exceed
the amount appropriated"
TO carry out the appearance more COM
petely, the Committee on Public Buildings
were even authorized " to select lots on lchach
to erect engine houses! !"
THE PEOPLE REJOICE.
Things were going on swimmingly at this
juncture. No doubt each citizen, who had
nightly laid down to his sleep with nervous
anxiety about obstructive confagratiOn y
items in next days paper, of which his own
hard earned property might furnish the sub
ject-now saw we'll organised department
with two suction Engines" twelve hundred
feet of hose, (' reaching from the river back
to the bluffs") citizens, houses, lots, firemen
and all pass in grand procession in his dreams,
lessoned insurance rates, calm sleep and good
digestion-what panacea for all ills that ap-
preparation was.
THE BUBBLE BURSTS.
But the grand bubble burst-in other
words, after all the ado, the whole matter
"fizzled out" No another thought seems to
have been bestowed on the matter by the "six
wise men," Market houses, gas companies,
city halls, bridge companies, Roberts street
sewers, ETC., ETC. These had all their due
quota of attention, while the Fire Department,
attempting to struggle their way into useful
ness under difficulties, was not mentioned
again during the acholeyear, until some of the
six had retired to private life in the May sue
ceeding-OS57 Had the inceptcd scheme
been carried out, as it might have been, had
the practical suggestions of the Fire Depart
ment been acted on, the three or four extern
sive and destructive conhagratOns that ensued
during the succeeding fourteen months, de-
stroying tens of thousands of dollars worth
of hard earned property, would have been
nipped in the bud, OR the ravages of the de-
vouring element greatly lessened.
The summer of 1857, however, witnessed
a renewal of the interest in regard to the great
and imperative necessity of having Fire
Department well organized, and equipped
and the startling fact that in city now be-
come so large and extended as ST. Paul was,
there was 10 safeguard against widespread
and sweeping fires. Whole squares lay at
the mercy of flames, had fire happened.
ANOTHER ATTEMPT Is MADE.
The Department were not idle during this
time, but had procured estimates and spccifi-
cations of the cost of two engines and accom-
panying apparatus, which, on May 26th, were
submitted to the Common Council, and re-
ferred to the Committee on Fire Department,
which this year consisted of AID Larpenteur
and Schurmeier. The committee shortly af
terwards reported recommending " that the
matter be laid on the table until such time as
it can be ascertained what measures may
hereafter taken for obtaining water for the use
of such Engines" etc.
THE CITIZENS REMONSTRATE.
1t does not appear that any action was ever
taken on this report, other than ordering it to
be laid over," and nothing was done in re-
gard TO the Fire Engines until late in the same
season. Meantime, two most destructive con-
hagrations having occurred in close success
sion-each devastating quite district, and
being stayed only by the most superhuman
exertions-had aroused public attention anew,
and "a numerously signed petition was pre-
sented, praying for the purchase of two Fire
Engines, and the construction of Reservoirs ="
Numerously signed;" no wonder. Five
thousand names could have been got with no
trouble, peremptorily demanding those much
talked-of 6 two Engines 1T acas accepted" p"
is the laconc record of its disposition.
The water works project was still surviving
feebly at this time, for on August 25th, the
COMMITTEE on Water Works" which had
been appointed a few weeks previous, I" to con-
slider the best means to supply the city with
water, and to purchase Fire Engine" re-
ported, among other things, recommend
ing:
"That immaculate steps be taken to purchase ta0o
Fire Engines and Hose Cart, with at least ~ 500 ~
feet of Hose, and that this committee be author
lied to purchase the if it be done on the
credit of the City,
a monument ought certainly to be erected
at the foot of those immediate steps," in.
scribed with that old joke, "two Fire En-
gines."
NOT BY BUCKET FULL.
At this same meeting resolution was
adopted (propose by Aid. Patrick Ryan, au
thorizing his honor the Mayor "to procure
one hundred gutta percha buckets, to contain
three gallons each, and be labelled "City O