Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-06-15
Citv CouuciI.

Galiadn Express A. 81.
hnaHElEtp AND kRHTUcKE-lO A. d.. n
..7a-.z
city CounciI.
COMMON CoUNcu--The Common Council held a
regular meeting yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Hurt, from the Committee on the Water
Works, to whom was referred the resolution from
the Board of Aldermen to lay down water pipe on
Ash street. from Summer street to Ew1ye Avenue,
in the Eighth Ward, reported the resolution as
passed by the Board Of Aldermen useless in conse-
quence Of the heavy cost and the eighteen inch
pipe unnecessarily large, and that the citizens are
not willing to be taxed as they would have to be
by the passage Of said resolution. The committee
are Of opinion tina. twelve inch pipe would be Of
ample size and give ample satisfaction to those in
terested.
Mr.. CRAIGHEAn, from the committee 70 whom was
referred the petition in regard to the construction
Of trunk sewer on Summer street. reported that
owing to the expense Of the proposed Improvement
the committee deemed it inexpedient as a sufficient
drain could be secured at much less expense, and
recommended the adoption Of a resolution provid-
ing for the grading Of Summer street, between
Church and Crawford and the construction Of side
catering sufficient 70 drain said street Of stagnant
water. The resolution was amended so as not to
change the present course Of the water down Cedar
street. and then adopted.
Mr.. CHEATHAM presented petition from sundry
citizens Of the Fifth Ward in relation to draining
Church street in the vicinity of High, whicbs1Eas
referred to a special committee Of three, composed
Of Messrs. SHANE, PAUL and MAxET.
Mr.CmATHAx presented petitions from sundrypar-
ties in the Fifth Ward in regard to the assessment Of
their property.
Mr.. BOsrlcK presenteda similar petition from W.
L. Brown.
Mr.. DARDEN presented petition from JOHN OVER
TON, praying TO be allowed to erect a temporary
shed in the lot opposite the post Office which was
granted.
The bill to license Billiard and Jenny Lind tables,
ten pin alleys and shooting galleries, was taken up
On motion of Mr.. SHANE, SO much as licenses shoot
ing galleries was stricken out
On motion Of Mr. CRNGHEAD so much as allows
the game Of pin pools was stricken out.
On motion of Mr.. SHANE, the bill was so amended
prohibit the keeping of shooting galleries with
in the city.
On motion Of Mr. BELL the tax billiard tables
was fixed at SOS for the first two, and $40 on each
additional table.
The bill as thus amended was then passed on its
third reading.
The bill to prevent burglary and arson within the
city was taken up and passed on its third reading.
The bill to amend the act regulating Streets alleys
and pavements or sidewalks was taken up and pass
ed on its third reading
Sundry resolutions from the Board of Aldermen
were taken up and severally concurred in.
The bill from the Board o. Aldermen to authorize
the Mayor to purchase two steam fire engines
4
a suspension Of the rule.
Mr. DARDEN moved to strike out so much asp places
the engines under the control Of the Fire Depart
ment He had entire confidence in the Fire Depart
ment He knew that Department to be efficient.
because it had been tried. He desired to see the
engines fully tested by a paid department and if
they did not prove more efficient than the hand
gines he should give the preference to the latter
Mr. WINSTON was not prepared to vote for the bill.
He was not satisfied that we were prepared to use
steam engines efficiently, and he he regretted that
the committee had not reported whether ourpresent
facilities would supply a sufhciency Of water. He
hoped the bill would be laid upon the table for the
present and committee appointed to report wheth-
it will be necessary to construct number Of els
terms TO supply water.
Mr.. CRuGHEAp thought such action unnecessary.
The question to be considered was as to which will
use or present supply Of water to the Disadvantage
at fires and he thought there could be no doubt upon
this point. The great gain TO accrue from the use
of steam fire engines was in the item Of insurance
on property. which must benefit every one who
lives in the city, whether he owns rents property
Mr. BosTCE said that in the course Of one month
the improvements upon the reservoir will be com
pied when we shall have ample supply Of water
for the steam engines in any emergency that may
arise. From letters the committee had received
from New York Baltimore and other cities, it was
clear that the steam engine would be the best for
the higher portions Of the city the engines could
use water from re-plugs in the lower portions and
force the water through hose to the fire. He hoped
the motion of the gentlemen from the Third Ward
would prevail. The bill as reported by the com
mittee left the control of the engines to be designated
by the City Council
Mr. SHANE thought it was impracticable to man
age the machines by a volunteer force. Men could
not be expected TO devote their time in operating
the machines.
Mr.. Paul thought we were not prepared to incur
the expense of purchasing two engines. All the
points ought be carefully examined before the bill
was passed. He considered it extremely doubtful
whether it would be proper to place the engines
der the control of a Department that already had
much as it could do.
Mr. BELL opposed the bill on the score Of economy!
If these engines should be purchased the greatest
humbug Of the age would be introduced in Nash
vile. De had the report Of the Fire Department of
St. Louis prepared IN March last and it showed the
expenses Of the Department of that city to be
$4,000 year. lin reply to an inquiry, he stated
,,s,-1 in
Louisl He thought these engines could not be in
troduced for less than $4,000. He regarded the
argument in regard to the saving an insurance as a
humbug. The loss by fire in this city for the year
ending the SIst of May, 1860, amounted to $4,000
on which there was an insurance Of $4,000 The
loss for 1859. amounted to only $4,000, which
there was an insurance Of $1,000 He had been
connected with the Fire Department Of Nashville
for number of years and he had never seen the
time when they could not master fires, except that
at the Nashville Inn, and that was the fault Of the
city in not having proper plug. He was, however
prepared to retire if something better than the pres
ent department could be obtained, but he did not
believe it would be through steam engines.
Mr. DARDEy read from the report Of the Fire De
partment Of St Lous to show the great advantages
of steam over hand engines. He acknowledged the
great services of the present Fire Department, but
he was unwilling to ask of the members additional
and heavy services for nothing He thought the en-
gnes oughttO he placed under the control Of paid
Department To show the feeling in favor of pur-
chasing steam engines. he stated that he had been
credIbly informed that theyInsurance Companies Of
this city had expressed willingness to furnish the
money to purchase the engines
The question was further discussed by Messrs