The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-04-07
Cou ncll Rrsc~e4isgs.

Councll Rr~c~eaings.
AT the meeting, 90 the 6th, Dol. Patterson
presided in the abssncs of the Mayor.
The Whaxfmaessr reported 104 steamboat
arrivals in Marsh; and the nett receipts q
1916 IS.
The FIRE Department sent In report nom
mating q. g. Booth for Chief Engineer, aud
w. o. FlsvelI and FL. g. Lands as Assistant
Engineers.
The following report from the Chief Engi.
| neer ofthe Fire Department was received
and~ordN ed 70 be Published.
Re pert or the Chsof Englneer, kco-
~Fkuk Fire Department..
-1c4xe Hon. Mayor aud Coanea Of the Guy Of Kso-
Aux.
\ aEnrLKMss Tn compliance with Sec, Sd ordi-
nance las, being an "Ordinance for the Formation
| and Government of the Fire Department of the
| City Of Keokuk,' / herewith transmit to You my
| annual report.
The apparatus owned by the City and now in use
Small Aunueman Engine, Hose Carriage, and
| $500 feet OF Hose, Ladder Truck, with ali The
| necessary Ladders, Hooks, and Brackets, apper.
tanning 20 the sams. This apparatus - In posses
sion Of two COMPANIES regularly organised under
riage, and Hose, are in the charge OF the Young
America Fire Compony No. land the Ladder Truck,
Ladders, Hooks, and Brackets, are In charge OF
Hook and Ladder Company, Mol. The apparatus,
is all in good order ct the present time, The Hose
is not in quite good condition they should be
owing TO the want of water 70 keep IL clean. The
want OF cisterp at the Engine House, Ii greatly
felt and / would respectfully recommend to the
Council, that one be built there Immediately. /
would also recommend to the Council that they
authorize the formation Of another Engine. Conpa-
and that portion IF the appkr atus now in the
hands Of the Young America Company, DO given
such new Company. The Young America CompA-
-A,xaf h H.
| one Compsny, besides which, that Company has
not sufficient number OF members to properly ut
tend to, and work the apparatus they now have un
der their charge. IL IL my opinion that should
another Company be formed, that il would add
greatly to the efficiency Of the Fire Department.
In order to carry out this measure,it would be
essary to procure q Hose Tender for the now Com
panv, which could be done Mt q small expense, and
1 am sure that the efficiency 1t would add to the
Depar tinent, would amply repay the City for the
outlay. The Engine Houses are In a good state Of
repair. The Hook and Ladder House has never
yet be n finished, aud the members of that Compa-
ny have requested me to ask your Honorable body
to have, at least, the pastering finished NJ soon
posi- BILE.
herewith transmit, in compliance witlfths du-
ty imposed upon ma by Ordinance, list Of all the
members Of the Department, with thhs ames Of
tho Companies to which they belong, by which you
Will see that tho whole Department only numbers,
at the present time, seventy members; this
Is great deal less than the Department has at
any time numbered; which Is accounted for from
the fact that many Of the old members of the De-
partmeht have left the City, whilst but few have
Joined t1e Department during the past year. 1T Ia
TO be hoped that.durng the coming year, the citi.
zans will come forward and join the Department,
rs with the Few members 1t has at present, 1T 10
very hard TO keep up the efficiency of the Depart
ment, and as all are interested in keeping up the
efficiency of this branch Of the City government,
it 10 greatly to be be desired that the citizens will
come forward and enroll themse elves in some of the
Companies of the Department. / also herewith
transmit list of fires and alarms Of fire. occurring
In the City from the lst of April 1859, to the lst
Ut april 1850, by which you will that there has
been fifteen alarms Of fire during that time, and
that the loss Of property from fires, during that
period Of time, has been but the small sum of
$4,000. There 10, perhaps, city in the country,
that has been so fortunate ours has been during
the past year in the way Of losses by FIRE: but the
mere fact Of this is not sufficient to allow any
lukewarmnes la keeping up the efficiency Of the
Department: for ii can hardly be expected that our
City will be 30 fortunate another year, and 1T be-
noovcs the Council, and every citizen, to their
best efforts to keep up the efficiency OF the Depart
ment, for no can tell how soon fire may
break out in the heart of City. 1 cannot close
this report without returning my thanks to the
Committee of the Fire Department of your Hon
orabic body, for the prompt manner in which they
have always met the demands of the Department.
And also TO assistant Engineers, Tableman and
Sumpson, and the officers and members Of the De.
partment generally; for the assistance they have
rendered mt, in the discharge Of my duties. All
OF which il respectfully submitted by
Your Obedient Servant,
X. III. MAGRUDER.
Chief Engiaeer K II. ID.
ke4hu 4towa 4, March 81, fsto.