Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-02

position all of these qualities was found
in the chairman of that committee, Mr.. j..
Donaldson. who took the matter in hand,
tleman for the contemplated change; but
he was determined, and through his indie
fatigable eXertions Columbus was the
fourth city in the country to adopt steam
paid Fire Department. A new fire Ordi-
nance was now adopted. October 30, of
the same year, G. NJ. Ridgway, after long
and protracted ballot, was elected engineer
to take charge of the engine when she
should arrive. Mr.. j. G. Kenyon was
elected Chief Engineer on Septem-
Der the - 9Th. The committee of
Fire Department, MessIs. Donaldson,
Decker and Hume, started for Cincinnati to
witness the trial of our new steamer CO.
lumbus, for such was then her name. In
the trial she bursted one of her steam pipes,
and our citizens were disappointed in not
receiving their engine at the appointed
time. On Friday, October I'd, the long
looked for and much talked of monster ar
rived, accompanied by the <builder, Mr..
Latta. An entertainments was given in
homer of the occasion at the Neil House.
The engine was accepted. by the city au-
thorities, and placed in the house then re-
Gently erected for her on Third street. The
cost of the engine was $4,000. Thus, Gin
cinnati was the first, New Orleans the Sec
ond, Boston the third, and Columbus the
fourth in bringing about this great change.
To, the then able, faithful chairman of the
standing committee on Fire Department,
Mr.. L. Donaldson. the citizens of Column
bus owe lasting debt of gratitude for the
creation of your steam paid Fire Depart
ment; and to-day who is the man that
would now think of again inaugt1rating
the baud or volunteer system In your city
He would be deemed fit subject for the
lunatie. asylum. Nine-tenths of the tax
payers and parents, rather than have again
entailed upon them such Department.,
would, have no doubt, willingly agree TO
expend six times the amount that the De-
partnent now costs. But this was only the
beginning Of the great change that, was
yet to take place. The city had now but
one steamer. The Department was mix
ed Department, part hand and part steam,
and so continued up to the great tire-Ghe
burning OF the Neil House in November,
1860. That fire proved conclusivelySto our
citizens that the hand Department had lost
the confidence of the people. On alpsides
the demand was that we needed steam fire
engines to take the place of the hand.
But, in Justice to our brave volunteer
firemen, allow me to say that service so
important to society and so essential to the
preservation of property and the lives of
its people, should have been for so long
time performed by volunteers, without fear
or reward, save in the applaudings of con-
science and the occasional approval OF
others. This arduous service, though ire
sponsible in a great degree, was well
performed by the volunteer Depart
ment. Their usefulness had been
tested upon more than one occasion,
amid the cracking of flames and the roar
ing of winter winds. Their efficiency had
h1o licb bod- -hVyfh ho nHlur
tions they had stayed. Yet it now became
painfully evident that the great error OF the
system was not the want of self-sacriticing
philanthropy, but the want of concentra-
tion superinduced by the want of control.
Among the principal of these was the want
of COMMUNICATIVE chief, so indespensaby
necessary to the efficient action ofall bodies
of men working in common cause. Under
the volunteer system then in vogue, it was
simply impossible to any certain extent to
concentrate the effects of that department.
1t was well proven at the burning of the
Neil House, because the foreman of each
compauY was supreme in part only over
his own men, and was always without au-
thority, and often without the slightest in
fiuence over them. The people had seen
this. and with one accord demanded
change. Steam had fairly won its way by
its great superiority over the hand.u Our
City Council was not slow in discovering
of that body held on November 10Th, 1860,
Capt. Joseph Riley, then member of the
Council, offered a resolution looking to the
purchasing of two steam fire engines.
committee of practical engineers, citizens
of Columbus, were appointed to examine
and report to the Council in regard to the
utility of purchasing the steam Rotary
Seneca Falls, N. Y. The committee ap-
pointed by the Council reported on the
evening of December 1lth, in favor of pur
chasing the steam Rotary Fire engine; the
Council accepted their report, and the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, A committee of practical en-
gineers, citizens of Columbus, have pre-
sented unanimous report in favor of the
steam fire engine manufactured by IL. G.
Silsby, which has been on exhibition and
trial for several days, since which time the
expression favorable to increase OF steam
power, in lieu OF hand engines, is found to
be quite general; therefore, be it
g. ReSoLUed, That so much OF the resolution
instructing the purchasing of hand engines,
&C., be and the same is hereby rescinded,
and a first-class steamer tor service be sub
stituted.'
The Council now enacted new fire Or
dinance, placing the fire department under
the control of one head. 1t was important
that the gentleman they should select to
fill that office, should have the confidence OF
the entire community. The Council, look
ing to the interest OF the whole community,
selected by unanimous vote John Miller,
ESQ, as the future chief and more wise
and iudicious selection could not have been
made. A gentleman engaged largely in
the banking business, and one OF its most
wealthy and public spirited citizens, un-
dertoOk the task of organizing and bring
ing the new department into working or
der. Notwithstanding the cares resulting
from his own business, lie accepted the Of
flee of Chief ENGINEER of the Fire Depart
ment, and made that department the pride
of the city. Under his administration the
third steamer was purchased, and after
serving as Chief Engineer for nearly three
years, with great credit to himself and to
the entire satisfaction of the community, he
rendered his resignation to the Council,
which was, with great reluctance, accepted
by that body.
The Columbus Steam Fire Department
had met the eXpactetions OF its early
friends. The superiority of the steam sys-
TEN was now fixed fact-its superiority
over muscular power had been maintained
beyond all possibility of doubt, and at
tracted the applause of those who had wit
messed the efforts of the steam system
whenever brought into requisltion, and all
that is now needed to make the depart
ment complete, is the fire alarm telegraph; :;
and we hope the day is not far distant
when the city of Columbus can boast with
pride of their water works, Nicolson pave
ment and the fire alarm telegraph.
ALL Fools DAY.-Yesterday was All
Fools day, and many suspicious looking
packages left on the street corners, with
few or no takers. The deep interest taken
B., olo kol I,o