The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-09-01

THEIR ORGANIZATION AND HISTORY.
Fires and Losses Of Property.
A SPLENDID RECORD.

the prominence that has been given the |
company, In these columns. The peo-
pie ofCairo are Justly proud Of the car
abs" and Trough and Readies," and
would scarcely excuse US should we pass
over an occasion like the present,
when II IL within our power to pay them
. deserved tribute, and to recognize the
good that is in them.
The Arab Fire Company was organic.
ed on the first day Of September 1859.
In . rough boarded and battened one
story building, then standing on the
site now occupied by Winters spacious
and elegant business pile, Jack Winter
called together eleven energetic and
resolute friends, and In the midst Of
cooking, parlor and ONCE stoves, wash
boilers, stovepipes and coal-scuttles, tho
dozen squatted and resolved that the ex.
igencies OF the times demanded the or
ganization Of the "Arab." A hickerin g
stearine candle spluttered out sickly
light by which the twelve signed the
Constitution and BY. LAWS, and when, at
10 o'clock, the party separated, the Arab
Fire Company had an actual tangible
existence. Jack Winter had long can.
vsssed the matter In his own mind, and
looked forward with high expectations
to the moment when his ideal company
should take material shape. This heart
did not sink, or feel somewhat Of the
somberness Of despair, when only eleven
persons responded to his call, he IL Ger.
tainiy Of a nature more hopeful than the
common run OF men.
From the moment Of organization
Winter devoted himself with great zeal
TO the work OF inspiring in the public
mind an interest In the company. It
was, with him, the one grand and all ALB
sorbing topic, and as time passed, and
gave the Arabs q chance TO show the
metal they were made OF, the public re.
ceived at least an indication that the
promised activity and efficiency Of the
company were not the idle boasts OF the
oversanguine founder. The city was then
poor, having scarcely outlived the dis
astrous visitation Of the year before, and,
consequently, the expense Of organiza-
ton and equipment fell upon the mem.
bers OF the company, chiefly upon the
shoulders Of Mr.. Winter, who when he
stood among the stoves Of his tin-shop
Surveyed" about all Of which he was
monarch
But the determination had been formed
that the company should not only live
but prosper, and without much, u any,
immediate help from the city, II did pros
per beyond the expectations Of its most
sanguine friends and members. Men Of
all shades Of politics, OF different relig.
ious belief. merchants, mechanics, labor
ers, the young and middle aged, connect
"a themselves with IL, soon swelling the
membership TO forty or flfty. But In
their associated form these men knew no
democratic, Bell-and- Everett or repub-
lican party, knew no Methodist, Catholic
or Presbyterian church. BY the act Of
signing the Constitution and By-l.sws
they resolved themselves into nremeu,
| and that Ia that character they proved
true TO Themselves; devoted TO their or.
gsnisation and most servicssbls to the
public, the ten years history they have
made, establishes beyond all room for
| cavil.
On the third day Of April 1866, after the
company had been in existence i've yeas
and seven months, 1t organized under
special act OF the legislature Of Illinois,
approved by the Governor on the 10th day
Of the previous Eebuary. BY this act the
company became body corporate and
polite, with all the powers necessary to
insure permanent and efficient existence.
In Its corporate name the company Is
authorized by the charter 10 acquire by
gin, grant or purchase, real aud personal
property, to the amount Of $50. 600, to EN-.
ploy In the erection OF an engine house
| firemen's hall, or such other buildings as
may be thought nece ,sary for the safe
keeping OF the engines aud apparatus, and
| for the business aud other meetings Of
! the company. The right II also confer
red TO purchase and hold such engines,
hose or other property ~ may be required
In the extinguishment or prevention Of
fires; and all the property, real or per-
sonal, is held exempt from taxation. The
company can also sell, at pleasure, any
or ell Of tho prosperity Of which It may
have become seized.
| A provision OF the charter
that 10 characteristic Of noble. heart
ed, unselfish firemen, 10 the following
III the company shall at any time dis
band and cease to exercise its functions
as contemplated 10 this act, then, and In
that event, the title to all property, real,