Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-07-31
CIRCULATION UNRlVALLED
ELIZABETH.
A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.


city of the country $50 far as we know
to establish this system-which the
Bostonians have never seen reason to
change. Ten OF more years ago the
city of Cincinnati equipped the whole
department with steamers, hoso-carts,
hook and ladder trucks, and then abol-
ished the volunteer in favor of the paid
system, which is still in operation, with
the entire and hearty appreciation of
every property-owner and citizen. The
example of Cincinnati was followed
by some other Western cities, and the
success of the new system was so decl-
ded, that few ) ears ago, New York,
after long struggle, and against a
fierce opposition, adopted the paid sys-
tenn. For some months after the new
plan went into operation it was feared
that it would be failure The number
of fires weekly, daily and nightly, was
unprecedented in number and in the
amount of property destroyed. So
great was the loss, and so long contin-
ned that even the New York Times, one
of the strongest advocates of the paid
department, expressed fears that it
might be necessary to return to the old
volunteer system. Fortunately this
could not be done until the meeting OF
the State Legislature. Long before
this, the inccndiaries had given up
their game and the evils of the old
and the benefits of the new system had
become apparent. Now not one in ten
of the property-owners of New York
would consent to a return to the old
volunteer department - under which
men served for nothing, at an expense
to the city exceeding that of the paid
force
Since this clear demonstration of the
advantages of paid force, there has
been strong feeling in that direction
in most cities of any size, in all parts
of the country. In Philadelphia, the
Press, one of the most influential journals
of the country, and most of the other
leading papers of the city, advocate the
change, which cannot be long delayed.
Pittsburg has recently decided to pay
its department, and now we learn that
Camden and Trenton, in this State, are
about to do the same thing.
For the past year there has been
more or less talk among our own citi-
zens,-a large number of whom strong
ment. Can any one tell us why we
should not have paid department
here Z? Since the introduction and pur
chase ofsteam fire engines, there is no
necessity for IL great number of men to
cxtinguish a fire. Twenty we'll trained
men with horses to draw their engines
and other apparatus, to The fire, will
be found more efficient than ten OF
twenty times the number of volunteers
taken at random-especially if n por-
ton of the latter las is only too often
the case) consists of boys. Indeed one
great evil of the volunteer system, is
that many of the companies allow boys
even boys not more than twelve or at
most fifteen years of age-to hang
about the engine houses and run with
the hose carts. This is-wc think
contrary to the ordinance regulating
the department in this city, but who
ever heard an alarm of fire and looked
out without seeing these boys start up,
as if were from the ground, and soon
make their appearance attached to a
drag.rope. We know that all the best
and most respectable fremen land
many are among our most respectable
citizens) reprobate this state of things,
but they are powerless to prevent it.
Nothing short of paid department
can cure it effectually.
We now have four powerful steam en-
gines-enough to answer the purpose
intended for the next five years. Each
company should have horses, which
during the day, might be employed by
the Deputy Street Commissioner, OF by
the scayengers, so that there would be
no extra expense, these officers
need horses continually. The city
should also be districted, and ON alarm
of fire, the runs should be restricted
We should then have but little commo-
motion in time of fire.
We believe-as we have repeatedly
said in these columns-that there is no
volunteer fire department in the coun-
try superior, and very few equal to that
of Elizabeth. 1t is this fact that has,
SO far, prevented any agitation here for
paid department.
We are not disposed to hurry til,
change unnecessarily, but it must come
sooner or later the introduction of
steamers, with horses to draw them
renders it inevitable is is only ones
OF time and both fremen and citizens
should consider the question.