The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-22
INTELLIG ENC Il.
THE FIRE QUESTION.
The Full Report or the Committee of Councils
RecommendInG n Paid Fire Department.

OF Ph1ladelpnla, and presenting draft
ordinance providing for such department.
10 the Select and Common Councils Qf the CITY Of
GRsrBMEN:-Your Committee on Fire Department
would respectfully report, that in pursuance OF the
annexed resolution duly referred to them, they have
been for several months past considering the sub
ect OF an entire reorganization OF the Fire Depart
ment. Numerous defects in the volunteer system
have long been apparent and many evils have been
developed by it. Remedies have been attempted and
others contemplated, but the necessity for a COM
plete revolution in the manner OF extnguishing
fires in order to secure the desired end, has, with
time, grown more imperative The present system,
now venerable with age, established for a laud-
able purpose. and while our city was small NUM-
cipaty, answered well the object OF its institution.
But as our borders increased and population null
tipled corruptions entered into the ancient and
honorable body Of hremen. The companies, in many
instances, were longer managed by the quiet and
law abiding citizens who answered the cry aud
alarm of fire, to save the lives and property OF their
neighuoTs but by those who sought the excitement
of fire an occasion - dash through
our streets like madmen, lomentng
saving property, augmenting its damage and de-
.strucuOn by fire, water, and theft The time Is
within the recollection OF us all, when the hremen5
throughout the land
This continued TOR some years. aud until after the
breaking out OF the with Mexico, at which time,
many OF the turbulent members and iherents of
our ire companies soughta new field for the exer-
else of their pugnaclty.
The reorganization Of the police system aud the
also mad salutary effect in suppressng the spirit
disorder. Then, again, the Invention OF the steam
dre.enVne and its introduction into our midst was
of great utility. This improvement, it Will be
membered, was bitterly opposed but 1t was not long
before nearly every engine company became the
possessor Of steam 1re-engine. Until within the
present year. included among the companies CON-
posing the Fire department there were forty-seven
steamers; these, with forty other compauies-hose,
hapd-engine and hook and ladder-made a total OF
eighty seven companies.
This number is now found to be too great, and the
experience of the past lew years has made evident
The actual necessity of still further reform.
carefully considering this i'm pOrtant subject,
your committee have decided to report in favor OF
the establishment of what Is known as the paid
in hiph man fni M mi ri
ships, and risks his life for the good or others shall
be compensated therefor. Otner cities have set US
an example in this respect
Boston, New York. Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago
st. Louis, aud our neghbor Camden have each
Your committee have visited New York, Boston,
Baltimore and Camden. Tney Were courteously re-
partments OF those cities, every facility afforded us
of examining the worsi OF the same, and all de-
an ne entire Re' success While the '' New e YORK
Department. is admirable, yet we
deem it unnecessarily expensive, in permanently
employing every man connected with the depart
ment.
The Boston, Baltimore, and Camden Departments
are preferable as being less expensive, and We
number Of the employees are permanently employed,
being those who are necessary TO convey the appa-
ratus to fires the remainder attending to their daily
business, and answering for duty upon the proper
alarm
Fire Department, we do not feel called upon TO
enter into any elaborate arguments ia its behalf.
notice, both in Councils and in the daily press In
December, 1867, report was presented from spe-
cial mmttee, OF which Mr.. James Ii. Ellington
was chairman, reporting ordinance for the orgau-
Zation OF a paid department. but 1t met with
defeat.
We ind that wherever the paid system is in use,
the loss tf property by fire and water has been
greatly decreased, aud the rate of insurance dIm-
nishcd in he same proportion
In a moral point or view, the advantages accruIng
cannot be stated in mere numerals.
The actual expense to the city will OF course be
greater, but we think that the community Will be
fully compensated for the outlay.
The appropriation made to our Fire Department
for the present year is sl325O while the annual cost
OF the department organized as we recommend will
Boston has 80 companies, costing s25O,00O
Baltimore has 9companies, costing 100000
Camden has companies, costing IS 200.
New ork has 52 companies, costiog s96O,OOO.
Your committee would also state, that since the
OF a Special Committee on Paid Fire Department,
we have with great harmony acted in concert with
the gentlemen composing that committee They
visited Baltimore with us, and we have welcomed
such recommendations and suggestions as they were
pleased TO make.
In conclusion, believing that Philadelphia should
no longer be behind her sister cities, but chat we
the appreciation Of aud be OF lasting good to, the
community we submit the accompanying ordi-
special committee OF Select Council ana respect
William b. Hanna, Chairman; Robert Armstrong,
II. j. q. Walker, Louis Wagner, H. A. Stiles, George
W. Plumly, Will an A. Burnell, Samuel W. Cattcll,
John Fareira, John B. Parker, Nicholas Shane.
The undersigned Special Committee OF Select
Csuncn on Paid FIRE Department hereby concur
with the Committee on Fire Department, in report
ing the annexed ordinance, and unite with them in
recommending its passage.
George A. Smith, chairman; George w. Plumly,
Wiliam Il. Smith, j. w. Hopkins, John L. SaOe-
maker.
Tho Communication from the United States
fire Company FayOrins IA Paid Fire Depart
ment,
which was presented to Councils on Wednesday OF
last week, reads as follows:-
HALL OF THE UNITED STATES FIRE COMPANY,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, Nov. l6, 1SIO-At an ad-
journed st ited meeting OF the Omitted States Fire
Company held this evening" the following pream-
BILE and resolutions were unanimously a1opted:-
Whereas, When this company was organized, it
was with the spirit OF purs benevOence, and for the
purpose Of doing good 10 oar fellow citizens; and
acting under a Of duty, they have always
seconded the efforts OF the constituted authorities
in the protection OF the lives and property of the
citizens, and The maintenance OF the public peace,
aud can point with a just degree OF pride TO its
record.
And tohersas, It is now believed by many OF our
best and most influential citizens, that the time has
arrived when an economical paid Fire Department
ought To suppant the volunteer system, and that the
enus for which this company was organized, and
has bt maintained, Will be better subserg ed there
by; while we are still willing to render our service
In the future, as Ia the past yet true ID our trad
uun and practice, we are also ready TO comply with
whatever regulations the constituted authorities
may order and direct in the premises; therefore
be it
Resoloed, That this company stln remain, as they
always have been, ready and willing to perform
their duties fremen, and will continue, until
their services dispensed with by the proper
authorities, and they viii cheerfuy submit TO what
said authorities may legally direct, not incOn-
siseht with their duties TO The public or their man
hood as citizens.
ReSolUed, That a copy of the foregoing preamble
aud solution be forwarded to the Select and Com
mon Councils OF the city of Philadelphia, attested
JOSIAH d. BROOKS, President.
Attest-WLLIAM p. BUZBY, Secretary.