New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-22

md ~ oousrscsur.Ths=Dh IN
mems Charitable Association hereby aGreel
after receiving said houses in good order
TO keep them in good N~eondition during tn
existence Of the contract, the natural Wea
and tear excepted, 1t its own cost, it beinl
understood that the city Of New Orlean
binds itself to replace whenever tho neces
sity exists) any portion of any of sai>
houses. Out-buildings, fences or appuf
tenances that may be destroyed or com
pletely decayed or rotted out from nasura
wear and tear.
g. That the Administrator of Commerc'
shall have supervision Over the fire de
partment created by this ordinance, AMI
over the buildings and property Of the citI
entrusted to the contractor, and shall, from
time to time, report to the Council upoI
the efficiency or ineficiency of said depart
ment, and of the officers and men connected
with the same.
80. That the amount of compensation to
be paid said Firemen's Charitable AssOcia
ton, for the faithful execution of this con
tract, is hereby fixed at n hundred and
forty thousand dollars per annum, payable
monthly. The said association supplying at
it's own cost, all engines, hose. machinery,
etc., for the execution of the contract.
81. That all ordinances, and part of or2i-
nances, contrary to the provisions Of this
ordinance. be and the same are hereby re-
pealed.
Mr.. Lewis moved to increase the number
Of steam fire engines from fifteen to nine
teen.
Mr.. Bonzano moved that Milneburg have
q steam engine.
MI. Lewis accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Remick said 1t seemed to him iniu-
dicious for the Council to order this in
crease, inasmuch as it wal stated by very
many who claimed to be best informed on
the subject that fifteen steam engines were
quite enough, and that ever q less number
would do. To add five new steam engines
to b number provided would involve IN
extra expenditure Of twenty thousand dol
lars a year, making q difference of one hun
dred thousand dollars for the term of the
contract. Objections had been made to the
number of steam engines already existing,
on the ground that they we're too many, and
threw too much water, so that what dam
age was not done by the fire was often done
by the water. If the number of steam en-
gines were increased, this objection would
have still greater weight. He hoped the
amendment would not prevail, for it would
necessitate another amendment as to the
rate of compensation. As the opinions ex-
pressed by the press and the public bad
been generally favorable to the organise
ton as it now existed, he did not think it
wise to change the organization so n to
make it more expensive. The increase VA
not asked by the association. They regarded
fifteen steam engines as quite enough.
Mr.. Lewis: The Administrators may have
had more advantage than myself of ascer-
tanning whether the association is not will
ing to have any more steamers.
Mr.. Remick 1 did not say that
Mr.. Lewis: The association stated they
did not ask for any more than fifteen
steamers, but they would he glad to get
light steamers to replace the
present hand engines. This is what Mr..
Marks said to me, but he did not think it
advisable to ask it. We have had Objec-
tons to the increase Of the number of
steamers from the underwriters, but we
find on the other hand q petition sent in
that No. 5 should have a steamer. !
If we give No. 5 q steamer at their request,
they say ten are sufficient, and We
have already fifteen, why not give No. Is,
81 and No. 6 steamers also. They are |
all deserving companies. l know q great |
1eal is due to No. 6. A great deal has |
been done by them to build up the reputa-
ion of the Firemen's Charitable Association.
believe an increase in the price from $780, |
ZOO to $4,000 would replace all the hand
engines by third class steam engines, which
an 60 anywhere that . hand engine can.
Mr.. Remick desired to correct an uninten-
ional misstatement of the Administrator of
Police (Mr. Lewis), that Mr.. Marks desired
he change. He said if the Council com
'elled the organization to replace all the
land engines by steam engines they would
make no objection, but they would require
.xtra compensation for so doing.
The Mayor: l would like, with the Coun-
lis permission, to make a statement which
ears on this point of an increased number
f steam engines. While the subject of re-
ewing the fire contract was under con-
liberation, representative men of the under
7riters voluntarily came to me and stated
ten steam engines would be amply suf
cient for the wants Of the four districts
overed by this contract, or at most, eleven,
nd that tile price which the city would
ave to give if the contract we're put up at
uction would be less than a hundred thou
dollars a year; that they would bid it
# at that figure, or words to to that effect,
it were put up at auction, as they thought
ought to be. So l understood them. l will
ate one point further: l understood little of
lis matter until these interviews Of which
have spoken, when these gentlemen
rgued with such force that a paid fire de-
was the most efficient and econ
mical, i%nstancing the city Of Baltimore,
lat l believed them, having no previous
9inion on the matter. l thought this good
stimOny then, but, inasmuch as these very
persons have since unanimously re-
that it is the interest Of the city to
new the old system without qualification
restriction, l confess that their first
stimony has not so much force with me
ill ! give it as it was given to me, and it
N be taken for what it is worth as bear
g upon the necessity of having more than I
teen steam fire engines.
The yeas and naya we're called on Mr..
evils amendment increasing the number y
steam engines to nineteen. I
amendment was lost. ]