Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-09
LOCAL. NEWS.

~ Y
COLUMBIA STEAM FIRE CoMpANY.-At a
meeting of the Fire Wardens held last night at
the Office of Col NJ D. Ball, South Royal
street, there were present Messrs. j. X. Smoot,
F. S. Leadbeater. w H. Lambert and James
Coleman. Mr.. Smoot occupied the Chair. The
meeting having been called to receive Il re-
port from the Columbia Steam Fire Company,
that committee, consisting of Messrs J. f. Pier
point, George Bryan, NJ. D. Ball, W. Fl, I'm
derwood and D. A. Windsor, through their
Chairman, Mr.. Pierpoint, presented the follow
ing: .E ....
ALEXANDRIA, March 7th,, 1871.
To the Fire Waadens Of the city Of Aterand,ta ::
Gentlemen As Chairman of the committee
appointed at meeting of citizens held on Mon
day evening, March 9TH, have the honor to re-
port the organization of u company to be kno wn
Is the Columbia Steam Fire Company, and,
agreeable to Instructions most respectfully re-
quest the use Of the engine bearing the name the
above company. Very Respectfully,
}. E. PIERPolNT
The Chair stated that the Fire Wardcns had
determined to turn over the steamer hose car
riage and hose to the Columbia Steam Fire
Company, and that they would recommend to
Tuesday night, the assignment OF a suitable
house tor. the use OF the conpany.
I'm the course Of some remarks which then Ell
sued among I'LL the gentlemen mentioned, and
Messrs. }. B. SmooL and &. Wheat, who were
also present. it was stated that the Star Engine
House on St Asaph street, between King and
Prince, which belonged to the Corporation, after
al examination Instituted tor the purpose, had
,been found to he suitable for the accommoda-
ion of the new company and its apparatus, and
hat stalking for the horses could be obtained
la the immediate neighborhood; that the pre-
I.aration of this house Tor occupation, digging
we'll for draining purposes, pit for coal, lay
10 solid floor, erecting dry walls, and such
other improvements Is We're necessary would
nos cost ne-third of the amount required to
rep air the old Friendship engine house; that
the expenses OF the fire department now were
less than they were in 1864, and probably 1860,
when Council was continually making appro-
pratt ons; that u resolution would be- offered at
the ne xt meeting Of the City Council giving
author ty to the Committee OH Public Property
Of that body in conjunction with the Fire " ard
ems to have the Star Engine house prepared ut
once fl n the occupation OF the Columbia Com
pany, md that it was probable such resolu-
ton VIC 'uld be adopted the nllghtot ilspresenta-
ton; tb ut though the Fire Wardens would re-
ment Of the engineer and driver Ut the new en-
glue, the y would checrfully consider the claims
of any nominations for those positions that
might be made by the Executive Committee of
the Colul nbia Company; that upon one occa-
sion the ',Vardens in making all appointment
had select ed man who was endorsed by one
firm in Dr. eference to one who was endorsed by
thirty, ancl that the next day one of the thirty
endorsers had informed the Wardens that they
had acted properly. and that tune had proved
they were torrect; that Richard Purcell was a
candidate for the position Of engineer, and had
been left in charge of the Hydraulion during
Wardens in Philadelphia, and would make 4
good and effici ent officer if appointed; that the
salary of the engineer would he $40 and that
of the driver ss45 month; and that as at pres
ent the treasury Of the city was In rather de-
pleted condition it would be best for the COM
pany to solicit subscriptions among the citizens
at large for the purchase of pair of horses,
and that if sufficient amount could not be
raised in tb at way that probably the City Coun-
Gil would make up the deficiency. The Fire
Wardens stated that the new engine should re-
main where it was, in the .Hydraulion engine
house, until suitable place was prepared tor
its reception, but that 1t was from date to be
under the control of the new Columbia Com
",
gineer was made one would always be found ut
the Hydrauon engine house to take charge OF
the new engine should a fire occur. The meet
ing then adjourned to await the action Of the
City Council.
While the meeting Of the Fire Wardens was
in progress a meeting of the Columbia Fire
Company was held in an adjoining room in the
same building, President William kilgour i'll
the Chair, and A. j. Marshall, Secretary.
The President having stated that the meeting
was an adjourned one for the purpose of conf
pleting the organization Of the company,
Mr.. R. j. Daingerfeld nominated Edmund
Burke as corresponding Secretary, DIR. >. Z.
Hill as Surgeon and W. H. Claridge as the 9Th
pipeman all of whom were unanimously cleo
ted r
Several new members were then elected,
when the meeting took recess to await the
report of the committee appointed to ask the
Fire Wardens for the Columbia Steam Engine.
The meeting having reassembled MIR. ). F..
Pierpoint reported that the Fire Wardens had
turned the new engine reel and hose over to
the company, and would recommend the City
Council to assign a suitable houe i'll which the
apparatus should be kept, and the report was
received and adopted
On motion of Mr.. George Bryan the Presl-
dent appointed Messrs George Bryan, j. f.
IieIpoiLC, W. H OHueIWoou anu co'. n; ~
Ball committee to draft constitution and BY
laws for the company. "
On motion of Col. NJ. b. Ball, it was resolv-
I'd that upon an alarm Of fire the members of
the company repair at once to the Hydraulion
engine house and take charge of the apparatus
which had Just been turned over to them. .
Mr. W. Fl. Underwood stated that in all fire
companies there were active honorary and con-
tributing members, and that he was authorized
to present the names of Messrs. John A. Dixon,
William Cogan and William Vincent as con
tributing members of the Columbia Company,
and the gentlemen named were unanimously
elected
On motion of j. e. Pierpoint the President
appointed committee consisting Of j. f. Pier
point, j. B. Smoot, D. A. Windsor, r. j.
Dainger6eld and A. j. Marshall, to which the
President was added to solicit subscriptions