The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-15
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
TUESDAY EVENING. March IA.
SECOND BRANCH.

Present-Messrs. Altmyer, Baird, Ga
tor, r. Crawford, Howell, Hammer,
List, Logan, Lancaster, McAdams,
OBrien, Phillips, Steger, J G. Smith,
Porter Smith. Simpson, Weisgarber,
and President Forbes.
The minutes of the preceding meeting
were read, approved and signed. .r :,
Mr.. List, member Of Second Branch
from First ward, took the oath of office.
The committee on Accounts reported
bills to the amount Of $473.50 with
resolution authorizing their payment,
which was adopted.
The committee on Fire Department
reported bills to the amount OF $27095,
with resolution authorizing their pay
ment, which was adopted.
E. Day, City Receiver, reported bal
ance in the Treasury to February lst Of
S33O.7l, and to March LIST Of $S542l,
both to credit OF Water Works fund.
The City Sexton reported eight inter
meuts in Peninsula Cemetery during
the month of February. Received and
filed.
The Wharfmaster reported the receipt
of 1891. so as wharfage dues to March
| first.
The special committee To whom was
referred the subject, mentioned in the
report of the Chief Marshal of the Fire
Department, of employing sufficient
| Il ~ tho
houses and paying them for their whole
time; and, also, what additional means,
if any, are in their opinion necessary to
increase the efficiency Of the Depart
ment, reported through DR.. Baird,
chairman OF the committee.
After referring to the reason why the
engines are started ont, on an alarm
being given, without having the fires
kindled under the boilers, and showing
that it would be a very dangerous thing
to do, as the engine would be liable at
any time to blow up, the committee say
that, in their opinion, there are two
WAYS, if not more, of rendering the De-
partment more efficient than it is now.
First, by employing sufficient men to
manage the engines and reels, paying
them for their whole time, and, second
", by increasing the means of giving
an alarm when fire occurs.
As regards the first plan, the commit
tee think that five men are sufficient for
each engine company. The men are to
be kept at the engine houses at all
times, and no more than two to be at
one time absent, even to get their meals.
The twenty-four hours Of the day are
to be divided into twelve watches of two
hours each, compelling each man to be
on watch two hours and off six. The
watch to be kept outSid Of the engine
| house, 80 as to catch any alarm Of fire
that may be given.
Two estimates of the cost Of this
plan are given. One involves an ex-
penditure Of $500 per annum, and
the other $3.50, against $3.50,
the present cost, without adding 1920,
the cost of the Hook and Ladder COM
pany; 5000, the cost of Hope hose,
and the Marshals' salaries. Add these
and the present cost is $500. This
amount, the committee think, is money
thrown away, and they express the
opinion that the Council ought, in
in justice to property owners, either
expend more money on the de-
partment or return to the old
volunteer system. There is no lack OF
skill, energy and efficiency in our fire
mel after they get to fire, but they
fail to get to a confagration as prompt
" as they should, and this slowness is
the fault of the present system OF or
ganization of the department. The
committee show, taking the Atlantic as
an example, that the men live, on an
average, six squares away from the en-
CINE house, and when at work are even
further away than this.
The committee think that the means
of promptly giving alarms will, for the
present, be amply secured when the bell
ordered for the new engine house in the
Fourth ward is in position; its position
being central, and its large size Git
weighing 400 pounds) will enable it to
be heard in all parts Of the city.
The committee refer to the question
of erecting a fire alarm telegraph, and
are of opinion that it is not an absolute
necessity, while they are satisfied that
the plan of increasing the number Of
men, to be kept at all times at the en-
CINE houses is an absolute necessity.
They ask the Council to give it trial
As the Council is elected for two years,
if it should not work it can he repealed
bv this Council, or changed as expert
ence may render necessary.
The committee are OF the opinion
that the additional expense entailed by
this plan can be saved, so that the an
nual expenditures of the city will not
be in excess Of other years. For exam
pie: if the disbursement account Of the
Street Commissioner is kept within
reasonable bounds this year-cut down
from $500 in 1870 to 5000 or $4,000,
in lS7l-the difference will be more
than covered.
The committee presented an ordl-
nance to amend an ordinance regu-
lating the Fire Department of the city
of Wheeling, which was made the spe-
cial subject for next Monday evening.
A motion to print the ordinance in
the city papers was laid on the table.
The committee on Water Works re-
ported bills to the amountIo f $500 6S,
and offered resolution for their pay
ment Adopted ,
The Street Commissioner reported
bills to the amount of 1925, and the
committee on Streets and Alleys report
ed resolution for their payment.
The Board of Control OF the Fire
Department reported that they had
selected Charles Miller as extraman, for
No. 3 in place of Charles NJ. Stout, re-