The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-04-26
Fira Mardens.

There was time, in this city, when al
dermen performed their duty faithfully a,
FIRE wardens. Now, no examinations are
made, and the city is at the mercy Of care
less, peuurious or ignorant people whC
either do not know the danger they are in
or are too penurious or careless to study
their own or their neighbors safety
There was time when the aldermen il
each ward made their regular rOund
through every house, store, shop or build
ing, and inspected the fires, stoves, asl
piles, and every eombustible or dangerou,
thing, and ordered all such changes and
precautions taken as were necessary t.
prevent FIRE .- #.
The city charter Art TX. Sec. ?. pro
vides that--The city shall have power t.
regulate the construction of chimneys and
tues, so as TO admit of chimney sweeps OF
other modes Of cleaning, and to compel the
sweeping and cleaning Of chimneys.
To prevent and prohibit the dangerous
construction and condition Of chimneys
hues, freplaces, stovepipes, ovens or any
other apparatus used in or about any
building or mandatory, and to cause the
same to be removed or placed in secure
and safe condition when considered dan
gerous.
To prevent the deposit of ashes in un-
safe places, and to appoint one or more Of
hcers to enter into all buildings and inclo-
sures, TO examine and discover whether
the same are in dangerous state and to
cause such as may be dangerous to be put
in safe condition
And the city has, by ordinance provided
that
The Aldermen shall, er-oGicio, be the
FIRE wardens of their respective wards.
DO the present aldermen claim that it
is not their duty to inspect buildings and
act as fire wardens? The ordinance regu-
lating the fire department appoints them
such, by virtue of their Office as alder
men. If they claim that it is no part of
their duty to look after this matter, they
certainly cannot claim that they have done
their duty when they have neglected to
provide, by ordinance, who shall do this
duty. The responsibility rests upon them
and they cannot and shall not escape it.
They have neglected their duty, either as
aldermen or as fire wardens, and they
ought to neglect it no longer There is no
doubt whatever that, if the aldermen had
done their duty, either as fire wardens or
aldermen, the fire which destroyed Black
burns bookstore and entailed the loss
upon him and the other occupants and
owners of the buildings destroyed, would
have been prevented And it our public
officers are tocontinue to neglect their duty
We are liable to more fires and more losses.
If the aldermen are not going 10 act Us
fire wardens, let them pass an ordinance
at next meeting providing how this duty
shall be performed Our citizens cannot
be trifed with and their property be left
liable to destruction because of careless,
ignorant or penurious occupants or owners
next door.
But, says an objector The aldermen
can't afford TO 90 over every building in
their wards at the small salary they get.
To which we answer that they knew what
they salary was when they sought the
office and they knew what the duties of
the Office were-or ought to have known.
Accepting the Office was promise to per
form its duties at the salary fixed. Failing
to perform the duties is breach of con
tract between them and the people,