Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-05-14
Fire Department..
MEETING OF TIE SUN FIRE COMPANY.

held i'll their new hall, in the Market House,
Tor the first time, last night, President D. i.
Smoot in the chair, and W. G. Markell, Sec
rotary. There were present about forty members.
A committee was appointed to enquire into
the expectancy OF relnstatlug former member.
The committee appointed to report list of
members for enrolment in the clerk $ Office OF
the Corporation Court, was requested to report
at the next meeting, as was also the Com mlttee
on Constitution and Bylaws.
Maj. Duffy, delegate to the Firemen' Con-
vcntion, reported that he and one Of his COL
leagues had attended that Convention and were
received and entertained most cordially by the
Columbia company's President, and that every.
thing had passed off tremendously In the Con
vention until the Chief Engineer had intro
duccd certain resolutions regarding the dlsband,
ing Of the hand companies, which were voted
down, the llydraullon company alone voting III
the affirmative. The Convention adjourned for
about two weeks, when the same discussion
arose; they adopted certain notifications OF the
old fire laws, to be reported TO the Fire Depart
ment for consideration MIR. Leadbcater seemed
to be carried away by his zeal for the steamers,
or, at least, one OF them, and was doing all nc
could to lsor.anizc and break up the hand
it was plot to destroy the old companies
Capt. Smoot called Mr.. Latham to the chair,
and said that he had attended the Fire De-
partmcnt meeting, aud that they had adopted
certain resolutions and regulations; that rcso.
luton to di,band the hand companies had been
laid on the table for three monthsat his request.
He said that the Sun company was regularly
chartrrcd but whether or not 1t had accepted
the charter he did not know, but that while the
law required the companies to DC equipped or
thrown out of the department, it did not state
who should pay for the equipment; that the
members Of the company were exempted from
Jury and militia duty, and that he believed that
the Wardcns were iavorably disposed towards
the Sun; lie therefore hoped the members would
meet every week ard subscribe towards the
purchase of hose; it would take $3.50 to pur-
chase $40 feet Of hose aud if each member
would dcbar himself Of one ci gar a day and con
tribute Ito this purpose, 1t would soon make
quite respectable contribution.
lie was followed by Maj. Dutfey, who read from
the lire laws authorizing the Chief Engineer to
cxpcnl not over so Oh repairs aud it the re.
BARS necessary exceeded hat amount the fact
should he reported to the City Council that
the duly of the Chief Engineer was to examine
each comnany's apparatus every three months,
but that Mr. Lcadbcater had never been inside
of the Sun Engnc house that the Sun had
had its hose carried away by the Wardcns !;
that tt was The duty of the Corporation to pur-
chase hose for the company III return for that
taken from them. aud that worn out in saw
ing the property Of the citizens.
Mr. Smout then offered resolution, that
each mcmbcr contribute 25 cents week for the
purchase OF hose.
Mai. Dutfay offered the following as i sub
stltutc:
RcSo}ccl That a committee Of three be APP
pointed to solicit aid from the ctizeus and
insurance companies for the purpose of pur
chasing hnse for the use Of this company.
Capt. DoIcy, said he for one would not give
anything; that if the people whose property
was at risk could mol Or would not pay for the
hose he would not 1t was customary, if not
law, for the corporation to equip and keep in
order cue hand company aud they ought to
supply the Sun.
4. J. Weddrrburn, said if we were unwilling
to help ourselves, how could we expect others
to help lis. As to the duty of the corporation
to supply us there was no doubt OF it, but as to
making them pcform this duty, that was another
thing entirely. He therefore favored MIR.
Shoots resolution.
Mr.. Hugh Latham next took the floor and
said he favored Mai. Duifcy's resolution; that
the citizens would help the oldest company,
and the one that has done so much in saving
the property of the town; that when Mayor he
had vetoed the bill for the organization of the
Fire Department because he knew it was aimed
at the destruction Of the most effective com
panics; that the motto OF the Sun was, we
do save, and whenever they fought fire they
conquered it; that the steamers could not get
to work under twenty or twenty-five minutes
and by that time the fire had such hold that
it was impossible to stop it. The most that
could be done WAS to save the adjoining
buildings, but Owe do save and properly
equipped could put out the fire before the
steamers had their steam up
At the close Of Mr.. Latham's remarks the
substitute offered by Maj. Dutfcy Was adopted
and J. r. Sherwood, II. Dobcy and \. j. We'd
dcrburn were appointed on the committee, and
by resolution the President and Treasurer were
added.
The following resolutions were then offered
and adopted: 80.
R,Yotrc,i That the president be authorized
to make application to the Fire Wardcns for
five hundred feet Of hose for this company.
Resofcnl, Thatthis company meet each Tues
day night until otherwise ordered
The meeting at 1915 adjourned to mcctncxt
Tuns1av niuht