The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-01-23

Gentlenen q t.s Jaekso1. Ftre Derattn.gat

init my annual report to date, and reviewing
the past year congratulate you upon your
successes in preserving from destruction the
valuable property of our feliow-citiZens.
Especially thankful 70 kind providence
that has been ever watchful over US in that
protection. without which our efforts would
have been futile; and we should congratu-
late ourselves who have stood the heat and
burden of the day " that we close the year
with such favorable auspices 10 ourselves
and 70 those who have looked TO us for pro-
lection. Taking the statistics OF other towns
AID cities our record shows less loss by ire
than any other OF equal population, of which
we nave knowledge, and the amount OF loss
Is so small in proportion 10 the value OF city
and State property that it is hardly worth
mentioning and would not be reported but
TO snow what can be done for protection of
property BY = properly organized and
efficient department.
Our department has been quick, prompt
and untiring, and to each OF the companies
| hereby tender my Warnest thanks. and
feel that can do 50 for an approaching pub
lie, who have witnessed their obedience 10
order and efficiency in the performance OF
duty and their self-sacrificng efforts to sub
serve the interest of their feIlOW-citiZens;
and to Independent Hope Company, No. 3 /
tender my thanks for their hearty and
efficient cooperation. in every thing pertain
ing to the discharge OF their duties as fire.
men and law-abdiDg citizens, always seek
ing to be controlled by their own and officers
of the department. The officers and men OF
this company have my warmest cOmmenda-
ton and cheer them with the thanks OF
greatful public for their efforts in the pro-
lection of the property OF their friends and
fellow citizens, and, trust that their efforts in
the past Will be Incentives 10 no5ler deeds
in the future.
The finances Of the department have been
wonderfully improved by the liberalty OF
the State and city, incum btred as it was by
accumulated and accommodating debts; is
mem bers taxed beyond their ability ahd
duty, had become greatly diSc0ur-- eH, but
in due time the State and city, seeing the
protection given 10 public and private prop
erty, stepped forward and gave their aidand
countenance. And this feel is not all in due
time as the eAlgenCles OF the department re
quire it, neither OF them will withhold the
necessary funds to perfect it in ali its miuu-
tea and efficiency; and just here feel Tiny
duty to state That the State OF Mississippi,
the blessed old State of our choice and nagiY-
ity, has never withheld from our departma mt
the appropriations asked tor by it, and ha,
always said If this is rot enough you shall
have more. We have known you long aud
appreciate the valuable service, you nave
rendered the State, in the protection of her
property and archives.
In addition to the apparatus heretofore III
possession OF the department, have been
added TO it the beautiful Hook and Ladder
Truck OF that active and efficient company.
= Pearl Hook aud Ladder Company, No. J."
(Which company have attcsted their zeal and
work on more occasions than one) TINS COM
pany should have been equipped long ago. +
but delay appeared to follow their every |
effort, but nothing dauntcd they have sur.
mounted all obstacles, and now present
themselves to the department, j gem OF
beauty and an auxiliary to be relied upoH
This Company now presents itself To your
department with its third piece Of "appara- I
tus." The first not filling the contract, was /
rejected; the second was wrecked in trdnstta I
from New York; the third you have re- /
corded with you. Ii this i not testimony OF I!
the earnest of these devoted Young men OF 7.
- Pearl Hook and Ladder CO.. No. - then /
at your annual meeting in January, say TO /
them for me to form an Independent COM f.
pany-that your zeal Is not commensurate /
with the demands OF our department. But /
in whatever position this noble band of
young men may be placed it will always (
respond To its motto & Deeds-nOt Words " /
responding to the Old Mother of Companies,
always Ready" Answering TO the echo (
of that lightning company, " Gem No. ," /
- Here We Are will assure them that they
are amongst the friends that appreciate their
self-sacr1icing labOrs, With the comPan-
les now organized and in active service, and /
with the apparatus now in use and being /
perfected and enlarged. under ordinary cir (
cumstances, we feel that we are ready and |
know willing to attempt the discharge OF
our duty under any circumstances and in /
any emergency.
The appropriations made bV the State aud /
city.have all been paid to date, and have and /
will be appropriated to the different com /
panies as directed by the law making these /.
appropriations, all of which have been judi /
ciously ex pended, as far as received, in the /.
purchase of frst-class apparatus, and in the .
equipment of the different companies. / /
would recommend that the funds now due 1
the different companies be expended, the /
larger proportion of il in the purchase of /
tirst-class hose; without It tie department. (
cannot be relied upon. Some OF the CON- l.
panies have not sufficient, and part OF what \
they have is very inferior.
When the appropriation asked for by our (
department from the State was made, the /
amount asked for was 81 800, but the com /
mittee to whom it was referred. only re- /
ported 81 900; at the same time the city WAS /
ordered to be taxed $1,000 Your committee /
would have eXerted itself to have had the /
whole amount allowed, but it was so late in 4
the session that it was thought best to let .
that amount stand than To run the risk OF
losing the bill. l therefore suggest thar
you appoint committee to memorable the /
Legislature to appropriate the additional /
$500 heretofore asked for and needed, and TO /
deduct the whole amount appropriated to {
the protection of her property and archives /
from accruing interest now due and coming .
due from the deposits of all insurance com /
panies. Having made deposits with the I
State Treasurer for the privilege OF doing B
business in this State the amount of assess /
ment to be made pro rata upon the amount 4
so deposited with the State.
| make this statement because the insur- !
ance companies doing business in this State /
both foreign and domestic, have not paid to /
the department a dollar for its support /
directly or indirectly TO my knowledge
whilst they have received the benefit OF pro-
lection upon the property insured by them /
under our jurisdiction.
i would also recommend a strict enforce /
ment of the law prohibiting stove-pipes /
passing through the sides and tops eff houses, /
and require them to be safely placed in good I
and substantial fueS or chimnies; many /
houses are burned by them. L would also /
recommend that the people be urged nor 10 4
take up ashes in wooden boNeS-houSeS +
have been known to burn from this cause (
more than two weeks after these boxes of /
ashes have geen set away. Iron buckets are /
the only safety.
l would recommend to the Companies to I
abolish onerOuS taxation upon the mem /
bership, aud where members had served five (
wears faithfully. to put them upon retired 4
list, only requiring their labor at fires. L I
would also suggest me Improperly OF giving /
general alarm Of IRE upon the burning of a /
chimney many persons burn their chlmneys /
in wet weather to make an alarm, il worries +
the iremen needIessly and lowers the dig
nifty of the department.
The losses in the city by fire during the
past year, As near as | can approximate, Is /
twelve thousand dollars ($I2000.) This IS I
but moity involved directly or indirectly /
in the fires that have occurred. upon some /
occasions, 1t would appear that whole blocks /
WOulu NC SNduo"eh up ny bie doNOulth S /
flames, but upon every occasion you were /
equal to the emergency, promptly on hand |
and saved from destruction that directly /
involved in the fire and that contiguous /
thereto-performing deeds of valor and skill, i
excelled nowhere by our brother firemen.
| would further recommend that a COM /
mite be appointed to confer with the city 1
authorities, 30 ascertain if it would not be to 4
the mutual interest of both city and Fire 4
Department, that the city purchase fine /
Snan of ..mnleS 70 Ln work ON The streets. :