Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-08
BOARD OF

The Board of Aldermen met in regular
session last night, President McCrea in the
chair.
VETO OF TIE FIRE ALARN BILL.
The following message from the Mayor,
vetOing the fire alarm telegraph bill, was
read and received:
MAYORS MESSAGE.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, April I, 1S74.-To
the Hon. City Council Of Nashville: Gen
\ tlemen: The bill entitled ssan act to build
a fire alarm telegraph in the city is now
before me. From best information we
learn that this great enterprise and system
of fire alarm telegraph has beea established
in all the large, and many of the smaller
cities, in the United States, and has been
found of great utility in effect, and a great
auxiliary to the extinguishment of fires,
and l would state that so far as am con-
cerned, l am very much in favor Of the sys-
tenn, and would be pleased to see it estab-
lished in Nashville if our corporation was
only able to bear the outlay contemplated
by the bill. And, further, l agree and ac-
cord to the system all of its virtues and ad-
vantages, but the bill proposed to expend
the sum of $4,000, which amount is pro-
posed to be raised by our increase or inn
posing an additional tax TO that which is
already considered by many as being large
and burdensome. 1t is true that the bill
only proposes to increase the taxes one mill
on the dollar, but to some personst that would
be considerable, to others not so much so,
and should the bill become a law, the tax
would have. to be uniform, and apply to
every one in proportion to the mount Of
realty he possesses.
1t is urged by some who favor the adop-
tion of this system of alarm telegraph,
that it will operate to cause the insurance
companies to reduce their rates of insur-
ance but | regard that assertion as being
n without foundation, so far as l am in
formed and can learn. Should the bill be-
come a law, l give it as my opinion that 1t
would not reduce the insurance n cent.
Some of the insurance companies could
then, as well as they have already done,
form a ring or combination and resolve that
they would not insure any property except
at certain rates, and all those who are COM
PEELED to insure would have to comply with
the terms proposed by them, and the best
reasons why they would do so are, that
they are now doing it. In my opinion
the fire alarm telegraph system would
be of considerable advantage to the in
suranee companies, and thus believing, i
thought that probably, through a spirit of
m~agnanimity, they combined would sub
scribe several thousand dollars, and hence
1 communicated officially with them, re-
queSting that they would assist the corpora
ton to establish the system, but they de-
clined to do so, but they admitted it to be
a good system, and, as they were no. willing
to donate, and had they any idea of re-
ducing their rates of insurance, then, it
seems to me, wonld have been the most
suitable time for hem to have assured the
people of Nashville that they would reduce
their rates in case the system was estab-
lished. When l recommended the fire
alarm telegraph to the Council at the be-
ginning of the municipal year, l had no
idea that it would cost the city exceeding
twelve thousand dollars, although
l had heard it intimated that
probably it could be had for less, and l IN
vet willing to see the Corporation spend
$4,000 for its accomplishment, if it can be
done for that amount. In my belief the
financial condition of the Corporation is
not in such a condition at present to war
rant the spending of S22,5OO for such pur-
pose, and l do not think that just at this
lAALCs dlN4 ~ AAAC ACClo VI a EANal IA
panic, that there should be any greater bur-
den Of taxes placed upon the people, for a
purpose, that is
NOT ESSENTIALLY NECESSARY,
and which car, very well be done without
for a few years to ome Asain, it is urged
by some that the bill should become the
law. for the reason that il would be a pro-
lection to property of those who live on the
outskirts and suburbs of the city and
who are so remote from the present
engines, etc. In reply to that argument, L
would state that, from personal observation,
perhaps l am as well acquainted with such
portions of the city as any nan in it, and |
now make the assertion that if a fire were
to occur in the greater portions of the SUI
burbS of the city that, in the first place, the
streets are in such miserable condition that
a fire engine could not get within a gunshot
of many Of the residences which il is claim
ed would be be benefited by the alarm sys-
TEN. And in the second place, if the en-
gines could get to them over the streets,
there are none or very few water plugs from
which TO get water to use in case of fire.
Therefore, that kind of argument looks very
much like putting the cart before the horse,
instead of the horse before the cart. Should
We adopt the system andipay the proposed
stipulated amount | sincerely believe that
the matter Of expense would not stop at
that. AS must necessarily follow there
would be additional expenses of money
which might be denominated Incidental,
such as looking after the wires and fixtures
repaired, and such matters as are not fore
seen, and that can only be seen and met as
they may from time to time arise, but
which, in the end, would probably be Of
considerable cost to the city. As our differ
ent fire engines are now arranged and on a
line through the center of the city, reach
ing from the extreme north to almost the
southern portion of the city, it would seem
to me that there could be no difficulty in
getting at once any
ALARM OF FIRE
given within three-fourths of the area
of the CITY. It, therefore, seems
to me then that that portion Of the city
which seems to be the farthest off and less
protected is the seventh ward and West
Nashville, or a good portion of the tenth
ward lying beyond the Chattanooga depot.
If am, therefore, correct in this position, l
would respectfully suggest whether or not
it would not be a matter of economy, and
without additional taxation, to establish in
the seventh ward a reel, hose and alarm
bell, which bell in case of fire could be
heard at the engine house on College Hill,
and so TO the tenth ward. One or two alarm
bells could likewise be located in that por-
ton so as to answer all purposes. But as
a matter of economy, and in view of the
act that the city is rapidly growing and
extending in the tenth ward and that di-
r~ectiOn, l believe that the city will sOon
have to
GET ONE ADDITIONAL ENGINE
TO be stationed and used in that direction,
andfor four or five thousand dollars, an eff
Gent double-Streamed engine could be pur-
chased.
Gentlemen, in conclusion, l would re-
mind you that we have been so far, of the
present year, exceedingly liberal in our ex-
penditures, and it is now getting time hat
we should ssgo slow" We have already
spent a great deal inlaying down water and
gas pipe, building and repairing streets, but
these were much needed and demanded by
the people. And if we have money to
spend or wish to increase the taxes, let it be
done for the purpose of giving the people
good streets, sewers, and plenty of water,
because these are needed, and l do not be-
lieve that they will complain at that. l
ha1so-a 4Lot 4hn ap,orrnr acl-aA fnr and tha