Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-02-13
PAID FIRE DEPARTM ENT.
The Subject Discussed byl Council.
Mr.. Pickles Obje 10 the charge On the
grOunU Of expense.
Mr.. Hay es doubts the ex pediency oi
the change.

MR. BAKER WISHES TO BE "PLAoKD On RECORD As |
PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT MAN.
some few weeks ago, the Delaware s. F. L. |
Company sent to the CITY Council petition pray
ing tor the establishment OF II Paid Fire Depart
meut which was referred 10 the Committee on
Fire Companies, This committee returned .
favorable report the petition but as 1t contain
ed no estimated cost of the proposed change as re-
auired by the rules OF CouAci, the subject was
farther continued. Last night, majority ef the
COMMITTEE again reported favoraoly, estimating
the cost OF establishment, at S2o0oo, ana the an
mud cest OF In maintainunce at $50, 900. This re-
port was sned by Messos. Jas, X. Phillips, John
q. Baker and g. u. Underwood
The minority OF the committee presented the
following report
TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COUNCIL.
Ger.tieG.sa The minority OF your COMMITTEE
on Fire CompauIes respectfully oitsr this US NIL
Monty report On tina subject fsred to them from
the Delaware s. F. r. Company, No. :, and recon-
mend that the prayer Of the petitioners be not
eeRctyed IN, Tor TIE following reasons
lst.-Because our Fire Department Is efficient,
IN every respect, second to none IN efhcency ether
paid OF volunteer, in the fitted States, we'll To-
Gated ior the advantages of all or any part OF the
city, with good, substantial and commodious
buildings and eqaipments qualifying them tor
action, promptly snd speedily, when summoned.
2I-Because the financial condition oil the city
does not admit OF such expense as would. be,
incurred or created In establishing Pald Fire
Department, even 1t the number oi steamers as
new existing, belreduced 10 four or five, together
with the annual expense Tor Tue maintainance
therefore.
3d-Eecause we are Of the opinion that q Paid
Fire Department cannot be established, even with
four steamers and one truck complete, with sults-
BILE buildings, tor less than $4,000, or <5OOo0,
with an annual outlay thereafter Tor maintaipance
of the same, of at least $4,000.
4th.-That while we have an Efficient olunteer
Fire Department, with buildings and equipments
complete, perhaps better in many respects than
would be Uy the Organization OF tire department,
with buildings and equipments complete, with the
Organization OF each company on good and LIBERAL
basis well systeInatised and managed by good and
reliable citizens, we hold that for the safety Of our
cityfrom the ravages o. FIRE 6end Council should
not act or egisate to agilate questions calculate
cd to marthe harmony OF, or impede the usefulness
otany Company but should do all hugs calculated
10 harmonlze and encourage the companies, as
now existing, and should without hesitation, give
them the appropriation asked tor ~ 900 each Der
annuIn) amounting in the aggregate to Sl4 900
tor tho steamers now IN use, and sSoo for tue Hose
Company. By such action, the Companies would
feel that they were appreciated and would go en-
their good work rejoicing.
Nsa X. h IAYLoR,
NV. L. GILBERT,
Mr.. Taylor moved the adoption OF tue
minority report
Mr.. Picke els said that wnen a Paid Fire
Department was tirst advocated, he was
strongly In favor ofthe change. But since
then, the volunteer Fire Department mad
grestly improved, IL now III excellent con-
dition, and Is as good a one as can tie had.
Rut tue financial condition of the city, will
not admit of the establishment of Paid
Fire Department at present, and for this
reason. alone, he would vote for the minor
ity report. Ever, ,iolar which can be col
lected during 1874 VIII be needed to meet
current xpensu>.
Mr.. teblger thought that MIR. Pichels
obi ecticns did not amount To much; an or
diuance providing Tor tho change might be
passed now, but II need not go into eHect
for year or more.
Mr.. Pickles thought IL wouid be oniair to
bind the action of iutnre Council, in this
manner. -#
Mr.. Hayes Thought il was NOT good policy
TO agitate a change which could not 90 into
effect for year or more. Ii the ma jorty
report was adopted, il wonld have The effecl
OF Keeping the fire companies in a slate o.
turmoil and confusion until the change was
effected, which would certainly DO danger
Gus to the safety of the city from the raw
ayes of ire. He also considered the estimate
presented by tho majority OF the committee
much TOO low, and thought 1t would cost
twice SIS, coo 10 establish a Paid Fiie De
partment, composed OF four steamers anC
one truck, properly equipped ana housed
Mr.. Adams Thought That the suhlec
should be carefully considered, and moved
apostponemept until the tirst meeting IL
June next. Lost.
IL
as Paid Fire Department man. He at
mitted the efficiency of on: volunteer sys
ten, but thought change was needed. A
lire, he said, Is a nuisance, and munlcipa
organi zatlon is generally authorized to abat'
ali nuisances. Yet our present fre depart
ment presents the strange anamoly of ar
Institution supported by the city, yet en-
tlrely independent Of the body from which
it derives iis support. Every department
ofa municipal organization should bs sub
m, ha a
sents the Taxpayers. Who would think o.
organizing the street, health or police de
psrtments on the same basis with the hr'
department.
Mr.. Baker further said that rates o
insurance were less, pro rata In cities " hici
supported Paid Fire Departments. than II
cities where volunteer organizations exist
Cd Wilmington, he said, does not stanC
nrst on tho National Board OF Underwriters
list of rates. lie had known OF instance
deIpbia and New i ork amounted 10 bpt s
cents on the 500, while in Wilmington tn
rata is 81 25 on the 500. He further advo
1 Gated that the proposed change embodie'
fHe' pripcipiPs of true economy, and tina
Aremen should be employed Jsls city
and maid for their work.
Mr.. HAYES asserted that the fins ncia con
/ diilon of the city would not az mi OF IN
proposed change, which would cost Q
least SIS, 600 or SS0, 900. In Nsshvi 10, Tenn
a city similar to Wilmington In si.e, Pal
Fire Department consisting OF four stean
engines and one truck, each controlled b.
eIrht men. cost for mantainancs durin
1878, $37 ,677 81 or about S490 per montf
and IS, $50 per year for each company, 4
Baltimore, last year, 1t cost sl4s,ssl 20
ing OF ten steam engines and three truck
or Sll. .453 % for each company. The expens
Of a Paid Fiie Department, asserted M
Hayes, is always Ave or six times gre.t'