Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-02-21

Editor Of State Journal Can any of
the members Of City Council tell why II
Is that II Il takes so much more to run
company in paid fire department they
expect the companies Of the volunteer
department to get along with ten or fifteen
hundred dollarsl
contend, and am ready TO prove, that
outside OF the pay Of the extra mes of
paid company it will take no more than q
volunteer company to run II. VIII It cost
any more to feed horses, to nay drivers,
TO furnish fuel for engines and houses, or
repairs to apparatus fer a paid company.
than It will for a volunteer Not one
cent Then we have only the pay of the
men it will take to handle the apparatus
to make II cost more than volunteer.
Two years ago the member Of Council
from the Fifth ward was one of the ring
leaders Of the bill that passed that body
at that time. and as he raised the point
when the committee reported upon the
petition from the Delaware Fire Co., that
as It was not accompanied by an esti.
mated cost, that It WAS not in order.
Does he remember that when the ordi-
nance was passed at that time there was
no estimated cost accompanying IL. But
he boldly asserted that It could be organ
lied and run for one wear on $50 600.
and now Ne tells us that the present esti
mate is too low. and that ii will cost
douhle what the committee reported
when at the present time both fire
apparatus and horses can be bought for
nearly one-halt what they could two
years ago. He puts IN as a plea for
opposing the measure ut this time that
the companies have become much more
efficient than they were thin. In what
way are they sol Is 1t by being more
In debt than thew were at that tine or is
it by members taking money out of their
own pockets to purchase necessities that
Council refuse to give them money
enough 10 buy. What ia the difference
between the department then and now ?
At this time we have one mole steamer
than we had then, and venture TO say
nst more than one hundred active mem
bers more. Then how is il somuch more
eflcientl The only reason | can assign
for his opposing this measure Is for
political effect at the coming campaign.
NAV be said that four companies are
not enough for the protection Of property
In this CITY. Whore has there been fire
here for the past twenty years that ioui
steamers would not have been sufficient
Take all the large fires that have occurred
for several years past, and what do We
sec 2 What was the resut at the shingl,
mill, at Barrett's mill, at the coach fac
tory, and the old factory at Front and
Tatnall streets Each time the buildings
were entirely destroyed Could they
have done any less with a paid depart
ment : What was the result in Other
cities. where there are large departments,
like Chicago, Boston and Baltimore. Did
they do any more with their large depart
30, baV q II d.
smaller one , Then look at these ctic'
with their large departments and tell IL,
four engines are not enough for us.
The members of Council who oppos,
this measure say they do so because o
the large sum it would take to start it
and put it as high as $50 900. That vii
do for them to say, but can ii ever III
started for any less than at this time.
The city owns 4 600 feet Of new hose
80 that will he good line for each com
pany, and nearly every company In th
department owe them from $500 4
$4,000. So | can't sDe when they cal
ever start pnid department chcdpo
than at the present time.
Where is there q member Of Guy Cpuu
Gil who, if any one of our fire compauie
ever stuck fast in the mud, that Won.
lake hold Of the apparatus and give
helping hand, or WtO, at the dead huu
Of night would respond to the alarm hel
and leave his peaceful couch, proceed {
The fire and there for three ur four houi
perhaps on cold winter might, toll
water up to hls knees and iun the rick {
life and limb, without any compensate
for the same Then gentlemen, why e-
Others to do what YOU " uuld moi you
selves Have some of the members VII
are fighting against Tins mcaEsre of n