The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-06-02
our Firo Department.

our Firo Department
IL has been asserted by many OF our
citizens that the city expenda too
much money on our fire department,
and that II costs more than any other
institution that We possess, In this
we bog leave 10 differ, and by permls-
sion OF our readers we will attempt 10
show that In reality II costs less, and
besides isa selt-sustalning institution.
liy referring 10 the city secretary's 70.
port for the last year II will be- seen
that the lire department Is charged
with money expended to the amount
OF S6,fO II. Now, at the frat glance,
this would seem like M enormous sum
without any rebate having been re-.
oeived but lot us see what that sum
was spent for, On information from
the chief we learn that twenty
three hundred dollars OF that amount
was used In purchasing hose, Now
this hose Ia bran new, and In as
good condition as when II arrived
here. II will last long time, sev-
eral years perhaps, and, therefore,
but portion of the twenty-three hun.
dred dollars can DO charged to the ex-
penses Of the department for last year.
Besides II there was no fire depart
ment In existence the hose would DO
necessary to use with the water works
In case OF fire, and Is the property OF
the city and portion OF her assets, as
much as the engine, the market house
or the city park. Therefore deducting
the amount paid for the hose from
the S0,479 IL we have left A,l79 II,
which has been expended for rents,
fuel, salaries, feed, repairs, ,eto Now,
this would DO u large sum to expend
on the department. but we think we
can show how the city is paid back for
that, 1t imperative on the city 8 part
to have teams to do the street work
the teams OF the fire department
have done and still do 1t. Dump carts
have been bought, and the city engin-
eer has worked tho teams and the
drivers Oh the street work. The fire
department wagons remove the oilal,
and also 90 around after the captured
CANNES. Now, II we had no depart.
ment, the city would be obliged TO hire
all this done, or buy and keep their
own teams. Therefore, we claim that
the fire department should have the
work they do placed to their credit.
We have three teams. These with
drivers and wagons are worth three
dollars and a half a day each. Say
they are employed three hundred days
in the year, this would amount to
SO, $50 per year. Besides this, the ser
vices rendered in putting out fires, the
reduction OF Insurance by fire insur-
ance companies, where good depart
ment exists, will altogether, overbal-
ance in value to the city, the sum ex
pended to keep up the department To
know exactly what fire department
costs a city, an account should be kept
of debit and credit, something after
this style;
The money expended for apparatus,
horses, rent, REPAIRS 30 much.
To interest on money invested In ap
paratus, building, etc.; 30 much.
CREDIT.
BY work done on streets, and In
other ways; 30 much. BY value of
on hand: 80 much. BY les
SEEMING insurance; 80 much; and when
the balance was struck, it would car
tainly DO largely in favor Of the de.
partment. The Dallas fire department
does not cost the city fifteen hundred
dollars year in actual money, If they
will allow them the same amount to
be placed to their credit for work per-
formed that 1t would cost TO hire il
done.
Death OF Rev. J. II, Reid.