The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-05-17
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Reply of the Cecil Mutual - Relative to
an Appropriation Asked for 1t.

Nix. EDIToR:-At Il meeting of the
Board of Managers of the Mutual Fire
Insurance COMPANY of Cecil County. on
Tuesday last. the 18th inst, a memorial
in writing. signed by a humber of re-
spectacle citizens of Elkton, the most of
whom are members of the Company. was
laid before them, asking an appropria
ton from the Board to aid the fire de
partment of the town i'll the purchase of
additional hose and otherwise improving
the fire apparatus of the place; which
application the Board felt themselves
unable to comply with.
In view of the interest the Company is
presumed to have in the preservation of
property from destruction by fire. the
application will to most minds seem to
be so reasonable and proper, it is due to
the members of the Board. to the gentle
men VIII" signed the memorial and to the
citizens generally to state in this public
manner the considerations which control
the Board in their action, or rather nom
action. in the premises.
The present is not the first occasion on
which the Board has been called upon
f,r similar purpose. Informal applica-
tons have heretofore come from ElktOn
and other towns within the territory COW
cred by the operations of the Company
and within the current year formal
written application came from EaSton,
Talbot county. after the disastrous fire
which visited that place III October last,
to all of which the Board have given care
full consideration. but have returned the
same reply.
In the first place. the Board of Mama
gers recognize themselves as possessing
but limited powers within their official
sphere The funds intruStcd to their
care are there under the provisions of the
Act of Incorporation and Bylaws for
the special purpose of remunerating MEM
berS of the Company who sustain loss or
damage by fire and for detraying the
necessary expenses Of the Company. but
for no other purpose. Donations of any
kind. however judiciouS or appropriate,
they conceive themselves without author
ity to make.
In the second place. if an appropriate
ton of 800 is made to Elkton or to EaS-
ton. there is no reason why calls for the
same or greater or lesser amounts may
not be made from Port Deposit. llavre de
Grace. North East Chesapeake City.
Rising sun. Centrevi!le. Denton, Sails
bury. Snow Hill, Princess Anne. and a
number of smaller towns within the ter
ritory covered by the operations of the
Company. in each of which we have nu-
merouS and heavy risks. And it needs
but little reflection to see that the door
once opened would not he easily closed.
Further. it is well to remember that
insurance on property i'll towns and vii
lagos. especially by companies that are
strictly mutual and at low rates. is al
ways made with the tacit understanding
that not only the party insured himself
and his neighbors and fellow -townSmen
but the public authorities of the place
where they are organized will not only
make every effort to resist the flames
when they break out. but will as far as
lies i'll their power provide the required
means of resistance before the necessity
arises: otherwise. insurance would not
be effected at all OF at much higher and
more remunerative rates of premium.
1t is also proper to remember that be
cause of this assumed understanding and
other considerations all classes of risks
are taken by the Company i'll the towns
of Ellton. Easton and other towns at
the same rate of premium charged upon
the same GLASS IF risks upon isolated
buildings in the country; and special ap=
preparations in aid of members in tie
towns would scarcely he lust to the rural
members. for we cannot forget that the
parties insured. and not the COMPANY
only. are deeply interested in resisting
the flames. as u margin of interest I'M
covered by the policy is always left in
the owner of the building.
Another cor,I,,7i=5,,ion mesen,s ItSeIl
w6icn1be managers regard as controlling
+o-,xit tbe strictly u1Itu,l character -,