Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-01-25
GO As you
That In the Ultimatum Of the County
Commissioners.


That II the UItimatum of h County
Commissioners.
The Board of Fire Delegates met last
night to hear the reply of the County Com
m~issioners, which was read by the Secre-
tary, and was as follows:
EUREKA, January "a, 1880.
To Messrs. James E. Anderson, B. F.
McEwen and r. Sadler, Committee Of the
Board Of Fire Observation-Disclosures In
response to the action Of the Board Of Del
egates. submitted to us by its Secretary,
we beg leave to submit the following: As
regards the appointment Of q
FIRE WARDEN,
We desire to state that under the present
condition of the finances Of the Fire and
Town Funds, it would be impossible to
create such an Office, with o salary at
tached, having no funds on hand. Wefnd
the expenditures on account OF the Fire
Department, from the LIST day Of January,
1879, to date, amount to 1851 GO also,
donated by the Relief COMMITTEES 81 500,
making a total expenditure for the Depart
ment, since the LIST day Of January, 1879,
SIC, DOL 68 a sum greater than has been
expended since the organization OF the Fire
Department in the own of Eureka.
When we take into consideration the
revenue derived from the levy OF one-fourth
per cent, amounting to $4,O00, and the
same mount from the Town Fund, making
a total of s. $1,000, you will at once see the
folly Of creating uch an Office. In fact,
the Sheriff's police and the Digbt-watch
are instructed to perform the duties that
a Fire Warden would be required to do,
there being sufficient money in the Police
Fund to pay the salaries Of those officers
promptly. While we find our Fire Fund
not only exhausted of the levy of 1879, but
outstanding warrants against the levy of
1880 amount to 81. 342 80. Taking last
years levy as q basis of $4,000, we have a
balance for the present year to draw from
amounting to 81 ,657 IS, with no money in
the Town Fund.
THE FIRE PLUGS
There appears to be a few individuals
finding fault and trying to make cheap
capital out of the action Of the Board in
to the fire plugs. We wish to call
their attention to the fact that the Board
placed the care Of the plugs in precisely
the same hands where they found them,
and where they have been for the last five
years, viz in the care of the Water Com
pany. Why have We not had this great
wrong ventilated long ago? For five long
years we have not heard one word OF objec-
ton to the Water Company taking care of
the fire plugs. Some of those gentlemen
talk about putting the care Of the plugs in
the hands of responsible parties. Now,
can we put them in the hands of q more
party than we have already
Is not the Water Company COM
posed Of responsible persons? 1t would
be inferred from the action Of a few men
that the Fire Department had been re-
from using the water from the
plugs but such is not the case. and there
is no likelihood that it ever will be. The
different companies have the privilege at
any time of using the water for fire pur-
poses, or for practice, washing apparatus.
etc. And the Water company will make
objections, but will render them all the
they possibly can.
The Water Company will carry out the
provisions of their contract with the Board
to the letter, and whenever they fail we
have the penalty in our W hands, as we
can withhold their pay. So we are unable
to see why the company is not as response
BILE as any party we could put in charge OF
the fire plugs.
When the Water Company refuses the
fire companies water, then it will be tim
to raise such questions. The
Board, in their contract with the Water
Company, did the best thing they could,
not only for the Fire Department, but for
the town generally.
The Company did not wish to take charge
and keep in repair the fire plugs, and prin-
on that very question the matter
for nearly a non before the con-
tract was signed by both parties, and in
having the care OF the fire plugs embodied
in the contract, we at the time. and We do
now, consider it a matter of very great
economy for the town TO employ the Water
Company to attend to the plugs.
In case of a plug being broken, or any
Of it out of repair, the Board
would be compelled to employ some COM
cest we now pay. The Board has had a
number of plugs repaired, and always at
expense of from $40 to $50, but as the
contract now stands, the Water Company
are bound to keep the plugs in good repair
and in thorough order.
For these and other reasons, we shall de-
cline to interfere with the present contract,
or that part Of 1t in relation to the care OF
the plugs.
THE FIRE ORDINANCE.
There is another question to which we
wish to call the attention Of your Commit
tee. You are all aware that the action of
the Board, in consolidating the different
fire companies, was merely an experiment.
In accordance with an Act Of the Legisla-
ture; and, we are sorry to say, the benet-
cial results to the department have net
come up to our expt citation !; and we are
under the impression that q majority of
the tiremen would prefer to resume their
former position as independent companies.
This matter we have given some study,
and shall advocate the repeal OF the ordin-
ance consolidating the companies, and al
low each one to resume its former indie
pendence, believing that it will be benef-
cial to the harmony Of the department,
and also a matter Of economy.
And, in conclusion, will say that the en-
tire Board of Commissioners have on all
occasions and at all times, if in their
power, responded without a murmer And
there never has been any opposition to
allowing money for fire purposes when 1t
was in the fund, or could be had.
Yours most respectfully,
A. W. CAMPBELL,
B.. J.. TURNER.
The Secretary stated that the Commits
sioners had informed him verbally that
thew were willing to submit the question
fha Aanarnanf IN the