The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-22
Plea for an Enjyine.

Mr.. EDITOR: The result of the meeting
recently held to consider the propriety OF
the Town Council purchasing fire appa-
ratus but illustrates the utter futility Of
such procedure. Whilst the motive that
prompted the Town Council to call the
meeting is not impugned, yet its expediency
and the necessity for it is questioned.
The need of a fire apparatus of some kind
is known and felt by all. This being true,
why leave the selection of particular kind
to meeting composed Of rnen differing as
much in preference and opinion as they do
in their faces. Can any definite conclusion
be reached? The Council can't comply
with the wants of all the taxpayers, and,
judging from the meeting referred to, they
will not become reconciled to any other
apparatus than their own personal prefer
ence, and hence the impossibility of accom-
plishing what was intended by the meeting.
So the call of the meeting for the purpose
| designated was not expedient.
The citizens of the Town every year elect
o Council to:rpreside over and protect the
interests Of the Town. They are presumed
to be men in whose ability and good judg-
ment they have the utmost confidence, or
else they would not occupy the positions.
Why then should they consult the will of
the people about that which in their own
judgment is necessity, and which comes
clearly within the province Of their duties,
namely, the protection of the property Of
the Town. It is certainly not expected of
them, if so we had better abolish the sys-
tenn, and let the Town government be man
aged directly by the people; hut I don't be.
ieve that majority of the taxpayers desire
to be consulted about such matters, and
having placed the reins of Town govern
ment in the hands of the Council, they are
willing to leave them there. The Town
Council have the right, and should consult
their own judgment as to their duties, and,
having done so, they can rest satisfied, con-
scious of duty done, and have The assurance
that the people, if dissatisfied, can have re-
dress at the ballot-bo1. There was then no
real necessity for the meeting.
Our Town is utterly destitute of any
means to extinguish fire, and. I might say,
destitute of the hope of ever securing efec-
tive means, if the Council are to be gov
erned by the results Of said meeting. 1t is
to be hoped that such will not be the case.
The meeting was attended by not more than
one-third of the property-holdsrs, and only
four Of these expressed any opinion. 1t
was comparatively failure, and the
whole matter should remain in the hands
of the Council, who have the authority to
act, guided, of course by their best judg-
ment. They have during the past two
terms managed the affairs Of the Town with
great credit to themselves and to the Town.
They have reduced taxation fifty per cent;
relieved themselves OF all Indebtedness;
placed the walks and streets of the Town in
splendid condition, and, as the next Town
election is near at hand, if they are to give
place to others, how fitting it would be to
leave to the Town magnificent fire engine
as monument of their usefulness and as o
means of securing protection to the lives
and property of its citizens.
,JUNIus