Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-09-08

conduct and general department of its
members, impose heavy fines upon the
companies for violation of the rules, and
at the same time eappropriatea sufficient
amount to each company to make them
| efficient and creditable.
APPROPRIATIONS.
1t is very evident to your committee
that the annual appropriation OF four
hundred dollars to each of the steam
| fire companies is entirely too small, and
We consider that this was the amount
the department when the old hand en-
gines were still i'm use. For things have
changed since then; steam engines have
been substituted, and the cost of MAIN
tanning these engines is three times as
much as when the present appropria-
ton was made. And when we consider
the greatly increased cost of maintain
ing steam engines over the old hand
engines, the wear and tear of machinery
from steam power, the great expense of
repairing and keeping i'm order, it seems
surprising to us how our fire department
maintained itself with this amount,
notwithstanding the liberality of our
citizens. Should the present sys-
tenn be maintained, we would recon-
mend that the department consist of
five steam companies and one hook
and ladder company; increase the
appropriation for steam engine cOmpa-
nies from four hundred dollars to one
thousand dollars, and the hook and lad
der company from two hundred and
fifty dollars to six hundred dollars.
Compel each company to purchase
horses and hose, and assume all the ex-
penses pertaining to the needs and re-
uuirements of well-cOnducted fire
company: councils to elect chief and
assistant engineers the chief engineer
to receive a salary of three hundred
dollars: the assistants each two hun
dred dollars councils to prescribe rules
and regulations for governing the de-
partment.
The annual appropriation necessary
to meet the expenses of this system
would be:
For five steam engine companies. SHW.W
One hook and ladder comp.ny,........ tsOW
Two assistant engineers. 500 cicil,.... 10000
Total appropriation necessary, $4,000
We now appropriate to the depart
ment IS ,O5O. The amount here re-
commended would be an increase over
the present appropriation, by reducing
the companies to five'steamers, of 50 ,45O.
We must also take into consideration
that the city purchases all the hose in
addition with the amount apprOpri-
ated. With the amount increased the
companies will he compelled to purchase
the hose out of the annual appropria-
ton, should this system and plan be
adopted. We would also recommend
the adoption of an ordinance prohibit
ing companies from holding balls, fairs
or other entertainments for the support
of the companies of the department;
but these suggestions will come before
YOU when the time arrives for adopting
rules for the government of the depart
ment.
The Call System.
This system is in use in quite num-
Der of cities of our state. In the city of
Williamsport and the borough of Eas-
ton it appears to give general salts
faction. In Easton the department
consists Of two steam engines and two
hose carriages in active service, and one
engine and one hose carriage in reserve,
Each active company consists of one
foreman, one engineer, one fireman, one
driver of engine, one driver of carriage
and five hosemen. The reserve COM
pany consists of one foreman, one engi-
neer, one fireman and nine hOscmen.
The salaries paid the several officers
and employees are rs follows: