The daily gazette., 1881-06-08
THE FIREMEN's CONVENTION.
Adjourned Meeting Last Evening
Preambles and Resolutions.

ton engine house, pursuant to a call
OF The Committee on Resolutions,
William Hanna presided.
All the delegates were present ex !.
cept those of the Delaware aud Fame
Hose, the delegates of the former
company having to attend company
meeting.
The Secretary stated that several
prominent citizens had informed him
that the following petition against
districting the city was being circu-
lated for signatures.
We, ,be under signed citizens of
Wilmington, Del, respectfully re-
monstrate against the passage Of the
proposed ordinance for the division
ef the city into FIVE districts, on The
ground that 1t would destroy the
volunteer department, and cause
needless expense to the tax payers Of
the city.
Mr.. Duffy of the Reliance thought
that 1t would be well for the conven-
tion to endorse the remonstrance.
Several of the members thought
that 1t was not worded strong enough
and the motion to endorse the re
mQnstrance was voted down.
Subsequently remonstrance was
prepared by the Committee on Reso
lu.ions and submmitted TO the con-
vention. 1t was adopted, and the
secretary instructed to have one hun
dred copies printed and circulated
for sigma .ures.
On motion Mr.. Duffy the preamble
and resolutions adopted at a meet
ing of the convention on Wednes-
day evening last were gwen to the
reporters, and ordered to be present.
ed to Council at the proper time.
They are as follows:
To the Honorable, the Mayor and
Council of the City Of Wilmington.
GEsTLEMEN.-Your petitioners, rep
resenting the appended five companies Of
the city, have,sG me stiDg held Oh We'd
nesday evening, June lst, adopted the
following p Gamble and resolution con-
cerning matters of great importance TO
our 6re department, and they respectfully
crave the favorable attention Of your
Honorable be iy :, this same:
WHEREAS, The Volunteer fire depart
ment of the city of Wilmington.
Delaware, Is recognized by authorities
In fire matters as one ofthe mot prompt,
efficieus and reliable IN the country; aud
90 IL is conducted on principles of econo-
my to the citisens, and insures safety, to
there proI >rty, far as it can be insured
by any five system; aud rs 1t 10 Q recog-
nizsd source Of pride to the city, and of
rivalry to the departments of the leading
cities OF the land, therefore
Resolued, First,b by this convention that
while all Improvements, Qncluding the
introduction Of the new five alarm tele-
graph system), conducive to the ad-
vancement of the present system ss now
maintained by the departmental highly
novations looking to revolution In the
present system should be made.
Second. That we as volunteer firemen
are earnest y oppt ID to redistricting of
the city as proposed by Mr.. William q.
Blake, Chairman of the Fire Committee
of your Honorable body, for the follow
ing reasons:
That, in the first place, the proposed
change Is totally unn cetsary, as under
,he present rules Of the department, ANY
unnecessary att sndance OF steamers to a
Ere can be p'omptly checked by the
orde1l Of the Chief Engineer.
In this connection we r. pectfully call
attention to rule Of the rules for the
government o. the department, VIZ: In
case of fire outside OF the city limits, but
IN the vicinity tae following companies
may attend until further notice: North
side of Fifth street, Friendship, Della
ware, Phoenix and Water Witch; south
side of fifth street, Reliance, Fame,
Washington and Weccacoe. This rule,
we would respectfully suggest, Is not
only deemed sufficient by the depart
ment, but is satisfactory to the citizens
generally.
Third. We consider, (and In this
opinion we are largely supported by the
tax payers of the city, that the division
OF the city into districts, would, by des-
troying the enthusiasm, friendly rivalry
OF the different companies eventuate in
the destruction OF the volunteer DEPART
ment, and the substitution of paid one,
which would be mucn less efficient, and
at the same Time much more expensive.
We would respectfully suggest, to
your Honorable body that, in view of
the IRE alarm system, signal boxes
should be established that an alarm
will be Immediately communicated to
the chief and his assistants.
While speaaing of the Department,
we would respectfully further suggest
that, through motives both of courte-
sy and economy, he should be official
ly consulted, in reference to any con-
templated charges in the workings OF
the department.
Another suggestion which as prac-
tical tiremen We think we can make to
your Honorable body, with the assur-
ance that it will be given due consid-
Grafton, is In regard to the annual in.
spection Of the department by City
Council. As it is present conducted
the companies are notified of the exact
time when the inspection will take
place, and have every opportunity to
make extra preparations. Would it
not be better that the inspections
should be made, without any warning
whatever, either by the officers of the
department, the fire committee of
Cooncil, or any duly representatives
Of the city governmentp
In conclusion, we would respectfully
reiterate our opinion that the division
of the city into districts would surely
result in the disruption of the yolun-