The daily gazette., 1883-07-11
DailaAiaEbAG Gnzrtte
wIImINoros. WEDNESDAY,, JULY II.
Prospecrs of a Paid fire Department.

PrO@pects OF q Vatu ElFe Dop@'"'7
The action of the Water Witch s. F. E.
Company, Monday evening, in deciding to
disband on September is material step in
the direction of a paid fire department for
Wilmington, and it need not surprise anyone
II the change is effected within the next few
years.
While a paid fire department is bound to
come, it is q feature of municipal govern
ment that we believe our people would like |
to do without for a long while. The change |
will involve considerable expense, and
while paid system is undoubtedly the best
for large cities we very much doubt that
ffemen could be procured to do for pay |
the work that is now done SO promptly and
successfully by our volunteers, whose ser
vices are freely given to the people as
labor of love.
The Water Witch Company has been
greatly hampered of late years, by lack OF
proper facilities, aud the intention OF the
members to erect new engine house was
wise and timely They could not, however,
accomplish this improvement without ma
terial assistance from City Council aud the
DuDlt, anu Ms bOtu W ASePSAN "
their urgent appeai for aid, they became dis
heartened and have about determined to
disband.
Whether or not this determination of the
Water WITCH Company will affect the Wee
cacoe members, who are in precisely
similar position, remains to be seen, but GER
tain it is that the foolish action OF Council
in Withholding necessary aid from three
deserving tire companies has struck a sericu Ut
blow at the efficiency OF the department.
Heretofore the iremen have firmly opposed
all steps looking TO the introduction OF the
paid system here, but when they become in
different even to the continuance OF theii
organizations the innovation will not long
be delayed.
taid Dire departments were notintroduced
in Philadeph and New York until tnost
cities were many times larger than Whining
ton now is, and there is no doubt that }
would be better for Wilmington to continue
under the volunteer system for tn
next ten or fifteen years. Our de
partment has been justly recognize
As one OF the most efficient and orderly i
the country, and paid department coul
not do The same work AT twice the cost.
cripple competent arm Of our municipa
service simply to conform to a strained con
struction OF the city charter was unneces
sarily foolish, and in the end is likely TO COS
the city more every year than the small sun
recently asked as temporary loan.
OUR GENIAL contemporary, Every EUen
ing, might have spared Itself The trouble c
It's very 1ull explanation OF Councils var
GUS actions upon the appropriation ord
nance, in yesterdays issue, as the GAzETT
fully understands all that has been done
the matter and is we'll aware tht
when the last amendment TO IL
ordinance was passed the few items tn
were raised were kept within the limit
the sums established by the original orc
nance, passed early in June. Our neig
Dor, however, tails TO disproVe T.
GAzETTE's assertion thai Councils aetit
upon the appropriation ordinance Was :
unwise move and established dangero
precedent. To alter the figures in any W
after they are legally adopted is bs
enough, but to increase any item, at al
time or under any pretexL, except IN t
manner specially provided in the city chs
ter is clearly illegal and without warrai
We also believe that Councils action
last Thursday night was utterly indeiensil
IRON the tact that after the Mayors veto
the amending ordinance was s.
tanned the ordinance was as "dC
as Heetor,' and the introduction
new measure thereby rendered necessa
Instead, however, Council proceeded
amend the vetoed ordinance as though
was up Tor final consideration, and after
that has been done it is doubtful il the G
Treasurer has authority TO honor CHI
charged TO single one OF the appropriate
for the fiscal year ending june 30, 1854.
THE New YORK Herald is of the opin
that the grain crops OF TIL Northwest
the month OF July, have too much vita
to be seriously affected by any temperat
higher than one that is decidedly frost-b'
ing, and it is well known that the deposit
OF frost requires both lower air teinperat
and a colder soil than are to be iount
at this period in any part OF
West except on the Rocky Mountain |
eaus. in TACT, so far from the low temp
ture of the Northwestern "cool way
being uniavorable to the crops al
period, they serve to condense the wa
vapor in tie atmosphere and thus to rel
the earth with needed rains. AS proc
this the Signal Service Saturday rel
show that as the "cool wave" entered
lake region ON that day and the day prev
fine rains fell, amounting to from L.
1.48 inches at the Michigan stations,
inches at st. Paul, and various lig
amounts over wide area of the surro
ing country.
~-s---
FoRTUNATELY our people have got tt
selves down to a belief In the ohsolute
tainty of defeat whenever the Quick
play an Interstate club, SO that the r'
tion of the news occasions no disapp
ment. A report of victory would be
credited until the official score arrived.
-
THE New YORK World lavors the STR
investigation of the Star Route rascal
,,batbar apU