Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-10-12

us to furnish him with three new COM
panies and engines, 80 new hydrants,
$500 feet of new hose for the present
companies and Il general overhauling of
the fire-alarm system and a great many
new boxes, and to increase each present
company to nine men,. While our per-
sonal feelings are in favor of the compli-
ance with this request in part, we must
look at the cost and determine where the
money is to come from to foot the bills.
A careful estimate shows that the cost of
the items asked for in the chiefs commu-
n~ication will cost as follows:
8 new engines at $1,000 each. SIS, 900
5OOO feet OF hose at 81 per foot ......-........-.. 5000
: new hose-carriages at $3.50 each..-~......~. $3.50
Il new horses Y each engine and carriage)
SIS, 900
$50 new plugs at SIS each ......-.............. $3.50
ere alarm increase, etc. .:-.-- 300
s37, 900
The additional cost of men to increase
each present company to nine men and to
man the three new companies from Octo-
Der LIST to January /, 1884, will be as follows:
10 men to present 5 companies, 3 months,
each sbO per month 1,S0
Il men to new companies, 3 months, each
3 engineers of new companies, 5 months. '"'O
each So per month 675
8 captains of new companies, 8 months,
NNNN W PNA hNhAh W
Total cost to January l, 1884 ....-....s4. $50
Nor is this all, the future expense of
maintaining the department as organized
must be looked into. The cost for 1884
would be about as follows:
s companies, men each, Sc men, at $50 per
month, for II months S4O, 800
8 captains at SO per month, Il months.....-. 1900
other expenses averaged by past years ex- '"O
perlence Of cost of the epartment........- 10, 200
Contingent expenses, such AS replacing dis
abled horses, $500
81 ,22O
The income of the department for 1884
will be as follows:
Total tax valuation, SIS 600, 900, which at the
levy of Soc on the 800 would yield S45, 000
Deduct delinquent lists, 20 per cent. 1900
Making deficit in 81, 80
Provided we had the money to fill the
chie's request. During the past year the
district, as you know, purchased two new
steam fire engines and 1000 feet of hose
Tor the department and two new two
horsel hose-carriages and equipments, ata
cost OF about $500, besides taking one of
the old engines, which was out OF order,
but had been in service up to the day of
arrival OF the new ones, and gave it a
thorough overhauling, thus making five
first-class steam f~ire-engines where here
tofore there were only two first-class and
two partially good ones, which we thought
at the time were sufficient for
all the demands of the depart
ment. The District also purchased, aided
by the insurance companies who paid a
part, a Babcock chemical engine and
equipments at a cost of $500. 1t will thus
be seen that the department has not been
retrograding as has been intimated, but its
efficiency has been materially increased
in a ratio far greater than the ordinary de-
mands OF the increased territory to be pro-
tected.
The Police Departments also in need of
additional men. The chief of that de-
partment is constantly importuning us to
give him more. There are now only one
chief and forty-four men on duty, and are
two sergeants, one clerk to chief
and Police Court, two detectives, two
s~tationkcepers, two turnkeys, two mar
kethouse keepers, ore square keeper,
one license inspector, twenty-eight patrol
men, one sanitary inspector, making on
duty a day and a night force of only four
teen men each. The finances of this de-
partment are in a much better condition
than the Fire Department, and stand as
follows:
Cash balance October LIST. .........-.. Il ,672 II
Der, three months, at average of ex-
penses OF $500 per month--~......--.- 1880 90
Excess January l, Ssi...-.~~. s2,172 IA
Under our charter law we are authorized
to employ the following men: One chief,
two captains, Two sergeants, forty patrol
men, one square-keeper, two markethouse-
keepers, two observation-disclosures, two
turnkeys, two detective, one clerk to chief
and Police Court, making a total of fftv-
| fOIIr mon and ono chief oufhorizaI IT,
put on the other ten men from now to
January, 1884, would cost $500, and would
make the expenses for 1884 about as fol-
lows:
Payroll per month, $500; twelve months $500
other 1900
Sl7, 600
The income will be:
Total valuation for taxation, s15,-
VgO,Oeo; az 30 cents per slOo-..... $4,000
Deduct delinquents, 20 per cent. 5000
Making an income of........--.... 5000
And showing a deficit of ................ 81, 900
should the force be made ND to the full
number allowed by law. The force should
certainly be increased from five to ten men,
and we leave the solution of chow to do
it" to you.
In reference to the bill to levy the taxes
for 1888 and 1884, sent up to the Legisla-
ture in January, 1888, it will be seen that
we recommended a levy OF 81 so be made
for all purposes. This was signed by the
entire Council and the heads of the de-
partments. The Board of Fire and Police
Commissioners had these improvements
for the Fire and Police Departments in
view at that time, and they asked for a
larger tax Tor street purposes to enable
them to devote the necessary amount OF
the privilege tax to making up any deficit
that would arise from the increase of the
forces. But the Legislature in its wisdom,
instead of granting our request and giving
us 81 so, cut it TO 81 45, which was a de-
crease OF fifteen cents less than the rate
the two preceding years. Consequently
the Board was compelled to ''cut their
garments by the cloth" The people were
calling for pavements, seemingly sat
ished with the Fire and Police De-
partments, and the Board, who, being
only the agents of the people, spent the
money they had in streets, as instructed
by the people. Now they want us, after
it is too late, to spend the money on these
departments. The Board in buying the
two new engines last year had to strain a
point to do so, but recognizing the then in
adequacy of the department considered it
the best policy to do so, which caused a
part OF the deficit last year in the Fire
Department. There are other depart
ments which are pressing us for additional
facilities. The Sanitary Department will
need more carts and mules as the city
grows; the ewers will have to be laid in
the two wards now but little severed, and
still everybody wants some street paved.
Should the Board by any financial move
purchase the necessary new fire appliances
at a cost of between $4,000 and $50, 900,
anticipating the coming years axes it
would make just that much larger deficit
to deal with nex year, and would compel
them to curtail the improvements in paw
ing, sanitary and sewer work to that ex-
tent; and we are free to say that if all Of
the other departments were in as good
a condition as the Fire Department, and
the Board had the money, then, in view
of our recent large fires, the Board might
recommend the purchases asked for. The
Board to-day ordered 1000 feet of hose.
Respectfully submitted.
DAVID P. MADDEN, President;
NJ. BURKE,
JAMES LEE, IR.,
Fire and Police Commissioners.
ADDITIONAL RIVER NEWS.
CINCINNATI, October ll.-Night-River
II feet 10 inches, and stationary.
PITTsBURG, October 1l.-Night-River2
feet 6 inches, and falling. Weather cloudy and