Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-03-07
OUR CITY FATHERs.

VIIvvuDUVAJ WV
i QUE CITY FATHERS.
A Hsslon toCoaneet the Fire AIspH
with IN ERgIne House Bel
Causes . Lively Debass.
The regular weekly meeting of Cit
Council was held last evening, Pres
dent Conrad presiding. On motion q
Mr.. Mention the reading of the minute
we're dispensed with. The Committe
on Fire Companies reported favorabl
on the petition Of the Fame Hose Fir
Company for 81, ,25O, their full appropri
alton for six months. The report wa
adopted. The same committee also re
ported favorably on the petition of tn
Phoenix Fire Company and ether citi
xeDs, to cOnDec. the bell on their engin
house with the fire alarm.
The report was adopted and immedi
ately after the chair had 70 decided Mr.
McKenna, who was not watching tn
proceedings, arose and desired to know
what the bill was that just passed. Mr.
Blake was also inattentive, and as sOOr
as he learned the nature Of the petition
he moved a reconsideration, which wa
seconded by Mr.. Mckenna. The Presi.
dent asked the gentlemen If they hat
voted In thu affirmative, to which they
answered no, and the motion was no
entertained. In order TO give the mem
hers chance TO discuss the subject Mr.
Pickels, who voted In the affirmative,
moved a reconsideration and the ques.
tion was thrown open for debate.
Mr.. Blake strenuously opposed the
adoption of the bill, and accused the
committee Of having the bill rushed
through without due consideration.
He also stated that the bell could moi
be connected for $500, the cost named
by the committee, and If Put in 1t would
not be Of any practical benefit the
Fame Hose house had not struck the
alarm twice in year, and the city OF
Baltimore had only one bell connected
with the fire alarm, and the department
In that city was az efficient as any in the
United States. The speaker COntended
that If the bell was connected 1t wOsld
cost fully 500, as the power OF the
battery would have 10 be increased, and
q new and larger repeater wOuld have
10 he placed In the cellar of the city
hall, besides other incidental expenses.
MIR. johnson, chairman OF the Fire
Committee, said that the words of the
father of the fire alarm ought TO be re-
spected, but he thought the mem ber
ought to stick to the truth in reference
to certain points. The committee stated
that they based their report on the esti.
mated cost given by manager W. T.
Westbrook, which was fixed at about
$3.50. Mr.. WestbrOok' . letter was sub
mitted and read. Mr.. johnson favored
the petition, and stated that he had
enough money to do the work, and
thought the petition one of the best
petitions ever sent TO Council, AZ it was
not only signed by the Fire Company,
but by number Of manufacturers and
citizens. In reference to the striking
of the Fame Hose bell' Mr.. Johnson
denied the assertions made by Mr..
Blake.
MIR. Blake accused Mr.. johnson of
telling afalseho0d, ,whereupon the latter
said !: "You can tell me that outside"
Mr.. Pickles rose to point of order, and
further discussion ceased. The petition
was again read and the motion to adopt
was decided in the affirmative. After
the chair gave his decision the ayes aud
nays were called and the chair was
about to comply with the request when
Mr.. johnson raised point of order, and
the chair decided the point we'll taken.
The annual report of the Fire Com
mittse was submitted and read a. fol.
lows
To THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF
WILMINGTON. GENTLEMEN Your
on Fire Companies would
most respectfully report that on the
29th of February they made the annual
of the different fire compa-
MES of this city, and they have the
pleasure Of stating that they found all
the steam fire engines we'll supplied
with a sufficient quantity of first. class
hose, and all of the engines and fire
apparatus IN first class condition.
The two new hose carts recently pur.
chased by the Reliance and Weccacoe
are valuable addition to
the department. The truck Of the Della
ware Steam Fire Engine Company, with
all the apparatus connected Herewith,
we found in first class order and condi-
ton. All ofths engine houses, with
the exception of the Weccacoe, are in
good condition and we'll adapted for
the purposes for which they are used.
Thew WeccacOe very badly needs new
house, their present building being en-.
tirely too small, as we'll az being In a
condition. We also find
the Washington Hook and LadderC Com
pany is in a good serviceable condition.
The short space of time in which the
horses were harnessed up to the differ.
ent engines, hose carts and hook and
ladder apparatus showed great prof.
cheney, and we are fully convinced
that no more efficient or effective fire
can be found in any city Of
The United States. The different meet
ing rooms and parlors of the several en-
CINE houses we found handsomely fur.
nished and decorated.
In conclusion, weswish to say that our
ire department was never In as good |
rs 1t is at the present time, |
md that our volunteer department is q |
,redit to the city, and should Gas 1t de.
'erves) receive the hearty support and
cooperation of our citizens. Very Re-
pectfully submitted.
7. JOHNSON,
:. GARRETT, ,,,
STEVENS, ~n.u"; on Hf0
e. ENCORE, 'np""io''
{. IL. TAYLOR.
The committee on Public Buildings !
'eported that they had leased at public
auction to the highest bidders on Mon.
lay, March Sd 1884, the wharves of the
ity, whose leases OF the same will OK.
lire March 25th, 1884. Wharf foot Of
french street to Geo. w. Bush & Sons,
or three years, for $22O per year the
essees to pay all expenses Of dredging
Turing continuance Of lease, remove all
from said wharf now exist
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