The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-03-17
THE FIRE-FIGHTERS.
The Causes Which Led tc
Their Present Discomfort.
SOME: INIE1sV VIEW -.
A Strong Probability That the Much
Mooted Consolidation Cannot
BE Effected.

kind in the city's system OF fighting fires il
| inevitable, and recent deve opments hav'
| awakened the most Obtuse to a realization
that the occurrence OF such change is no
only inevitable, but cannot be postponed
much longer. While the firemen OF Butt,
are as ready as they ever were to respond
to the call Of duty, and stand shoulder to
shoulder in defense OF life and property
threatened with destruction by the flames
| there does not exist among them that unity
| and sDod fellowship which the Importance
OF their official position demands ano
which the people desire to see. The causes
| OF this iIl-feeling are several and varied and
| in order to convey them inteligently to
| THE MINER S readers it is necessary to ex
plain the system upon which the Fire
Department OF Butte is established
| RIVAL ORGANIZATIONS.
| Butte's Fire Department consists OF
| two distinct organizations-the s'Brigade'
and the department. Both are volun.
teer organizations and the membership
roll OF Zach contains the names of some of
| our beaucitizens.
! The brigade was organized and incor-
| porated under the laws OF Montana in
| 1876, 1t consists Oft three hose companies,
| all under control of the Foreman OF
| Brigade who is elected by the members.
| The organization assumes to be self-sup-
porting. and owns all the apparatus within
| it's control The City. however, provides
| it with hose houses, light and fuel. It's
| carts are hand machines, therefore no
| sta bling is required.
The Fire Department was organized in
| April, 1882, as the official department of
TIE city. The City provided it With appary
! atus, and it's Chief is appointed by the
Mayor and confirmed by the City Council
Is Ao,il L. ,J T..
the purp )se, and is entirely controlled by
the City Government. The Fire Depart
ment is composed Of two hose companies,
one hook and ladder company and IA sal
wage corps.
Between the Brigade and the Department
q ri iyalry has always existed but SO long
as itwas Of friendly nature and prompted
the ,ren to deeds OF valOr and attempts
to pustrip each other in speed, the people
encikuraga,! rather than censured it. OF
latg however, this rivalry has grown so in
tenstsas to assumed serious aspect indeed,
it has alm:st merged into open hostility.
The Depart nlent does not conceal the fact
that it has no love for he Brigade and he
Brigade loses no opportunity display its
contempt for the Department. The City Gov
ernment has attempt ed o act as arbitrator
between the belligerents, but thus far has
failed to appease the wrath of either or
both.
A SPECIMEN "sPAT."
At last Wednesday nights meeting OF
the City Council, committees from both the
Depal tment and the Brigade were present.
The gentlemen representing the former Or
ga MIA t;"l 7t',t = %, ti,Ia hi;ab the Depart.
fire alarms and have the city divided into
fire districts. He was promised whatever
assist ance the Council could render in per-
fecting The scheme. and then the delegate
from the Brigade arose and addressed the
Aldermen. He impaired the information
that the corps OF tre-fighters, OF which he
was a member was sadly in need OF rubber
coats, and he information was accompa-
MED by a request that the Council allow
bill for the garments. Then began a
discussion among the Aldermen, which
was, TO say the least, am
mated. The debate developed thefact that
there existed among the members OF the
Department and not a few taxpayers IL de-
termined opposition to having the Brigade
receive any elnoluments or assistance what
ever from the city. and that il the bill IN
question was allowed there was danger of
the Department ,lisban,ling itself. Finally
the bill was referred to the L nance Com
mittee and a committee Of three aldermen
appointed to confer with the tremcn and
attempt to settle the existing difficulti les
AN ALDERMANIc OPINION.
1t was for the purpose OF obtaining IN
telligent opinion on the subject that
MINER represent ative yesterday int erv'rwed
one OF he City Fathers.
This interminabe warfare between the
Department and the Brigade does not In-
crease he happiness OF our official position
which al best is not very envia bic one.
IL l~ A IL nj <
midst of three tires-the Department, the
Brigade and the people who pay the taxes.
As IL municipal prOtese, the Department Is
entitled o and receives our hearty sup
port and encouragement. As an orsanlza-
ton of good cit izens united for a noble pur-
pose the Brigade compelS our respect and
sym athy as individuals and as body OF
the peoples chosen represents atives, but
more that that we cannot give them with
out incurring the cenSurt OF the Depart
ment Now the menGe:s OF the Brigade
will hink hat hey are treated unfairly II
we refuse to allow the bill for those rubber
coats. which axe needed to replace similar
garments that W. re literally burned OFF the
backs Of the brave fellows who wore them;
but the Depa rtm,.nt threatens to disband
il the bill is allowed, aud many taxpayers
will accuse us OF donating the fire fund to
pur:oses other than those for which 1t Is
intended. AS | said before, the enmity be
tween the Brigade and the Department
places the Council in II very awkward
position.
this disagreeable condition of affairs ~
asked the reporter.
"Cunsoidation Of the clashing forces
might effect a cure" was the reply, but
consolidation cannot he effected easily
as might he ina sined as each faction would
desire supremacy in the reconstructed de-
partment and both could not have it. Or
we might abolish our present fire system
and suppant the volunteers with ssiared
men, Such Il change would be expensive
but we may yet be driven to it. One thing
is certain-we must have harmony among
our tirenen, and VIII have 1t no mattef
what the outlay may he.
A DEPARTMENT MAN TALKS.
A gentleman whose intelligence and zeal
a. a fireman has gained for him the conf
dence and esteem OF the Department was
next approached by the reporter.
"Of course" said he, II believe that the
DEPARTMENT. position in the controversy
is supported by Justice, and every fair
minded man must entertain d similar be-
lief The Department is supported by Il
special tax, which amounts to something
| like $4,000 year. The Department Is
purely.a munlclpal ORGANIZATIONS
| bv the city government, supported by the
people and co nmanded by a Chief APP
pointed by the Mayor. Onthe other hand,
| the Brigade is nothing more nor less than a
private corporation, and is entitled to no
| benefits at the hands OF the people. Per
| haps the Department. would not so seriously
| object to;the fire fund being donated to char
itv if the fund was big one, which it is not.
| At present we are in need OF new hose, an-
| other hose cart and many other articles,
and until we secure them we cannot con-
| scientiously consent to have our money
| sanandered in benevolence. As self-sup
| porting organization. the Brigade should
| be ashamed to beg charity at the hands OF
| an organzati ton that never claimed to be
seli-supporting.'
"What do you think OF the consolidation
schemeo"
"Well, believe echo the sentiment o
the Department when say that we will
welcome the Brigade men if they will JOIN
~