Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-16
CITY COUNCIL.

THE CITY WILL HAVE PAID FIRE DEPART
MENT-THE PROPOSITION ADOPTED AND
PLANS FOR coNDUCrISG IT WILL BE PRE-
PARED BY A COMMITTEE.
Last night was the stated time for holdin 6
the second meeting for the month OF the City
Council-present. Messrs. Berkeley, President;
Armentrout. Bell, Bargamin, Butts. Crowle,
Craig, Crimmens, McQuaide and Summerson.
Mr.. Crimmens, from the Committee on the
Fire Department, stated that the Committee
was providing additional hose, as instructed
by the Council, but the recent fire in the
northern part of the city developed the abso-
lutte necessity for speedy action in securing 1t,
and that 500 feet had been ordered, 1t being in
dispensable for security against fire. On
motion of Mr.. Butts. the action of the Con :
mittee was approved.
Sandry petitions for relief from assessment
for water taxes, one from Ed. Burke of tax
paid on real estate after being officially In
formed that nothing thereon was due, and for
q bridge over Lewis creek to connect Lewis
street with the street running to Church street
near the railroad. were referred.
Mr.. McQuaide called up the report from the
speciel committee recommending paid fire
department (Which was published in the pro-
ceedings of the council of the 18th December)
and the same was read by the clerk.
Mr. McQuaide said he had ascertafned that
the outfit as recommended by the committees
could be purchased ut less than the estimate
named in the report, and he thought 1T would
be advisable to adopt the main question at
once that In. that paid fire department will
be established, and then authorizes commit
tee to report a system for conducting 1t.
Mr.. Butts said he favored . paid department,
f<,~ Hta fSrf Ha nv
fsrrsd to mature the system first. and then we
would know exactly what We were doing.
Mr.. Bargamin could see no necessity for de-
ray The proposition had been under consideiss
ton two years, and all the Information ~ to
the general question sttainahle was already
in possession Of tho Council. He favored its
adoption and that the details could be worked
out by q committee.
Mr. Crimmens did not think efficient men
could be obtained at the sstimats made BY
the Com mittes-Sl0 per q..artsr.
Mr Rargamin cited the compensation paid
IN Richmond-tls par auarter--in support of
tbs sstinsss Of the Committee that SO IN
stsunton. taxing in to confederation ths isrg
or service In Richmond. was ample. and would
be accepted - .. ecreispt sorca.
ar. Craig was not ready TO favor ths plan
now. He investigated the estimate nasds ~
the COMMITTEES. item by item, and compared
the aggregate With the present cost of the nre
department..
Mr.. Armentrout moved the adoption of the
proposition-that is. that paid fire depart
meht be established and the details of con-
Quoting 1t be considered and reported upon by
the Special Committee that submitted the re.
port. and it was adopted as follows
Ayes. Messrs. Arm entrout. Bell. Bargamin.
Crowle, Moo uaide, Summerson and Mr.. Presi-
dent-7. Nays, Messrs. Butts, Craig. and Grim
mens-3.
Messrs. Tams and Weller absent
The special committee that made the report
now approved as a proposition by the Council
are Messrs. McQuaide. Bargamin and Bell, and
the future work of preparation to put the sys-
tenn of paid fire. department in force will be
taken in hand Immediately by this commit
tee