Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-02-22
WORK OF THE CITY FATHERS.

THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
ON A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT-SYST El
OF ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM RECoMMEN
DED-No ACTION-GENERAL WORK.
&C., &C.. &C.
On Tuesday night last, the City Council
assembled with President T. B. Berkele'
i'll the chair, and every member present eX
cept Mr.. Bargamin, who was in Harrison
burg. A number Of the members of tn
Volunteer Fire Department were in at
tendance brought there by their interest il
many things affecting the department
which were expected to be brought up tina
night.
Finance Committee.-Mr. Tams, Chair
man, reported on the following petitious-
of j. B. Hall Of Fredericksburg, for a 81
coupon to replace one accidentally burned
granted: of Dr.. B. M. Atkinson, not grant
ed; of Stack & Splitter, granted; of Mrs
Lottie S. Shafer, not granted. The report
was adopted.
Streets,-Mr. McQuaide, Chairman, re
ported that Chief Engineer G. M. BraXto1
of the c. & o. would be here shortly to con
fer on proposition of 800 by the road and
$500 by the city to build bridge over the
railway on South Augusta street.
Wdter.-Mr. Butts, Chairman, reported
on the following petitions-of Mr.. Kinney
granted; of G. d. Nimmo, granted; of Sam
uel Hutchins, granted. The report was
adopted.
TO WHOM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PROP
ERTIES WILL BELONG.
City Attorney A. G. BraXton, in response
to a resolution, sent to the Council his opin.
ion on the rights of the city and the fire
companies in the property of the Depart
ment. He decided that all the fire apparatus
belongs to the city, and the furniture of the
companies rooms and their uniforms to the
companies.
The bell of the Augusta Engine House
was bought with 1926 of the city S money
and $175 collected by the company for the
purpose of getting fire bell. 1t, therefore
with the tower in which it hangs, is the
property of the city.
The bell of the NewtoWn Hose Co. was
paid for by the city to the extent of $125
and therefore belongs to the city.
The Hook & Ladder Co.'s bell is an old
one, always the property of the city.
The uniforms of the companies, the fur
niture of their meeting rooms and libraries.
all belong to the companies.
AS to the money now in the Treasures of
the Companies, the City Attorney decides
that it was gift from the city in the fullest
sense of the word, without any conditions
attached, and is the property of the compa-
MES. 1t may be divided out among thei1
members as the majority of each company
decide.
The report was received and the opinion
of the City Attorney adopted.
THE REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
ON THE PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Special Committee on a Paid Fire
Department made report of which the
following is the substance:
list. The Committee recommend that so
much of their former report as requires the
fremen of the Paid Department to sleep at
the engine house, be changed so as to allow
the men to sleep at their homes.
I'd. The Committee recommend the &C.
ceptance Of the bid of the Gaynor Compa-
Company Of Louisville, KY, to furnish al
Electric Fire Alarm with triple circuit at
81, 800.
Sd. The Committee submit a bid from
Jno. M. Hardy & Son for two hose reels at
$500 each, and recommend it's acceptance.
4th. The Committee asks authority to
contract with two of the livery stable
keepers for the keeping and furnishing
of horses for the reels.
MI. Bell in submitting the report ex-
planned the operation of the Electric Fire
Alarm selected by the Committee. 1t is
simply battery which requires no atten-
ton save reinforcing it at intervals. The
alarm boxes sound the alarm the moment
the key is inserted in the box. The alarm
is not only sounded at the central station
but is recorded, and the bell ringer is
enabled to strike on the fire bell the exact
locality of the fire. The alarm sounds q
gong at the bell house. The fact that there
are three circuits is a safeguard against
delays resulting from the breakage OF oh
Struction of one line.
Mr.. Craig moved that the report betakel
up, section by section, and that the frs
section be passed over and that relative tt
the Fire Alarm be taken up first.
MI. Weller moved as a substitute fol
MI. Craig's motion, that the report b.
o6o o1 q whole Tbic Voc caoop1a1 h1
Mr.. Tams.
MI. Craig's opposed MI. Weller's motion
and it was withdrawn.
The Fire Alarm section was then takel
taken up and MI. Craig proceeded to oppos
it and the Paid Fire Department too, thougl
he thought if the latter should be adopted, i
would be well to have the former with it
He said he was opposed to increasing tn
city debt There were no complaints of tn
old Fire Department and no necessity Q
having paid one, especially an expensiv
one. 1t was well known that with on
present excellent water supply it was in
possible for a fire to get Roadway in Stau1
ton. This Council has given the city tw
fine schools, an almshOuSe, and the electrl
light, and he thought it was as much as tn
citizens could ask of it.
MI. Tams replied that it was unusua
for Mr.. Craig to appear on the side of re
trenchment. The proposed expenditur
for Paid System and Fire Alarm woul
not be felt by the taxpayers, so small wa
the proportion.
The Fire Alarm section calling for an az
preparation, it was necessary that it shoul
receive nine votes for its passage. Th
roll WAS called on it's adOntiOn with the fo