The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1889-01-24

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FIRE De
PARTMENr.-On Saturday evening last
the annual meeting of the fire depart
ment was held at the hose mouse and the
following officers were elected for the en-
suing year:
CHIEF-L. E. Coe.
FIRST AssIsTANT--Thomas Murphy.
SECOND AsSIsTANT-W. S. Dean.
SEcRETARY-George West.
TTEAsURER-L. Kells.
Chief Coe presented his fourth annual
report, as follows:
Gentlemen off the Sank Centre Fire De-
partment: We have assembled here to-
night to hold our fifth annual election
and at the same time to review our re-
cord of the past year and also show the
condition of our department at present
time. l find by examining the several
secretary's reports that the general at
tendance for the past year has not been
quite as good as previous years. Acme
Hose No. has 13 members in good
standing; your average attendance has
been 10. Clipper Hose No. 5 has 16
members in good standing; average at
[ tendance II. Aetna Hook and Ladder
No. has Is members in good standing;
average attendance 10. Total number
of members at present time As. Number
fjoint meetings held for the past year
is five, average attendance "a. Gentlemen
l know too well the duty of volunteer
fireman to cast any reflection upon your
past duty. 1 also know what pay you
receive for your heroic labors in saving
property that must have been great
loss to this town had 1t not been for
your promptness to respond to that aw-
ful cry of fire, with that cheerful willing,
ness that all brave fireman do, without
fear or hope of reward. Let us not tire
by our welldoing but let our aim be to
have as full an attendance to all regular
meetings as is possible, and by so-doing
we will be better able to discuss matters
of Importance which will advance us to a
higher standard as fremen. Our fire duty
for 1888 was six runs. First run Fep.
10, 2:3O p. M, Mr.. Larkin's house, which
was total loss with no insurance, The
department responded with its full force
and had we had more hose could have
saved something. Second run March ~,
3:15 A. NJ, house belonging to A. ]. Smith.
Damage $3.50. Insurance paid on house
5000 and on furniture $500. Total in
surance paid ST, 200. Third run June 5,
Up. NJ, Mr.. Kusba's chimney burned out
with no damage. Fourth run June rs,
2:3O p. M, Mr.. Kirch's dwelling house.
Damage $40; insured $500. Fifth call
Nov. is, 6 A. M, Jacob Bros. Loss paid
$4,000; insured for $4,000. This might
have been bad fire with a very heavy
loss had it received sufficient air to have
got it started. Sixth call Dec. 10, 1O:45
A. NJ, Mr.. A. O. Hubbard's chair factory,
which was a hard and we'll fought battle
that every member of the department
should feel proud of. And this is not
only one, but is another mark of our
promptness in getting to our duty, which
in nine cases out of ten is sure to win,
and can safely say that there is no other
department in this or any other state
that can show better record, never hav-
ing but one total loss in four years or
since we have been organized as fire de-
partment. Loss at this fire was $500
with no insurance. Our total loss paid
for 1888 $4,272, against $3.50 for
1887, making our loss for 1888 $500
more than 1887.
Our improvements for the last year
consist of new uniforms presented by our
village council at the expense of $3.50,
which is good proof that our council feels
that it is to their interest to aid and as
sst us in this great and glorious cause.
And hope you will all join me in thank
ing them for past favors. Our visit to
Minneapolis on August Dist was very
pleasant trip and l was very proud to
see the gentlemanly appearance and
good behavior of every member that was
there. And the better proof of this was
that we brought away one of the best
prizes that was awarded. cannot for
get the splendid music our band furnished
upon that occasion and hope that We
shall never feel so poor but that we can
I, oil
AS to recommendations l will say, as
have said for the last three years, that 1
hope that our council will feel it their du-
tv to supply us with from $50 to 500
feet more hose. l am only too sure that
we shall need it some dav and then, pos
sibly, they may get it for us. In my
Judgment it is one of the first invest
ments that should be made.
Second. To sell or trade our fire alarm
bell for one that will be of some use to
the department. l would recommend
that we take immediate steps in that di-
rection.
Gentlemen, your organizations for the
coming year are we'll founded. The Sc
lections you have made for your officers
are of the best. The harmonious feelings
that exist in the department at the pres
ent time is another proof of its prosper
ity, and may you always hold these
friendly feelings with one another that
you do now, and if you do so you can
never fail to have first-class fire denart=
ment; for harmony is the strength ofsuch
organizations.
In closing I would say that have had
the honor of presiding over you ter The
past three years, and it give. me 49,
pleasure ia exeend to ..eat
| Sincere ~ -ou one and all my
-uan'Ss for the kind and gentle
manly manner in which yov have treated
me as chief, never refusing to respond tc
any call in a cheerful and gentlemanly
| manner.
Yours Respectfully,
Jan. 10, 1889. LIE. CoE.
/ At the close of the meeting, M. c. Kel
sey, on behalf of the department, pre-
4