The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-12-25
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CORVALLIS. Or. Dec. %. '91

CORVALLIS, DR., Dec. ~, 791.
ED. GAzETTE:-At regular
meeting of the Corvallis hook and
ladder company held Monday
night, [ was instructed to send q
communication to the GAZETTE
which should correct the erroneous
impressions, conveyed in a lette,
in last weeks GAZETTE, signed
"Citizen," and rejecting on the
usefulness of the Corvallis fire de-
partment, as we'll as alleging that
the city council had been grossly
direlect in its duty towards the
fire department.
"Citizen" wants the fire depart
ment re-organized or perfected
He should read the city laws and
the regulations of the fire depart
ment and of the companies organ
lied within the department. He
will then ascertain that the fire
department. is we'll organized. The
companies in the department are
well organized and need no per-
fecting any further than to enlist
some new members into the en-
gine company and give them the
necessary drill.
The hook and ladder company
was organized in 1875 and since
that time has always had a sufi-
ciently large and well drilled mem
bership to meet the requirements
OF the city. A couple of years ago
the city purchased a new, light and
serviceable truck and equipment.
The company has the use of a hall,
for which the city pays the rent,
has its own furniture, and always
has money in its treasury. 1t has
at the present time thirty mem
bers in good standing, composed of
the most active and prompt young
men of the town, who always re-
spond to the alarm of fire the
minute it is sounded, no matter
whether they are at their work or
in their beds, or dressed in their
new clothes OF their old ones,
which reminds me that 1 have
seen good many handsome suits
ruined at some of the fires the
hook and ladder company have
The aCitizen" says we are not
enjoying satisfactory fire service
at this time. If he will be good
enough to state in what particular
the service is not satisfactory, pos
sibly the unsatisfactory part of
the department will call on him
for help. The hook and ladder
company wishes to say that it
toes not feel itself compllmented
BY the above statement. 1t fur
.hermore doesn't think it in good
taste for an unknown correspond
ent to masquerade behind the
name of s.Citizen," and criticise a
ire department composed of citi
.ens who show their public spirit
oy action rather than in empty
words. 1t also wishes to be heard
% fully sustain and endorse the
;ity council, which body has not
It any time refused any reasona-
'le request of the fire department.. /
The members of the fire depart
nent serve without any pay. In
Iced, they pay dues to belong and
n order to sustain the companies.
four dollars per year dues, beside |
twenty-five cent fines for absence
t fires, drills Or regular meetings,
what it costs to belong to the
ook and ladder company. For
his the members have the privi-
ege of wearing red shirt on the
'ourth of July, and the honorable
istinction Of being criticised be-
ause "Citizensn fail to show their
ubllc interest by helping to bet
sr support the volunteer fire de-
artment.
The hook and ladder company
lggest to ssCitizenn the propriety
joining one of the companies,
: else going about amongst the
eople of the community and in