The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-11-29
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
Correspondence in Reference to the
Matter Of Helena's Fire De-
partment
Richard Jockeys Broken Plate
Glass Window Again Pelted
With Oratory.
Rapid Transit Franchise Asked ~fcr-strset
Rapid Transit Franchise Asked ~fcr-Strset
Cars Not to He Left Unattended
Other Business.

Chairman Hanley, Of the committee on
fire department, made q repors TO the coun-
oil last night on she subject OF shs recent
reduction in the number of call men. Inc
report consisted of a letter TO Mayor Curtin
from II. +. Parkhurst, surveyor OF the
Pacific Insurance union. and a reply by shs
committee on fire department. Surveyor
Parkhurst. writing on Nov. II from spo-
kane, where he was at that time, refers 10
conversation he had with the
mayor while in Helena, In connec-
ton with the reduction In the forco
operating the fire department.. apparatus.
states his objsotions to tho decrease in
the number Of call men. He says:
..First-Ths fte waste OF the country -
slarminqly increasing from $l25.OuO. OOo In
1892 to 1882, si7. 600 for the past ten monshs
OF 1899. with Two months yet TO hear from.
considering which the Municipalities OF the
country must look wisely 30 all modes OK
protection. for in these hard times the IN
surauce companies will not tolerate any
decrease in such protection whereby she
hazard il necessarily increased without It's
equivalent an increase of rates being made.
ON the other hand they enjoy fully the
meaning of economy and believe - should
be praetised. IL very necessary. IN othsr
than Are department CHANNELS. Second
The reason il 10 necessary 80 have a full
oomplemsnt of men with each piece OF ap-
paratus is because in larger cltiss IMAM
Helena at an alarn of Ere IN the business
dis,riet every piece OF apparatus must % IN
place for large emergencies, ana IN ofoer 70
be able TO do this men must understand
thar location and be able TO handle VOL
shat apparatus with which they are con-
nected.
los. | will take them up as follows: Chsm,
ioal No. This piece OF apparatus shoulu
have an extra man for the reason that this
engine il invaluable in the business distrlcs
and viii be used first in case of an ineip.
liant fra. and then II the fire gets beyond
control il ia Immediately handled by your
hose com psnies; therefore. the driver OF the
chemical oauno be expected TO also nan
die the hose At such times; therefore 1t 10
self- evident that this machine Is
short a man. Sixth ward station
This piece OF apparatus sta
toned in . valuable district. and many
times it will be necessary to lay two o. sven
three hose streams snd ~ cannot Dc OK,
nected That with such conditions to contend
With any number less than six men can
make the apparatus fully efficient TO q proper
degree.
the sixth wa dAtation is also true OF this.
1t is therefore not necessary to dwell upon
that.
ut must not be forgotten with your COM
mittee that the insu ancs companies nave q
larger interest At stake than any numoer OK
your citizens, for do not We assume your
loss in large or small ooningratlons! ls1s
therefore to DO expected that Wo nave q
mutual interest to protect IN connection
with Yourselves and that any suggestions
which we offer are backed with eli ference.
Before m making my final report On your
city shall expect to learn OF your early
action in this matter at nay address below
The reply of the fire department. commit
tee was as follows:
air: Your letter of the 10Th inst adj
dressed to Mayor Curtin in relation 70 the
fire department OF this city has been by
his honor referred to the fire department
committee with the request that prompt
attention be given the matters mentioned
therein. Accordingly a meeting OF the
COMMITTEES was called and Ii was decided
thersat to submit for your consideration
the following facts: The city council re-
cognizina the request of a mum Der of tag
payers, organized as d citlZens COMMITTEE,
and fnvoring strict economy in the opera
tion of every department Of the city
than dispense with the Seventh ward
and the Fifth ward fire stations.
al had been suggested by said committee.
il would be more prudent to economlZe by
limiting the number OF call men. Inc
council committee upon whose reoommen-
dation this action was approved was lnhu-
epced in It's course by the knowledge of the
fact that within the past five yehrs the
effciency of our fire department has been
greatly improved. with no corresponding
inc ease OF fire risk. On the contrary, it
appeared that the number OF frams struc-
lures that have been replaced by substau-
tisl stone and brick buildings would have
the effect of materially dso:easing the risk
of fire.
Within the period above mentioned the
city has obtained the use and benefit Of an
excellent gravity pressure water system
with a supply increased tour fold and mains
extended to every portion of the CITY tapped
at convenient intervals by. 257 hydrants.
Two new hook and ladder trucks ami ono
new hose carriage have been added to the
equipment at the Central station. Tns
Fifth ward station has been established,
and within the past two years the Seventh
ward station has been completed. and the
sixth ward station reconstructed. The
former Is equipped with the LATEST imp owed
double hose wagon and the latter with a
new Preston double hose carriage, both
carrying their complement of the best
manufacture OF double jacket hose. 1aking
into III ther account tue excellent Game
we'll fac alarm aystem added and the supt-
r!oIty OF our equipment IN every partIcu-
La it was thought tEat the reduction made
in she number OF call men might be
afforded.
t1owsv-r. this committee appreciates
any suggestions offered when the same are
based uton Il knowledge Of facts and de-
tails, coupled with such experience as you
possess. it might be added, without being
considered presumptiye. that q review of
the Losses sustained by fire in this citr dug
ing tn asst five years would justify the as
suInptlcl that the protection afforded is
much above the average. unless 1t can be
aigued th1t We arc remarkably fortunate.
Trusting that the facts above not5u will
Justify Won IN believing that We have act.d
RdYlsedIY, and awaiting your repiy ] am
yours truly. ID. HANLEY.
Chairman Committee on Fire Opt.
The action of the committee on hro de-
partusnt WAS approved.
Richard Jockeys broken plate glass win
dow came w again. and II the artillery OF
Atory that WAS expended over ii had come
as near the mark as tho bullet which did
the damage the glass would have been
spiintercd. Alderman Hundley moved to
reconsider the teport of the judicidry cou-
mittee. adopted at the previous meeting.
wherein it WAS stated that there was no
telling who fred the shot which did the
damage though ID was undoubtedly done
while the police were pursuing some runa-
ways. Alderman hundley said the position
of the matter was hardly satisfactory 10
sLe council and evidently unsatisfactOry to
Richard Jockey. Either the city owed for
the window, or il did not. Aldermen Full.
Ter and Flaherty though. that when officers
broke windows while In the discharge o!
their duties il was the city's place 10 pay.
Several inquiries were made as TO whether
there vas any new evidence TO warrsn,
yan,GnInG tina chEA. Alderman tlRharAu