Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-10-19

Volumes OF prose, poetry and song
have been written, telling of the terrible
horrors, the loss OF life and property and
the untold want and misery that has
been caused by fire. Brave fremen
have in all ages been held up as among
those most deserving of praise, fer their
courage, and of sympathy for the many
who either lose their lives or are MAIN
ed and crippled in attempting to save
the lives or property of others. One of
the most beautiful monuments seen in
the south is a large drinking fountain
erected in the city of Fort Worth,
Texas, to the memory of a fireman, who,
after saving several lives, himself per-
ished in the flames in attempting to save
others. There has but recently appear
ed in the columns of the TRIBUNE, the
picture of a man who has gained world
wide fame by the bravery of his conduct
in connection with the recent forest
fires at Hinckley, MINI. Every art and
device that human ingenuity can invent
has for years been resorted to in build.
lngs, to make them more safe against
that king of terrors-fre. Appliances
of every description have been used for
the extinguishment of cruel flames.
Every city in the land, and, in fact,
every town, whose financial condition
will permit of it., have an organized,
paid fire department. knowing the i'm
possibility of perfect protection, fire
insurance companies have been organ
lied, and do business in every state in
the union, and thousands OF dollars an
nually go out of the state to pay prem
lums on fire risks. In t%wenty-four of the
towns and cities in the state, fire COM
panies have been organized, all Of whom
are volunteer, except two. 1t has been
said that "an honest man is the noblest
work of God" If this be true, then
surely a volunteer fireman comes next.
Long before North Dakota became a
state, the necessity of lending every en-
couragement possible to the maintain
ing of fire departments in the towns
throughout the state became apparent
and legislation was had. Firemen were
exempt from jury duty, from poll tax,
and finally, to further assist in making
a more perfectly organized fire depart
ment, the territorial legislature of 1887
passed a law which can be found on
page 1856 of the session laws of 1887, en-
titled
An act to appropriate for the support OF
fire departments of each city, town or
village in the Territory of Dakota. a
part of the tax paid by fire insurance
companies upon, premiums received in
such town. city or village.
This law has stood upon the statutes
unchanged, until the session of 1898 and
as amended, the law in full is as follows:
The clerk of every city, town or village in
the territory of Dakota having an organized
fire department, shall on [or1 before the
Slst day of October in each year, make and
file with the auditor of this territory his
certificate, stating the existence OF such de-
partment, the date of its organization, the
number Ut steam, hand or other engines,
hook and ladder trucks and hose carts in
actual use. The number of organized COM
panles, the number of members of each
company, and the system of water supply
IN use, III such department, together with
such other facts as the auditor may require.
The blanks required by law, to be fur
nlShed by the territorial auditor to insur-
ance companies, shall contain the names
or the cities, towns and villages entitled to
benefits under this act, and every insurance
company doing business in Ibis territory,
shall include in its annua statement the
amount of all premiums received by them,
upon policies issued on property, within
the corporate limits of such city, town or
village during the year ending on the pre-
ceding 3lst day of December.
The said auditor, IN the first day of July
thereafter, shall issue and deliver to the
treasurer in each city, town or village,
having an organized fire department en-
titled to the benefits under this act. his
warrant! upon the state treasurer for an
amount equal to 2 per cent. of the prem
iums received upon policies issued on pro-
perty in any such city, town or village.
which warrants shall be numbered con-
secutively, and shall each specify the date
or its issuance, and to whom payable, and
such warrants shall be paid by the state
treasurer to the treasurer OF any such city,
town or village upon presentation thereof,
and when so received by said treasurer, the
same shall be paid over to said company
or companies, in equal proportion, having
a membership Of at least fifteen members
for a period of eight months prior to the
date OF the certificate OF the clerk, as pro-
vided in Section l of this act, and having
the management Of at least one steam,
hand or fire engine, hook and ladder truck
or hose cart, upon the written order Of
such company or companies, approved by
the city council, trustees or other govern
ing body OF such city, town or village;P Pro-
vlded, that in cities, towns and villages
having a paid fire department, the amount