The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-03
Mr.. O'BRIEN'S REPORT
The Statement of the Secretary of the
Anaconda Fire Department.
MEMBERS WORK IN HARMONY
There Is No Friction at, the Meet
inss and Everything Is In Good
Shape to Cope With the
es-Financial.

At the recent meeting of the fire de-
partment Secretary j. L. O'Brien made a
most interesting review of conditions in
that organization during the year. The
report shows the volunteer organization
to be in excellent shape and 1t will be
thus continued as a reserve force for the
assistance of the new paid department,
which was established by the council at
the recent meeting. Secretary O'Brien's
report is as follows:
Brother Firemen:-In fire matters the
past year has been one of much interest
to the Anaconda fire department and to
every taxpayer of our city. About one
year ago Anaconda found herself without
3 fire department. On May z, 1895,
I meeting was called for the purpose of
reorganizing the department Nearly 100
OF our leading citizens attended the meet
ing and with a charter roll of rs volun-
} teers organized the present Anaconda
. fire department. consisting of three COM
panies, namely: Columbia Hose company
No. i, Columbia Hose company No.
and Hook & Ladder company No. /.
During the first five months of our ex-
istence we struggled along. handicapped
. by the inexperience of the majority Of
. our members. Out of the rs members we
had about 10 experienced men, and they
were, with one or two exceptions, mem
bers of one company. Many. of the MEM
: bers left the city: our department off,
. GERS were dissatisfied; we had no money
in the treasury-such was the condition
of the department during this time. At
our meeting In September, 1895, resolu-
tons were passed to consolidate the three
companies into one, making the chief the
presiding officer and giving him full pow
er to distribute the members as he saw
Mt to each part of the apparatus, also
limiting the active membership roll to So
Our membership at this time had been
ynyifh onffxv
men we were better equipped to do our
duty than we were with three times as |
many who were firemen only because |
they signed the roll.
To guard against possible disruption in |
the future. the following resolution was |
unanimously adopted: "Resolved That |
should motion come before this depart |
ment that would tend to destroy 1t, such |
motion would be lost II five members in 1
good standing vote in the negative"
Since this time we have prospered; per-
feet harmony has always existed in the
department. / believe that each of us
should be proud of the organization and
feel that he has been well rewarded for
the time and labor he has given for the
protection of the life and property of his
fellow man. -l.a
The citizens of Anaconda have given us
their hearty support in all matters, for
which the department should feel CRATE
ANA ohu chuSdNOT III the future as we |
have tried in the past to merit their APP
probation.
During the year there have been II |
fires. with an estimated loss of $1,000.
Many of the fires started in a thickly
populated part of the city and had they
not been checked by prompt action of
the department would have resulted in
serious loss.
we have at the present time a member
ship of AZ, of which 81 are active and five
are honorary members. Average mem
oership for the year has been 35; average
attendance at meetings, 21; attendance at
nres, H. We have also been successful
IN financial way. From Oct. l, 1895. to |
May /. 1896. our total receipts were s2e5 20.
disbursements, s69.s5. leaving a balance of
'225.65. Respectfully submitted,
]. e. O'Brien, Secretary.