The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-11-23
THE PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT
Tn. Atlanta Chief a~P~ct the Fire AlaTm
the Eagta-s AID spasatus and th~ House.
Y-sf~rday-rfs X. cDsn III DdNt1ODS

tho Engta%s aud spAsatus nnd fh~ HOUSE. |
Y~.s-rda,-bfs Recommendations
Major w. R. Joyner, chief OF the nre
department of Atlanta, Ga. who came !
here to look over the Wilmington de-
partment which the board OF aloer-
ment and board of audit and finance
recently converted into a paid Depart
ment, thoroughly inspected the depart
ment yesterday. In company with
CAPTAIN Charles Schnibben and Mr..
w. p. Monroe, foreman Of Wilmington
Hook and Ladder Company. he visited
and inspected the engine houses and
apparatus. They next visited the wa
terworks and then drove through the
streets examining them and inspecting
the Gamewell fire alarm system and
the various alarm boxes throughout
the city.
At 1890 p. M. Chief Joyner, Mayor
Wright, Chief Schnibben and others
went to the city hall and had a test
fire alarm turned in. The alarm was
sent in from box %, at Third and Prin-
cess streets, right at the city hall, and
in a few seconds the entire fire depart
ment was on the spot in answer to the
alarm. Major Joyner says the response
of the department was made in hne
shape.
Last night the mayor, members OF
the board Of aldermen and board OF
audit and finance, and Messrs. c. {.
Chadbourn and J. H. Boatwright, the
committee representing the local board
Of fire underwriters, met in the ayo
office and held a conference with Chief
Joyner. On motion Of Mr.. w. H.
Chadbourn, chairman Of the board OF
audit and finance, Mayor Wright was
made chairman.
Chief Joyner was asked to state the
result Of his examination, and the re-
quirements of the fire department. He
said he found the engine hourses and
stock in good condition, and 1900 to
$500 feet Of good hose and 1000 feet Of
worthless hose. The steamers wero
found in good condition, but it was nee
essary to make about $3.50 Of repairs
to the truck Of Wilmington Hook and
Ladder Company. He said the hose
reels were back numbers and recon-
mended that they be replaced with
four-wheel hose wagons as early as
practical. He said these wagons could
be made in Wilmington at a cost Of
about $500, and they woul be better
than any others tina could be had. He
has all of his hose wagons made in
Atlanta.
Chief Joyner also recommended that
sliding poles be placed in the engine
houses so the firemen could nave their
sleeping quarters up stairs and slide
down the poles when alarms are sent
in. He said they could thus get dow3
eight times as fast as by steps. He
recommended the purchase of 800 feet
Of hose to each OF the three reels to
be used in the department, the uni
forming Of the firemen, and the pur-
chase of a chemical engine.
AS to the pay Of the members, he
said the compensation agreed on was
too small; that good men could not be
hired and kept steadily at their jobs
for $500 a month. On a basis of
$4,000, estimated as the cost of the
paid fire department, he furnished the
following estimates and recommended
them:
One chief, 500 per month.
Hook and Ladder Company-One
foreman, $50: 1 driver, $35; 5 laddermen,
$35 each.
Steamer No. lone Engineer and
foreman, $50; 1 assistant, $40; 1 stoker,
$s7.50 2 drivers. each $35: 3 hosemen,
each $35.
foreman, $50 per month; 1 assistant,
$40; l soker, $3.50 2 drivers, each $35;
3 hOsemen, each $35.
Hose Company No. 3.-One foreman,
$45; l driver. $35; 4 hosemen, each $35.
Reserve Steamer and Reel.-One en-
gineer and foreman, $50; 2 drivers, each
$35.
Recapitulation-One chief, $1,000 per
year.; Z men, O and ladder company.
$780, 8 men, steamer Nc. /, $3.50; 8
men, steamer No. 2, $3.50; 6 men, hose
company No. 3, $2,640; 3 men, reserve
steame and reel, $1,44O. Total men 80;
total pay roll $15.660.
Other expenses-For horse feed, 81, 900;
1 hose wagon, $500; 1000 feet Jacket
hose. $1,400; repairs to engine houses.
$500; repairs to apparatus, $3.50; sup
plies and incidentals, $1,000. Total for
year. $40, 900.
The members of both boards express
ed their approval Of the recommends
tions, as also did the committee Of the
local board Of underwriters. Chief JOY
ner was asked to confer with the
Southes ..ern Tariff Associations rep
resentative at Atlanta. and ascertain il
Wilmington's insurance rates would
be decreased Is cents, If a department
is adopted on the lines he suggested.
He agreed to do so and will leave for
Atlanta this afternoon. He also agreed
to send an expert man over here to
~inaugurate our paid department,