Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-04-15
CHIEF PoPs's LETTER
To the FIremen and Citi1ens-He Makes a
Number of suggestions.

1
Number of suggestions.
/ To THE FIRENIEN AND CITIZENS
In the past year have had great rea-
son TO thank the members of the Bel
ding fire departmt MT for their kindness
toward me. have visited many towns
and | never saw better lot of men;
always responding quickly to the alarm,
and obeying orders promptly. And To
the City Council: They also have been
my friends, but have been handicapped
as we'll as the fire department. | will
say to the new council If they will put
the fire department in shape TO do bus
iness, We will surprise the citizens In
all OF our long runs, we can make the
run and get water on the fire ia one
half to one-fourth OF the time by hay-
ing our hose all coupled together and
on good hose wagon.
am getting tired of fighting fire
with lot of men all tired out drawing
carts. They cannot do good business
as they are painting and out of wind.
and cannot stand the smoke. Try il
and convince yourselves.
Had we had wagon, aud our hose
coupled as it should be, you would have
seen the Rowley house in far different
shape than it is today, and lots of
others.
They feel that their chances are slim.
Have they good reasons for thinking
soY should think they had. Then
in like cases the tiremen have but little
TO encourage them: there is no credit
for them. This is one Ofthe best things
to do: put the boys in shape so that
they can gain credit and l will assure
you they will get IL
Let me ask one questions; would ii
not be good idea to buy a wagon and
team, and extend the mains, and keep
our streets in as good shape as they are
for this year? can run the fire de-
partment with less than half the num-
Der of men and do better work, and
think you would soon reduce the rates
of insurance. Some OF my friends have
got vexed at me because | would not
let their buildings burn down and make
clean job of it. II | would allow such
a thing our reputation would soon be
gone. Rates of insurance would soon
90 up. We want to reduce the rates
and make the citizens understand we
are working for their interest. IL is
for the interest of our city that we are
working, and not the pay which is very
small compared with the chances we
take. But we are in ii TO win, and we
are bound to win by the aid of our
mayor and council.
1t seems to me while property is
cheap, we should see to il and buy a
place to put our building, and not de-
pend so much on leased property. We
may let the thing go until the suitable
places are out Of our reach. We are
paying rent enough every year to pay
interest on the money to buy lot and
put up a good brick building large
enough that our council rooms, depart
ment headquarters and Jail could all
be under one roof, Just look at the
place the city furnishes for cold night;
almost impossible to get warm.
This looks to me like very import
ant question. A good fire department
is one of the most essential organiza-
tions for any city. but to be well
equipped is another grand feature.
Horses are cheaper than men, and far
better in their place 1t is hard for
men to do horse work. hope before
the close of the summer OF '97 we will
be able to get stream OF water on a
fire five blocks away in from two to
four minutes. This will please you,
my friends, end it will please the boys
of the fire department.
You can rest assured the wagon
would pay for its self in a short time.
II you have ever belonged TO fire de-
partment you know how we feel when
the alarm is given, and we are on the
ground only to find out we can do
nothing because we have not hose
enough to reach the fire with US. Our
carts are numbered with the things
that have done their work. Every
time they go out | expect nothing else
but for their remains TO fall by the
roadside, only TO be picked up for
kindling wood We must have a wagon
and better service.
WIN. POPE, Chief.
Here's dollar for another years !.
L.. -.