St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-06-04
THE SPECIAL VILLAGE nEETlNd.
Some Figures Relating to Our Fire Department.

THE SPECIAL VILLAGE r1EETlNu.
Some Figures Relating to Our Fire Department.
Every voter in the village should bear
in mind the special village meeting at the
Town Hall tomorrow evening at 73o
O'Clock and plan to attend. Thequestion
at issue involves the expenditure OF Sl2,-
600 and those who did not favor the
proposed central fire station have called
another meeting asking that the vote
appropriating this amount be rescinded.
While the trustees had full authority
from the last meeting to purchase the
Cauthier lot on Eastern avenue and be-
gin to erect central station. they ielt
that the vote was so close that it would
be wiser to await the result of the special
meeting when more voters would be
present. The trustees have no axe to
grind in the matter and if the voters do
not want central fire station they will
90 ahead and try to run the fire depart
ment on as economical basis as posi-
ble But they want decisive vote on
the question tomorrow night.
That the voters may have chance to
study the figures in this question we pre-
sent statement which appeared in this
weeks Republican which gives the rea-
sons which led the special committee to
recommend q central station, and which
shows just where the village would save
money by spending $12 900 now for new
village building:
an the year 1894 the membership OF
the fire department consisted OF 1874 men,
who were paid $2,64947; 1895, 124
men, who were paid $2,924.7o; 1896.
121 men, who were paid $2,625.41; a
total OF $3.50 So. The rent of hose
houses in 1894 wa $217; in 1895, $685.
so; in 1896, $275; making a combined
total of $S,921.Os. This does not in
clude the amount paid for drying hose,
or for horses to aid in getting the appa-
ratus to fires, which last year amounted
to $19435.
"In estimating the outlay for the CEN
trail station the amount was put at S12,-
600. This was conditioned on the loca-
tion reported by the committee, the
Gauthier property adjoining the Pythian
block, costing So 900. An estimate of
the expense OF excavating, foundation, a
two-story brick building 50x70, with
tower Tor drying hose, and heating APP
paratus, was $4,000. The apparatus
complete, including pair OF horses.
81 300, or total of $12, 500. The sum
of $4,000 was considered ample and this
amount was voted.
Now with the central station complete
and the reorganization Of the fire depart
ment on basis of membership as pro-
posed by the special committee, OF as
men, with pay based on the amount paid
the past three years, tits found follows:
1.-TWO permanent men at station, one
at $3.50 and one at SIPS per day,
$1,00S75; forty-fve call men at $50 per
year, $780, the keeping OF two horses,
$50; the pay Of engineers. $3.50; max
ing total for the year of So POSTS, and
for three years, Sc .62625. Deduct this
from the $8,199.5S (pay roll of 6remen
for 1894, '95 and '96) and it shows a
saving of 81 ,573. 80.
"But in connection with the centralfire
station it is proposed to provide under
the same root, rooms for the police and
trustees. The village is paying for rent
on account Of fire department, at pres
ent, 1915; for police rooms, $500; for
trustees. $75; total, $3.50. The village
funded its $4,000 debt recently at + per
cent interest, and at a premium that re-
duced it to Clio per cent. Calling it 4
per cent the interest on $40, 900 would be
$3.50, leaving balance OF $40 for the
year in favor of the present plan on the
matter of rents. This would amount to
$50 in three years. Last year the vii
lage paid $194 "a for horse hire and dry
ing hose; in three years this would
amount to $5S3O2. Adding these two
items to amount of saving shown above
Isl, 57333) and you have total saving
of$2, $685. or $SSS.7S per year.
"Now taking into account the reduced
amount OF furnishings contingent on the
less number OF men compared with the
greater, and less number of special arti-
Giles required from time to time in one
station as compared with FIVE, in addition
to the above figures, and one can readily
see that the saving Of $1,000 a year as
estimated by the special committee, was
not far from right.
"Tbese figures proved land there seems
to be no trouble about that will in 6
few years cancel the outlay without add
ing dollar to the burden OF taxation
allow the village to own its fire depart
ment plant clear, simplify the details o
the department and place it on a perma
nent basis whereby its running expenses
can be better controlled and kept dowi
to minimum amount.
" n. c. A. NOtes.-The mems meet