The sun., 1898-01-16
h PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT
Chief Welde Thinks Any Change
| InadyiSable.
CHAIRMAN OF FIRE COMMITTEE
Elves Some Figures to Show the In
M creased Cost That Would be
IN Ent allied.

BtmenC, ~ 10 S0Ic 10 say CllaL Cnc IlleI
10 are today at the head Of the fire
hters' organization, as well as those
bo were formerly entrusted with the
rection of the department-with q few
Iceptions, Of course-are opposed to any
hange from the present system, which
hey regard "a one ofthe very best in the
bnntry.
Chief Engineer Welde was found last
vening at the house Of the Friendship
ngine Company, and when asked for
His views in relation to the establish.
nent Of a paid department in Whining.
on, said:
II cannot say that have given much
hought to the subject OF the suggested
hange in the present system, for the
easOn that have too much confidence
h the members of City Council to be.
ieve that they would seriously consider
lny proposition which would entail upon
)he taxpayers u debt which would re-
1uire years to liquidate.
>, In the matter OF expense. and the IA.
|E;ertion by some that the present system
NJ n costing too much money, think the
n lssObjections on this ground could readily
nseA obvated if the General Assembly
es e Nhld pass measure requiring the var
2St1ns fire insurance companies doing bus.
I ees here to pay certain percentage
S their earnings for the maintenance OF
IIe department. have been informed
RSet there is bill having this object in
in course Of preparation now, and
- the Board of Trade will send dele
" ZION to Dover during the present ses-
RS pn to advocate its passage. ! cannot
sz5Nceive how change to the paid sys-
&! M would be either economical or adj
ntageous in any way Our companies
w 3p efficient and the cost OF maintenance
tmparativeiv small. ii We had a paid
erartmcnt which would compare It all
BiM our present system it would cost an
tprmou- amount Of money. The cali
34tem would not b. feasible, because it
kbs proven unsatisfactory wherever
En, and was abandoned by the city OF
||s3] tim"le about thrc" years ago"
I \ ssistal,t Engineer John =. Welsh
| N equally vehement in his opposi-
NJ he proposed change, declaring
w. a,r. u,.r'@, "uoit. or nul' II HEAVIER
I3)e the service would not be brttcred
Me least. AT present." he said
n y W King of the Liberty Company as an
Il nce, 1--WE employ ,nc driver ard re-
sA an annual appropriation OF $500
y v pf which must be met the salary Of
S3river, wear and tear OF the apparat-
ssS1 &QQl light, hose, etc, which always
Il NIX lists the funds of tn" company even
N h severe economy is rruticrd. II
&d paid dcparm it would hc
Ng Bmry to employ tw" drivers, one
ii III Aeer, one stokcr and four fpipclncn,
Il des another to act Us Il relief. The
fy among volunteer companies
NS yte to increase the efficiency Of the
Sss et, but in paid department the
"a Shcy is to make men laZy.'
n VA his S. Shields said that he was
fably opposed to any change what
|SS &tle present fire department. Out
B$bl the fact that the expense would
8ich gr q ar than in Il volunteer
X pent, want to say that my ex-
A yt46& OF paiu departments, gained by
tvariOrs cities wnere such II
W AZ in vogue, is that they are not
v 0S} Reflective as the Wilmington de-
% when compelled to cope with
X tDns fire. The members Of the
830lnpanes here are enthusiastic,
N! 8 orders promptly and the fact
ldom have a large fire in this
n 1&le best argument that could
e advanced in favor of the
IA H enl."
IN Michael +. Cannon, chair
n ge Fire Committee, is also
,.y3Ol6FSl ntagOnistic to the proposed
hap1 md supported his argu-
" opposition by giving
Il Il Sgies A0 Prove his contention that a
Hut IA dat3ment would greatly increase
~ ~ 6xp1tkee OF maintenance and lessen
81 IN eiBci6ncy. He said: "The cost of
n Jj6jlpping apaid fire depar, ment would
III II 6S 0fHpxs, and those who are advo-
4 fSSsCSBiaR Inchla step should stop to consider
II Svlii& ! vAst sum of money it would re-
Qnire W purchase the apparatus and
\ iHFoperties occupied by the various COM
VI nies. Il would, in my opinion, re-
SS 1ISi ei9ht men for each company, at
~ ft95O per month each to oper.
Rfsid department in Wilmington.
SVuld mean a monthly payroll of
month, or $500 year, besides
pt uniforms, hose, coal, light and
IS dentals.
a 1 r s.the present system it requires
4Sear to pay tine running ex-
&Y&sUXS NV uVPni niUhSHVj SA'>' ''Ap
YS 4i allowed $500 Weccacoe,
pys S9me, $500; Washington,
Q8 1lawarc, $35O0; Phoenix,
Hl tjendship, $35OO; Reliance,
i o W N Water Witch, 4OOO A laid
~ would cost at least $l35, 600
give effectual service, and at
<e time it is almost impossible
NSJ xhe present needs of the city
Revenues.
Patrick +. Murphy, Of the
lHi Company, treated the matter
tslX but was as emphatic as the
lI SOppositon to the suggested
,y1nying that he thought it would
iection upon the men who had
N guarded against conflagrations,
whom gave their lives to the
81 am" lie said, "in favor of
Y which will benefit tho depart
Eincrease the security of prop
Dm loss by fire, but the means
by this con be accomplished
exercise liberal policy
y the companies as at present con-