The San Francisco call., 1899-07-10
RICHMOND UP IN ARMS.
Property Owners Protest Against the
Removal of Their Only Fire
Engine.

A rousing meeting Of the residents Of
the Richmond district was held last even
ing in Richmond Hall. at the corner of
Fourth avenue and Clement street to pro-
test against the cutting down of the an
nuaI appropriation for the Fire Depart
ment.
George R Fletcher, president Of the
Point Iobos Improvement Club. presided
and William P. Thompson acted as secre-
tary In a brief address outlining the
object of the gathering Fletcher declared
that he had been informed by the pres
ident of the Board of Fire Commission
ers on Friday that as a result of the
action of the Supervisors the department
would have to get along less seventeen
fire companies, trucks, chemicals, etc,
and hat among tho number to be dis
pensed with was Engine Company No 70,
which constitutes Richmond : sole pro
lection against fire. II this was done, the
speaker declared, the insurance companies
would AT once cancel their contracts and
the circumstances the Supervisors be petit
toned to increase the appropriation for
the Fire Department. He defended the
action of the Supervisors in cutting down
the apprOpria tion as they were only striv-
ing 10 live up to their pledges. put ne
contended that in the present instance the
people could afford to ask them TO disre-
gard the dollar limit.
John ]. Cassidy. James n; Dever. Phillip
J. Ward, j. +. owens and George Lake
spoke along the same lines, and Mr..
owens offered the following resolutions,
which were adopted with whoop:
Whereas, Owing to the honorable the Board
of Supervisors carrying out of the pledge
acted of them by the people at the last elec-
tion to conduct the city on the dollar unit; anu
Whereas. In the carrying out of this pledge
If has reduced the appropriation for the main
tenance of the Fire Department to such an
extent that IL has virtually crippled this most
needed and necessary department; and
Whereas In the conducting of this depart
ment upon the appropriation allowed them by
the Board of Supervisors in the carrying out
of this said dollar limit, the Board OF Fire
commissioners has found il a necessity to abol-
ish engine company No. 20. among other fire
Wbereas' By the abolition Of engine company
No Is it would deprive this, the Richmond
District of any and all fire protection there
by leaving this large and growing district en-
tirey to the mercy OF a conflagratioh; there
i0Fs, Rtsoiydd SS That the residents and tax
meeting assembled do petition the honorable
the Board of Supervisors to reconsider the
pledge taken by them regarding the dollar
ijmit in so far as the Fire Department is con-
rarned and we ask that they will add suff-
cient amount to the tax levy that the needs of
tbe FIRE Department require. to insure to
the people that protection against TINS grim
destroyer. fire.
of five be appointed by the chair to seek
the support of the Merchants Associa
ton and appear before. the Supervisors
this afternoon to urge the necessity OF
consideration of the appropriation for
the Fire Department. The motion was
adopted and the chair named the follow
ing J. J. Cassidy, Ed Ginley. Phillip J.
Ward. j. F.. owens and l.. G. MeMullen.
Il was suggested by Mr.. Dever that
committee Of twenty be appointed Ia act
in conjunction with the committee of FIVE
when the descent was made upon the
sunervieors. to show them that the peo-
ME of the Richmond district were a unit
in demanding protection from fire; This
suggestion was improved upon by the
chair appointing everybody present a
COMMITTEES to wait upon the Supervisors.
Fullv a hundred announced their tnten-
ti0n of joining the army of petitioners
which will march to the City Hall to-day.