Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-01-10
To Have the Municipal Reform
Bill Passed.
New Piano Factory May Come to
Akron.

The Chamber Of Commerce had n
lively session Tuesday night. 1t may
be TINT the warmth of the meeting
was due to the subject discussed. Fiery
remarks were, made by the members
and 1t was growing late when the
smoke cleared away.
The discussion grew out of the re-
marks Of President Steiner who
brought mp the council resolution au-
thorizng the legislature to permit the
city TO bond itself to extend the fire
department 1t was thought that an
endorsement ~ the Chamber of Com
merce might aid matters, but nothing
but talk was done.
Mr.. w. G. Parsons referred to the
fire which caused the destruction OF
Buchtel College and said he believed
II was strong evidence that we had not
sufficient fire protection in the city.
He referred to the fire ON West Hill
the same night and said the loss In
that fire would have furnished
that portion Of the city with sufficient
equipment.
Mr.. Parsons moved that the Cham
ber of Commerce heartily endorse the
| action Of the City Council to secure
Increase Improvement In this direction.
Mr.. Jacob Pfeiffer seconded the mo-
ton, but after much discussion, action
was deferred until the next meeting.
| William Clcrkin put new phase up
on the discussion by asking what
would have been the effect II the city
had hada dozen engines and correspond
lngly more hose and apparatus the
night of the Buchtel fire? Mr.. Cler-
kin cited sereval fires, which have oc-
Cured In the city and said:
as 1t not true that the mains were
too small In the sections
where the fires We're located?
-Four times the pumping force would
not have helped matters particle.
The water supply IL far too limited
and In cases of emergency IL too quick
ly exhausted l nm not opposed to
the measure" said Mr.. Clerkin, ~
| wnnt mora tlrn uunurnt,,u 10 ,yo ,.,,
have more water, but IL we are to
have more apparatus without more
water, / wouldn't give 30 cents or
pitcher OF cider for the benefits. An
aerlal truck will not put fires out. The
Council ought to say what they pro-
pose to do, with the money they ask.
II they will buy out the Water Works
Company, l will gladly pay my share
Of the taxes"
Mr.. Pfelffer said that number of
fires had occurred near the canal
which could have been handled with
more equipment. "An aerial truck"
thought Mr.. Pfciffer, would have say
cd Buchtel College" In some places
he admitted the mains were too small
Mr. IL. G.. Il. Wall endorsed what
had been snid by Mr. Clerkn. He was
In favor of going TO the bottom Of the
evil.
"a bucket brigade at Buchtel Col.
lege," said Mr.. Wall, properly han.
died, could have put ont the fire. am
not critcizlDg the men. but the man
agement of the department, The hand
ling OF that fire was Il Hat failure. One
3-inch stream went clear over the
building. The men did as they were
ordered, but the orders were nonsensi-
cal. was In the building III hours
after tho Are was discovered, but not
u single fireman appeared. They stood
out In front and squirted on the brick
j walls. Such actions should be censur-
cd. 1t was II shame the way the de.
partment was managed at the college
fire, The greatest criticism against
tho department was the fact that the
four entrances and lire escapes to the
building We're not used. The volun.
tecrs remained in the building until
the roof had fallen In and the firemen
could have done the same. They could
have gone M to the fourth floor but in
stead of that they fastened hose on
fire escape. Any idiot would have
known better.
Mr. Parsons thought the criticism
Of the fire department was little
OFF, In the case of the Buchtel College
, blaze. However" said Mr.. Parsons,
| ~ heartily approve of the city pur-
chasing the water works plant"
Mr.. Clerkin said; ~ do not want to
criticize the department, but IL 1 had