The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-25
FIRE DEPARTMENTS NEEDS.
COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE TO CONSIDER THEM
THIS WEEK.

The Appropriation of $4,000 for the
New Engine House Insufficient.
Alderman Haas VIII Urge That IA
Sufficient Appropriation BE Made
to Complete This Work as Well as
TO Put the Department. in First
Class Condition Generally - I'm
prOyements Are Expensive, But
the City Continues to Grow and
the People Must Have Them.
The question of the erection of a new
engine house in the southwestern section
of the city will probably be taken up by
the Council Committee of the Whole this
week. Mayor Myers expects to call a
rious matters, and Alderman Haas, who Is
chairman of the Fire Committee, thinks
this will be good time to present the
needs of the fire department..
An appropriation of $4,000 was made in
this years budget for a new engine house
The Fire Committee has been looking into
the question of securing a desirable site
in the southwestern section, but has about
reached the conclusion that If it be re-
quired to spend any considerable part of
this appropriation for a site. that there
way with building and equipment.
1.-The city owns considerable real estate
in the southwestern section" said Alder
man Haas yesterday, "and it will be more
economical for it 20 set aside a site from
its own property. Besides we will need
every cent~of the money and more too TO
build and equip the engine house, to say
nothing Of the cost of maintaing 1t. We
propose to erect a substantial, brick build
ing. To merely erect makeshift would
be poor policy"
Speaking of the probable cost of estab-
fishing new engine house Alderman
Haas said that one of the reserve engines
could be put in condition for active ser
vice for about $780, AS the engine is
needed anyway for reserve purposes he
considers It good policy to have the work
done at once and win accordingly ask the
authority of Council to make the expen-
diture. This engine could do service tenn
porarily at the new station until the city
feels able to purchase another modern en-
CINE for the department, which Alderman
Haas thinks should be done at an early
date. Sufficient equipment can be secur-
ed from the other engine houses or by put
ting into use equipment now in disrepair.
1.-THE chief item of expense to be con-
sidered," said Alderman Haas, "is that OF
maintenance. Six to eight men will be
required for new station. This means
an expenditure of about 5000 a year.
Then there is the care and maintenance
of horses and the keeping up Of equipment.
The additional cost for a new station
would be hardly less than 5000 a year.
This is considerable sum to add to the
annual cost of the department. 1t may be
said that we cannot afford it, but the city
will persist in growing and we must find
the means for keeping up with its growth
somehow. The people south of Anderson
street are paying taxes and are entitled TO
fire protection. Besides some increase in
the fire department is needed"
Alderman Haas does not think 1t worth
while to make two bites of a cherry and
he will urge that it is wise economy Tor
the city to appropriate a sufficient sum
to make the equipment of the fire depart
ment complete