The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-13
BOARD of Fire Commissioners.

ADJOURNED MEETING
Board of Fire Commissioner.
st. Paul, Mimi, Nov. II, 1901.
An adjourned meeting of the Board
was held this day at p. m.
Present - Commissioners Clarkin
| SchWeiZer, Tosteyin and President War
/ ner.
Absent-Commissione Freeman.
Minutes of the previous meeting read
and approved
President Warner presented the fol-
/ lowing report:
/ IN pursuance to molten passed at our
meeting on the 9th of November, request
| ing the President to prepare a statement
/ to be presented to the Charter Commits
a proposed amendment of the Charter.
having for its object the removal of the
present appropriation of S2l5Gt0,03.
| have the honor to submit the following
| report for your consideration and ap-
prevail.
Mr.. President and members of the
/ Charter Commission
! St Paul, kIinn.-Gentlem During our
| administration of the Fire Department the
! PAST year. we have found that the pres
ent appropriation is insufficient for the
demands and requirements necessary for
| efficient service 1t is evident therefore.
| inasmuch as this condition exists, that
! Tor the proper protection of property
| an increased appropriation is absolutely
| necessary.
/ Taking into consideration the existing
conditions, we would deem it advisable
! for your honorable body to prepare an
Amendment to chapter 5, title 2, section
OF the present charter, removing the
| fixed approximation of S2l5 90 The in
tent of this amendment being to do away
with any fixed appropriation for any one
year We are of the opinion that this
would be undoubtedly the most logical
scientific and satisfactory Course as it
would then be possible at all times in
| this department to equip and maintain
| emclent service commensurate with the
| city S growth.
TO appreciate fully why this course is
believed to offer the best solution to our
| present difficulties it is necessary,
First, to understand that fixed appro-
priation can only be based on the pres
ent.
Second, that in determining an appro-
priation for the future, we would be
subjected to one of two>evils.
FIRST, an insufficient appropriation, Tn
der which conditions would soon exist
as now, or secondly, one too large. when
| would consequently lead to extravaganza.
The advantages to be gained by an
elastic appropriation are obvious. This
department would have under this sort
of an appropriation sufficient funds in
any year to meet the demands required
of it. and it would then become para
mount with each succeeding Board to
strive to give the most efficient service al
the least cost. In considering municipal
finance, it IS important to keep in mind
that the amount expended is not the final
test OF departmental efficiency, therefore
| final decision must be determined by the
| efficiency or inefliciency of the admins
trative service.
The taxpayer and the citizen is not in
Jured or aggrieved by municipal expendi-
| lures, providing the return is proper and
essential. and important services are eff
| hciently rendered.
We have prepared statement of equip
ments and services that are needed in
| this department the present day for nroD
| erSfire protection of the city.
| In submitting this statement for your
enhancement, it is proposed by the pres
! ent Board that if the amendment receives
the Endorsement of the people at this
| springs election, We will carry out the
! following plan:
| First-To reinstate the salaries of the
| hremen Which were operative before the
cut of 1885, and where it does not conflict
| with those made by the present charter
! Ihls would necesstate an expenditure
| of $12969.96.
| Second-Install an Engine Company in
Eng;2e House No. IS. West Side; cost Of
| total equipment $9946.00.
| Thi, d-Equip the house located on the
| corner of Ashland and Victoria with an
| Engine Company, cost of equipment, S14,-
| 1890
we consider this one of the most i'm
| portant districts that we have to cover.
AT the present time there is but one
| Engine Company located at the corner Of
| Seiby avenue and Mackubin street, to
| cover the hill district. This Engine Com
pany also covers a large area of the
Eighth Ward. and if a conflagration
| Should occur on the hill during the time
that this company is responding to an
alarm In the Eighth Ward it would
leave this territory jeopardized for the
| quick action of an Engine Company. This
| district the past few years has been built
| up wonderfully for residence purposes,
and they depend largely for their protec-
| ton on No g. which is located on Vic
toria and Ashland, and consists of a
| chemical manned by three men, and
winch is not the proper equipment to
handle anything but an incipient blaze.
Fourth-Replacement of hose wagons
and additional repairs to apparatus to
cost 81, $50 -
Fifth-To appoint an additional ten
men IN the Midway district to cost IS, 4S0
Sixth-To purchase lot in the vicin-
ity of Dale and University avenue erect
| an engine house and equip the same with
second size engine at a cost of SOS 202
This district is now being covered by
an Engine Company On Edmund street ana
No. Engine Company, located at Mac
kubn and Selby, as this is a district that
is now depending on it's fire protection
with one Engine Company and Company
that is required to make q long run to
cover same, we consider that at all times
there should be located another Engine
| Company in this district according to
plans and details given above
Most all the apparatus in the depart
ment is in a serviceable condition with
the exception of Engine No. Is, which has
been in service thirty years, and is To-
Gated at st. Anthony park also the re-
| serve engine, which was purchased in
1869. These two engines are no longer
to be depended on. We intend replacing
these with two first class engines, to-
| cost S4,S00, each $4,000, deducting an APP
proximate amount that we may reeeive
for the old engines in trade, of 81. 0OU
| would entail an expenditure of $500 -
Summarizing these expenditures IL
amounts to s79,93496 adding this to the
| present appropriation, makes a total of
! $294. 49,. &c.
On motion of Commissioner Schweizer
the board adopted the above report and
| ordered that it be placed before the
Charter Commission at meeting to be held
on Friday evening, Nov. Is.
Adjourned
President