The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-02
FOR FIRE AND 2GLICE
TWO DEPARTMENTS REQUIRE A
GREAT DEAL OF MONEY.
POLICE WANT $4,000.
THE FIRE COMMITTEE WILL ASK
COUNCIL FOR $sS,OOO.

| Several improvements Booked for
the Fire Department During the
Coming Year, hut All Are COnsid-
cred Neccssary-Ncw Building for
WaIdburg street Hose Station,
and n New WngOn-Thirty-eiEh
street station Engine Must Be Put
in Service, and Six New Men Are
Wanted-AnOther Wagon for This
station Must he Had-Gymnasiums
for the Firemen and Life Saving
Apparatus VIII BE Asked fOr-The
Budget VIII show That $4,000
More Money VIII BE Needed Dur
ing 1902.
The fire department will require a
fraction over $SS 900 to keep it going
next year, and the budget submitted
to City Council will show these figures
! The members of the Fire Committee
have been figuring for weeks, and have
cut expenditures wherever possible.
Despite this fact it has been found
that it viii require $4,000 more than
last years appropriation to properly
! equip and maintain this important
branch of the municipality next year.
| Chairman Schroeder, and the other
members of the committee, were not
! disposed to say anything about the
budget that mas been prepared be-
yond the fact that they have asked for
| the smallest amount with which the
department can be got in proper shape
and run another year.
The committee is in hopes that Coun-
Gil will appropriate the amount asked
for, and the budget was not made up
with the idea that it will be reduced
| The members of the committee worked
| hard on it, and reduced the desired
sum to a minimum. For 1901 Council
appropriated $4,000 for the mainten-
! ance of the fire department. Chairman
Schroeder. and the members of his
| committee, have managed to live with
in that amount, and with no damage
to the apparatus before the year closes,
will probably have little less than a
500 to spare. This is a rather unusual
record for the fire department, and 1t
has been some time since this branch
| of the municipal government has been
able to keep within the appropriation.
While Improvements are contemplate
ed in the budget for next year it is
not this alone that will cause an in
| crease in expenditures. The salary list
will be quite an important item. I'm
der the rules of the department a fire
man only gets $50 the first year that
| he is in the service. The second year
his salary is $55 a month, and after
wards $50. Several members of the de-
partment move up into the second and
third year class in 1902. New hose
to replace that which had been con-
| ad will
be several other necessary items of
expense that did not appear during the
| present year.
Hose Station No. l. on Waldburg
street, east of Price, is not in good
condition, and it is the intention of
the Fire Committee to build
o-story frame structure dur
| ing the coming year. 1t is
estimated that the new building can
be erected for $780, while it would not
| be worth while to make an effort to
repair the house used at present. That
section of the city has Outgrown the
station. At present an old fashion hose
reel is used and the machine is killing
to the horses. 1t is the intention of
with a light wagon. This improve
ment is considered absolutely neces-
sary, and will cost about $500.
improvements are also booked for
| No. 6 station on Thirty-eighth and JEFF
| ferson streets. The engine at this
station has never been put in service,
and it is the intention of the commit
tee to put it to use just as soon as
possible. Two new horses will have
to be purchased at a cost of $3.50, and
the salary of an engineer will be 81 900
a year. A new hose wagon for two
horses VIII have TO be bought for the
Thirty-eighth street station, at a cost
of $500. New wheels will cost about
$3.50.
1t is figured that six men will have
to be added to the department, increas-
ing the salary list SO, 500. In addition to
this there will be the cost of uniforms
The bill for fuel will also be increased
by the putting in service of the engine
at station No. g. Several new ladders
will also have to be purchased.
1t is the intention of the fire commit
tee to equip all of the stations with
gymnasiums. This innovation is con-
sidered helpful to the men, and can
be made without any great outlay of
money. A gymnasium was fitted up at
fire headquarters on Indian street as
an experiment, during the present
year, and the result is that gymna-
Sums for all of the houses figure in
the budget for 1902
The department is also in need of a
life saving equipment and Council will
be asked to appropriate for this inn
provement in the service. The device
would not cost a great deal and is one
which the committee believes should
be part of every fire department in
a city. A practice tower would be con-
structed, and the firemen would be
taught to shoot the rope straight, the
apparatus in mind being a gun by
which life line can be shot over a
building.