Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-07-14
To the Honorable, the Common Council Of

~ Htc AOHoF0Ote, Hb COHtBtOH OOuItCu v
the city Of Wausau
At the regular July meeting held
July 7th, 1903, the following resolution
was adopted by the common council Of
Wausau
''Be it resolved that the board of pub
lie works be, and they are hereby
authorized and instructed to have built
an engine house on the north side loca'
ton therefor in accordance with the
plans and specifications reported and
recommended by the committee on fire
and said board, and that bids be adver.
tised for and said bids to be opened al
the next regular meeting by the com
mon council VIM LILJEQvEsT.
This resolution provides for the in
crease of the active force of the fire de.
partment on the ground that the pres.
ent force is insufficient because it may
happen that in cases of a fire or fires on
more than one place at the same time,
especially if the fire should be on the
north end of the city, the necessity of
sending the hose and hook and ladder
cart to the north end, the center of the
city would be without protection.
/ concede that the department can
not cope as well with two fires at the
same time as with one fire, but the
danger in that respect is not greater than
it has been for years.
Conditions may arise such as storms
or cyclones, against which the depart
ment would battle in vain no matter
how strong the force might be. We
can only protect ourselves against the
ordinary contingencies, but not against
extraordinary ones. In the past ten
years and up to this date, the present
force of the fire department. has proven
sufficiently strong, and if an occasion
should arise when they must be assist
ed, there is police force here which is
not too good and certainly not unwil-
ling to render assistance, such as dis
ciplined and able bodied body of men
can render.
If there were a general feeling of In.
security here in Wausau based upon
intelligent, reasonable grounds, would
not dare interpose my personal views
as against the views of the council, but
as there appears to be no such feeling
of insecurity which would warrant the
increase of the active force without
some consideration of all facts which
in reason should govern my action,
have given this matter my careful at
tention and give you the result of nay
observations.
The cost of the proposed building
when finished, could not be less than
81 500, being estimated at s, AGO now,
without plumbing, electrical appli,
ances, heating, lighting and furniture
for the men, such as beds, bedding,
tubs, etc. Add to that 81 600 for hose
and $500 for horses and harnesses and
e he total Ncf .xriD no If 41ndar
81, 600. Add TO that sum the sum OF
IS, 600 as the annual running expense
and you have a total for the next year
of nearly or altogether of $1,000 which
must be provided for in the tax levy OF
this year, because the general fund is
exhausted as you all well know,
Does the immediate necessity for the
increase exist when viewed in the light
of our experience of the past
1t is claimed with some degree OF
feeling that the territory north of the
railroad track is without fire protec-
ton, and in order to ascertain the facts,
| have called upon the chief of the IRE
department for the records of the fires
in the same territory, and hereby give
yon the same for the last four and one.
half years, to-wit;
Prom January |, 1901, 10 January |. 1902.
there were ave actual fires and 2.slc
feet Of hose were laid Fhe dsmage
was sl.sO9 q
From January /. fa0s to January / 1903.
there was one actual IRE ard so feet
of hose were laid. The loss VAS 3 ~
From January /. 1868. to July 1. 1908.
there were three actual fires and go
feet of hose were laid. The loss YVES Si0
From January I. 1895. 10 January l. 1893,
there were two actual fires. both Com
panies were called out and $50 feet OF
hose were laid. The damage done
was ..s- ..ss 80. -sss 80. SlsU
From January /. 1929, to January / 1900,
there were four actu2l fires and SS0
feet Of hose were laid. The damage
From January /, * !, January 1. 1901.
there were I'VE aess.ei tres and 2-SSo
feet Of hose were laid. The loss was a6l00
These losses were occasioned by fire,
smoke and water. In nearly al fires
both companies were called out.
From the fact that there were 81 &C
snal fires n hich included the IRE at the