Evening journal., 1904-06-27
FIREMEN ARE
DISCOURAGED
No Response to Call for
Special Meeting of
Citizens
PUBLIC SCHOOL PROMOTIONS
Special to the Evening Journal.

Special TO the Evening journal.
New Castle. June 2s-Beneath the
spreading branches of a friendly tree
opposite the engine house, seven mem-
bers of the Lenape Fire Company sat
yesterday afternoon and waited pa
tiently for nearly two hours for other
members of the company and any citi-
zens who felt so disposed to put in ap-
pearance in order that a meeting might
be held to discuss the condition of the
fire department. But no one came, and
after much discussion and expressions
of disgust at the lack of interest shown
in the project the men departed for
cooler quarters and vowed that some
one else would have to run the next
meeting. if any was held.
This is twice" said one of the men,
'that some of us have tried to awaken
public interest in the condition Of the
fire apparatus. Our property owners
do not seem to care anything about it.
Well. if they're satisfied to have their
Insurance rates go up and their prop
erty burn down, I guess we are, espe-
cially those of us who own no property
I'm the city and who work at fires gra-
tuitously. to save others from loss"
yes" said another, "and some fire.
men are talking of disbanding the COM
pany and forming a new one. but that's
all rot We can get along all right
il we had the money, but you can't do
anything on wind-wind mills might be
all right for supplying water for fam
lily use but they are no good for fight
ing fires"
Trustees and Water Company.
Firemen place much blame for the
existing state Of affairs on the Trus-
tees of the Commons and the city water
works company. The former they
say, entered into an agreement with the
fire company three years ago to give
the company $3.50 per annum for ten
years. For one year this agreement
was lived up To and then the appro-
priNion was cut off. Some say that
the trustees declare that they are un-
able to keep up the payment on ac-
count of other items of importance that
must be looked after, and upon which
money must be expended. The money
put out to induce the new steel plants
TO locate here was a considerable strain
on the assets OF the trustees but they
feel that the result justifes the ex-
penditure.
Firemen claim that it is a ridiculous
proposition TO neglect the fire depart
ment in order to induce a concern and
individuals to locate and build in a city
where their plants or homes may be at
the mercy of flames at any time.
There is n variance also between
members Of the fire company and Off
cials Of the water company. The for
mer claim that even with their engine
Ia
sible TO run the steamer at its full ca
pacity. that the water supply is in
Sufficient on account OF the size Of the
mains, which were laid years ago wher
the city was considerably smaller. \
4-inch main. they claim, can be pump
ed dry in ten minutes. Fire plugs, it i,
also said, do not receive proper atten
tion, or had not for some time previous
TO the recent fire in Third street, an,
instance is cited where a plug had no
been opened for number OF years be
fore. The water company deny thes
assertions and say there is plenty o
water at all times il the engine is prop
erly handled.
Council Not to Blame.
Firemen do not, nor have they fever
they say, blamed City Councn.as the,
realize that there is a lack OF none.
at the city's command, and that St /
powerless TO act to any great extent
Notwithstanding this, however, mem
bers of the fire company have arrange
with a machinist in the employ Of tn
American Machine Company, Whining
ton, to come to this city on Thursday
examine and test the steamer. an
. place an estimate on the cost of repair
! ing it. his figures win he laid befor
I Council and that body asked to TAX
\ some steps towards raising the amour
necessary 10 do the work.
It has been suggested Council tax
charge of the apparatus. disband tn
company and appoint ten active me
TO reorganize the department. .