Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-10-28
JOINT COMMITTEE PLANS
Recommendations Submitted TO
the Council tuesday Night.
TO SUBMIT IT TO The PEOPLE

Special Election May Be Held to
Raise Funds For Equipping the
New Fire Department
The city council met in special ses
sion Tuesday night for the purpose of
receiving statement from the joint
COMMITTEES of firemen, business men
aud councs linen concerning the equip
ment of the fire department, and there
were present Councilmen Cnshwa.
Stewart. Lemen, Poole. Hutsler, En-
inert, Thompson. Grozinger and Schill.
with the mayor in the. chair. The
members of the committee on hand
were the three councilmen and Messrs
Robinson, Crawford, Clohan, Kline,
Thomas and Fellers, being the entire
membership of both bodies. with the
exception of Councilmen Lambert
The Joint committee submitted re-
port, in which several very important
recommendations were made to the
council, and this report was laid be-
fore the meeting for consideration and
the matter thresbed oct pretty
. thoroughly during the two-hours' dis
cussinn which ensued. The report
was in part as follows. the omitted
portions being matters which have
already appeared IN The Evening
World.
''First-That it the citizens will
furnish and equip the department.
with four suitable horses. a hook.and-
ladder truck, and combination hose
wagon and chamical eng ne, that the
committee reccommendss to the city
council that the corporation of Mar
tinsburg arrange to fnrnish suitable
building, and maintain said horses
and equipment, aud employ as many
paid firemen as will be necessary for
that purpose.
'Second-That owing to the present
condition of our fire equipment, this
committee recommends to the may or
aud council the immediate necessity
of reorganizing the fire department,
and take immediate steps for main.
tanning proper equirment for the pro-
lection of the CITY, and If necessary TO
effect same, that the anon ut necessary
to ACCOMPLISH this be borrowed on the
best possible terms, and the proceeds
Of such loan 90 be expended only for
the purpose named. +"
These recommends tions were supple
mented by statement by Mr.. Robin
son, in which he recited the pressing
need for a thoroughly-eq equipped fire
department, and an earnest plea that
the council take hold and push the
matter to successful conclusion
with the aid of the business men ana
property owners of the city.
The plan outlined ~ Mr.. Robinson
and proposed bv the committee was III
substance that suggested in The Even.
ing World few days ago, namely. the
purchase of building by the CITY, tn
be paid for bv the CORPORATION; the
equipment OF the building with four
horses, combination hose wagon aud
chemical engine, hook and. ladder
truck, full complement of good hose,
and four paid firemeu, the equipment
to be placed in the building by the
joint committee free of charge to. the
expense of the citv; and the asst. lance
of reorgani2ed volunteer department
TO aid the paid firemen in the actual
work of protecting the CITY.
At the suggestion of the committee
the mayor had personally secured an
option on the A. j. Snyder buildin &
adjoining the city hall OH West Burke
street, Mr.. Snyder agreeing to sell
this bnilding within so days for IS. 600,
guaranteeing possession not later than
April /, 1906.
This plsu met with instant approval
and speeches in favor of it were made
by Mr.. Emmert, MIR. Cusbwa, Mr..
Poole, Mr.. Thompson and other coun-
Gilman. The stumbling block, how
ever. seemed to be the question.how t.
get the monev for the improvements
and this was discussed at some length.
1t was the opinion OF the meeting that
the best method of procedure would
be to levy special fire assessment,
and use the proceeds to purchase the
bnilding and maintain the department.
The first cost was estimated at about
1000, with yearly expense of aboui
$1,000 to 50, 900 to maintain the de-
partment. Included in the plans fol-
the new department are new auxili
ary engine ut the water works and