The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-03-05
BOARD OF
ALDERMEN
Fire Department Matters Take
Up Much Of the Time at
the March Meeting.
THE MATTER OF FIRE ESCAPES

with all the members present except
Alderman Mowery, who was i'll. The
report of the town treasurer showed a
balance cash on hand March first OF
81, 1902 O4, and in addition $500 was re-
ceiyed from Collector Barkman after
his accounts were balanced
Collector Barkman reported 81, ,S3S.93
collected during the month, of which
ST 800 had been paid to the treasurer.
The Chief Engineer reported the
houses and apparatus in good condi-
tion and also that during the month
he had made a casual examination of
the halls and public places in the town
and found woeful disregard OF means
for preventing or extinguishing fires.
The ordinances are meager and of ques-
tionable force. He. recommended that
a new ordinance should be drafted
along the lines of the present State
law, giving the Chief Engineer power
to require proper safeguards in halls,
churches and other public buildings.
He said the matter had been brought
home by the narrow escape from a
dangerous fire and possible loss of life
at an entertainment in a lodge room
utterly unprotected from dangers of
the kind.
The board of engineers reported two
still alarms responded to by the Chem
ical engine and recommended the con-
tirmation of the expulsion of j. Fl.
Rosevear and e. V. Merchant from
Resolute HI. & L. Co, the resignation
of G. f. Dickinson and James Donnel-
ly from the Wardens and the election
of j. f. Mooney and Thomas Fitz-
gerald to Washington Engine Com
pany. The reports were received and
the recommendations concurred in.
A letter from the Morris County
Traction Co., stated that the COM
pany expected to begin work on Speed
we'll avenue as soon as the weather
permitted and asked the appointment
of committee to confer with the
Traction officials to determine the
style of rail and to decide on the loca-
tion of the switches and cross overs.
Aldermen Day, Rutan and Arnold
were appointed as such committee.
A long communication from a COM
mittee of Humane Steamer Company
asked for information about their re-
quest to raise the appropriation for
the company to $500 per annum. 1t
stated that the 1905 appropriation OF
800 was not paid until 1906 and the
usual 1906 appropriation has not been
paid as yet. The excuse given had
been that the town was out of funds
and that the 1906 appropriation would
soon be paid. Meanwhile the COM
pany had been obliged to pay the bills
for the care of the house and the town
apparatus out of their own pockets.
The appropriation of 500 is not
enough to pay even the Steward, the
company adding 81 to that amount
from their own funds. 1t is import
ant to keep the apparatus in good con-
dition for on that the safety of the
town may depend
Each members is willing to do his
duty, but they do not fell that they
should be compelled to contribute
from their own pockets to maintain
the apparatus in shape. 1t seemed
strange that although the committee
of the aldermen could not raise the
appropriation, yet they could offer
$40 per month to the engineers for the
care of the engines without any ac
tion by the board. That was purely
personal and does not tighten the
drain on the company finances.
The horses furnished by the town
are too light. La going to fire the
heavy engine often pushes the horses
ahead on descending grades, and so far
they have been able to get the engine
back before The next alarm. The truck
and chemical engine are supplied with
horses for which the town pays 5000
per year each and the engine company
contends that it would be economy to
put them on the same footing. They
have but one piece of town apparatus
to care for, while the engine company
has in addition to the engine, heavy
hose wagon.
A communication from the Lacka
wanna r. r. asked the town to ap
prove a set of plans for gates at the
Morris street crossing, map being
sent showing seven arms to be operat-
ed by two men in tower on the end
Of the little Park. Alderman Day
moved that the Mayor grant permis-
sion to the railroad to erect gates and
tower as shown. Alderman Twining
asked for information, and Alderman
Day replied that the letter and map
had come as the result of a narrow es-
cape to b. O. Chisolm. He with T. |
W. Cauldwell had called on President
Truesdale Of the Lackawanna, who
had promised to put in gates.
Mayor Bennell said that the COM
pany did not-want to put up gates be-
cause of responsibility if person was
caught when the gates we're down.
Alderman Meslar objected to the erec-
tion of the tower on town property /
[coNTMUED ON FIFTH PAGE.