Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-12-06

81 NEW CHIEF 9 BE = E.LD.
That the firemen we're interested in /
the proposed reorg anization Of the
city fire department was shown by
the large attendance at the meeting
called for Thursday night at city hall,
all the three companies being well rep
resented. yt
The sense of tbs meeting was that |
the beginning of the reorganization |
should be made at the head Of the |
department and worked down until
all the units Of the department are
working as a harmonious whole.
q This desire on the part of the fire.
men is not taken in a sense Of op.
position to John Holman, who has been
chief Of the department for several
years through lack OF a meeting to
elect a successor, for all recognize
that in Mr.. Holman the city has had
an enthusiastic and efficient fireman
for many years, but expresses the idea
that the time has come when a reor-
ganization throughout is necessary
the movement to cover the
rehabilitating of all tbs companies
with new blood and men who are
young enough and enthusiastic. enough.
to do the hard work that the older
members have been carrying on for
twenty to twenty-five years. :s#
!. The meeting was called to order
by Chairman Marquett of the council
fire department committee, who in
brief, stated that the meeting had been
called to hear what the firemen had
to say regarding the bettsrment of
the department and to listen to any
suggestion that might be made. w. IF.
Cushing was made secretary. \ ~
Il H. J.. Reade, being called upon said
in part, that Bismarck was fortunate
in having a good watsrworks system,
but the town was scattered too much
to have the fire apparatus pulled
about by human beings. In his opin-
ion the business district was well pro
Etected, but the residence portion not
so we'll, owing to the man power used.
He thought the council should employ
TWO men to Stay at the fire house all
the time, or until such time as the
| city can afford a team and paid men
to take all the apparatus to fires. All
the companies should be required to
brush up and take a definite stand as
Ito what they proposed to do toward
furnishing firefghters. .yg.,. j
w. F. Gushing was next celled on
land said the matter of reorganizing the
department was not sentimental
! affair in his opinion, but rather an
imperative business proposition. In
years past the volunteer fremen had
done all expected Of them, but there
! was necessity Of new blood as the
older men no longer felt able to bear
the burdens of hauling tbs apparatus
to fires He advocated the. election at
! once Of a chief who had time to de-
vote to the work such a proposition
entailed and bold enough to take hold
! and insist upon all tbs companies
cleaning house and getting down to
hard practical work when the time re-
! quired it,; to systsmatize the depart.
ment .as ia working whole; and in all
things take the Initiative in fire mat
tiers to the end that in time it would
gradually work into we'll regulated
paid department. .4 1.s,ss
j William Laist said the present sys-
1 tenn was ali wrong. In his opinion
maps showing wards should be placed
/ in the firehouse. the telephone ex'
change and power house and arrange.
ments made with the exchange peo-
pie to phone location of alarms when
/ asked from the firehouse, and the pow
/ er house people so that the number
/ Of the ward could be sounded first
and last in giving an alarm. An ar,
rangement should also be made by the
! proper officer with the telephone ex-
change SO that when the firahouse
calls, at time of alarm, that the call
4 have the preference over other calls.
This because it was frequently diff,
cult for the firsInen to get central
promptly after an alarm had sounded
owing to the many calls at that time,
/ Will Couch seemed to be under the
impression that an effort was being
made to disband some Of the conpan-
les and stated the council had not
such power. He was assured by those
] present that there was no desire to
I disIband any company, but 1t was the
sense Of ali that II any company failed
In it's duty a competent chief would
quickly recommend to the council &
reorganization or disarmament. the
council having plenty Of power il
~, a IL, ~, MI ~, sfk,,,,t. fs.3a r. 81