The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-02-23
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Efficiency Of Department Can Be In
creased Without Added Burden
On Taxpayers.


Herald and News for part paid fire
department has G tadreeoncAO1NA
department has created considerable
interest and favd ra1e comment: 4
number Of the citizens and taxpayers
of Newberry having expressed them
selves as heartily in favor Of the
movement.
AS was stated in the last issue Of
The Herald and News the rates for
Newberry approved by the Soutl-
Eastern Underwriters association on
January 25, 1909, contain IN increase
in insurance rates, as follows: Eff
teen cents and eighteen cents added
to brick mercantile for defective fire
department and water supply" New
berry IS placed in the list Of second
class cities, this deficiency: however.
making her a second class city with
deficiencies-lower than second class:
but above the third classs.
In another column in this issue Of
The Herald and News is published
the classification Of first class and
second class cities by the Southeast
ern Tariff association. \ reading Of
this classification will show exactly
what Newberry needs in order TO
come up to the requirements for a
second class city.
Chief Henry Wells, in his report
published in the last issue Of The
Herald and News, estimated that the
recent increase in rates in Newberry
would amount to at least between two
and three thousand dollars in the
business district affected. This in
crease will amount to very nearly
enough to pay chief Of the depart
ment 500 a month; to employ three
paid men in addition at fifty dollars
per month each to stay Oh duty con-
tinuously, and to employ eight call
men paying them $1.00 all alarm for
the first hour and fifty cents for the
second hour. A chief at $lO0 per
month would require 1900 per year;
three paid men at fifty dollars per
month each, $1,000 per year; eight
call men, counting an average Of ten
fires per year, at the rate Of pay
named above, $50 per year; making
a total Of $1,000. To Offset this
would be the item of at least $4,000
increase in business district; two
drivers at $3.50 per year, who could
be dispensed with; and an item of
$120 street duty from forty firemen
who do not now pay street duty;
mailing making : total Ct $4,000. Ills would
be more than taken up by the amount
of the increase in rates over $4,000.
This is an illustration given by Mr..
T. O. Stewart, who was formerly cap
tain of the Newberry department, Of
how the efficiency Of the department
could be increased without extra ex-
penditure on the part of the tax-pay-
ers, and increasing the security of
property MANIFOLD.
If this can not be done just at this
time, certainly the paid men hereto
fore suggested by The Herald and
News could be employed, and this Is
matter which should be taken up
by city council at once.
In addition to these matters, New
berry ought to have hook and lad
der truck and a chemical engine. The
two can be secured in a combination
machine at small cost. And other
equipment is needed, as will be seen
BY reference to the classification Of
cities published elsewhere. There is
no reason why Newberry should not
be we'll within the second class. The
improvements suggested by Chief
Wells, however, ought to come first.
\ step in the right direction is worth
a great deal.
There also seems to be something
lacking in regard to the water supply.
as indicated in the increase Of rates
published by the SOUTHEASTERN Un-
Gerwviters association. which should
!! have attention.
Why not have meeting Of city
council with the officers OF the fire
departme. to discuss the matter and
zee what can De done? It IS mat
/ ter of vital Importance, affecting the
property and the safety Of every cit
izen of Newberry. Something foS
the Improvement of the Department.
certainly should paid men-should be
determined upon and action taken at
once.
Honor to Whom Honor.