The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-01

the contract with the Sumter Ice
Light and Power company that The
price for each light over 100 lights
would be $66.2-3 per year, while the
present price was $40 each for one
year. He stated that three more
| lights were needed by the city and
he thought it best to have these lights
put in at once. Mr.. McKeiver thought
it best to have small lights put in in
place OF the large ones, so that they
could be placed nearer together and
by so doing he thought the bill would
be reduced and the city would be bet
ter lighted 1t was decided to ap-
( point a committee to investigate and
see IL this idea was a good one and
Mayor Jennings appointed on this
committee Mr.. McKeiver. Mr.. Glenn
and Mr.. Cuttino.
Mr.. Glenn as chairman of the fire
department. began his report by
stating that the fire department was
in very bad shape.
He first proposed that Mr.. Wild
er be elected chief of the fire de-
partment which was done. He said
that he wanted at least 10 imagin-
ary fire boxes installed at once. These
imaginary boxes to be situated at
places where there were no boxes at
present and to connect from the tele-
phone exchange to the department
headquarters.
These imaginary boxes would con-
sist of connections put in at the tele-
phone exchange which central would
ring when she received a phone mes
sage Of fire at the place, designated
by the box. This would notify the
ure department of the location Of the
lire and such a thing as happened a
few nights ago could not happen
again, when the hose teams were at
one place looking for the fire while
the fire was being put out two blocks
away. 1t was objected to this plan
that all Of the work would devolve
on the telephone system, but Mr.
Glenn stated in answer to this criti-
cism that over two-thirds Of the fire
alarms now We're sent in by tele-
phone. Mr.. McKeiver moved that
these boxes be put in at once and as
many more as were deemed necessary.
This motion was carried
Mr.. Glenn then asked that steps he
taken to have volunteer fire depart
ment organized among the negroes
across the railroad. TIe said that this
would be much easier on the city fire
department No action was taken in
this matter
\ letter yas rcd from The BartIctte-
Hayward company stating why they
had not begun the work OF laying the
gas mains IN the city. This was ge-
ceived as information.
Here another matter was brought
up that seemed to be of great inter-
est to many members Of council, as 1t
seemed to give them a chance of re-
lieving their shoulders of the burden
Of city debts and troubles. This was
the matter Of a commission form of
city government for Sumter. 1t was
discussed for some time, the clerk be-
ing instructed to communicate with
the County Legislative delegation,
asking them To place towns Of the
5000 class in the bill now before the
legislature so that Sumter could come
among the towns provided for in the
bill. The clerk was also asked to
write to Mayor Gibbes of Columbia to
come to Sumter and make an address
here on the commission form Of
government.
1t was mentioned that Mr.. Birchard,
the y. NJ. c. y. secretary, had gone
To Charlotte to the meeting of Y. NJ
G. AS Of the Carolina's there and he
had asked that the city council ex-
tend an invitation to the Y. NJ. c. A.
delegation which he expected 70 ask
TO meet in Sumter at its next meet
ing. This was done.
Council having then completed its
Herculean labors for the evening. it
adjourned with the clock pointing to
the half hour Of midnight