The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-01-12
OF FIRE
What Chief Geo. Fish Has to Say
to Them
AT The ANNUAL MEETING
Report of the Head of the Depart
ment Including Some Recon-
mendatiOnS of Value

In last weeks issue of The Herald
there appeared an account of the an
nual meeting of the Sank Centre Fire
Department. Chief Geo. Fish sub
mitted his annual report, which be-
gan with giving in detail an account
of the fires for the year 1910, which
totaled II with loss of about 81 800.
Proceeding, Chief Fish says:
''Our loss the past year has been
very small compared with the loss for
1909, while the calls have been but
one less. The great loss in 1909 came
from the Keller factory fire. The loss
in the past year would have been a
great deal larger if it had not been
for the prompt action and good judg-
ment of this department. also wish
to say that the water pressure the
past year has been very satisfactory.
| do not wish to tire you with any ex-
tended remarks, but l feel it my duty
to say something in the hope that it
may in some way benefit this depart
ment. If can be the means of do
ing something for the boys who have
so honorably earned it 1 shall feel
we'll paid for the effort.
cit has been question in my mind
how long we can expect to maintain
such splendid fire department, en-
tirely volunteer and without pay. 1t
occurs to me that there must be
something more than ordinary about
men who will offer their services free
to a, public, working without expecta-
ton of pay or recompense, men who
are willing at any time, night or day,
to risk their lives for the sake of
others and the saving of property.
"While l know this TO be true.
while 1 know we have those men and
have them among us tonight, l feel
it is my duty, if it lies in my power,
to assist you in any way that can,
and shall say that I believe the
time has arrived when this depart
ment can and ought to at least pay
the men who fight the fires, if you
are with me in this matter. / will
leave it to you how much you should
pay, and how you will be paid, and
what will be required of you.
zone other matter 1 would like to
recommend to the department.. In
the selection of new members 1 be-
lieye it would be great help to this
department to have certain rules for
the taking in of new members. / be-
lieve that any new member taken in
any of the companies should be sub
ject to the confirmation of this de-
partment. If this was made part
of our by laws, making it necessary
for each company to report all new
members to the department at the
meeting of the department. after such
members aere elected by the COM
pany, this might put up bar against
those who might try to get in for
what benefits he might get out of be-
ing member of this department. In
soliciting new members, the new
member should be given to under
stand was is expected of him, and if
he does not agree to live up to the re-.
quirements, his application should
not be taken.
SHOW, in conclusion, / want to
thank you one and all for your ever
readiness to assist me in anything l
have undertaken for the good of this
department. I also wish to thank
our City Mayor and Council for their
efforts in our behalf, and the police
force and fire warden for their assis-
lance at fires and elsewhere.
s'My wish is that this department
shall continue to grow stronger and
better every year, and to do this we
must pull together. Let each one
help the other as one company. Again
let me thank you for your attention"