The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-05-13
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
FIRE DEPARTMENT IN RUN
DOWN CONDITION AND SUM-
TER LOW DOWN IN IN
SURANCE RATES.
Where the Lights Will be Put-Dis-
caission OF Church Street Paving
Opening Up Of Council Street
Turkey Greek Matter to be Pushed
Another Election for Bonds Neces-
sary.

SSihOe the heetihB oi the CITY iatherS
for the meeting lasted we'll on to-
wards midnight and the work done
was not commemorate with the
time consumed In the doing. How
ever. Council did do some things in
the meeting that were of great i'm
portance.
Among the things that Council did
at the meeting was the decision TO
secure $500 from the interested pro-
perty owners for the Turkey Creek
work and to go ahead with the work,
getting what assistance they could
from the county.
Mr.. Glenn stated that Mr.. Wilder
had few facts about the fire depart
ment that ne wanted to lay before
Council and Mr.. Wilder stated that
he had a few comparative figures to
give. showing what few things the
fire department needed and what II
would cost TO get an up-to-date fire
department. for the city. The up-shot
OF all his figures was that Sumter had
a fire department that was I'm equip
ment next 70 none. Wagons were
needed, new horses were necessary,
the present hose was worn out. the
department house was not well kept
and various little matters that could
be attended to at an approximate cost
of something over $1,000. while the
cost OF one new wagon and horse and
a new up-to-date combination auto
mobile and fire engine could be Sc
cured for something over $4,000.
The maintenance OF the wagons and
horses was estimated TO be something
over $1,000 more annually than that
ipf tne .slnsles Wagon. and combination
engine and automobile. Mr.. Glenn had
Mr.. Fraser James. chief 9f tie hre
department OF Darlington. who has
for sometime been securing informa-
tion about the fire departments in all
OF the cities in the Carolinas and
Georgia for the firemen's association.
stop over for the purpose OF tell
ing what he thought of Sumter's fire
department and It's equipment He
said that he had some information
along the line OF fire departments and
that in his opinion Sumter had an
old equipment that was actually dan
gerous TO the firemen when brought
into use. lie said that the wagons
were worn out. the hose was dirty
and not kept properly. that the de-
partment was not nice place for
anyone TO stay in as II Is. and a great
many other things that were not nice
about Sumter's fire department. but
all OF which were true. He stated
further. In answer to questions as TO
the insurance. that Sumter was rat
ed as a town with second class fire
department with a deficiency. the de-
hciency being due To lack OF water
pressure and insufficient equipment.
He then stated that he thought that
the best thing for Sumter TO do was
to get a combination automobile and
fire engine, which carried with Il
$500 feet Of hose. forty feet of ladders
something which Sumter's depart
ment absolutely lacked now-which.
In conjunction with single hose
wagon. was quite sufficient for Sum-
ter's need. lie said that he thought
that one well paid man should be
put In charge Of the fire engine and
house and that ne should be made IN
keep II In spick ard span condition. !
PIE talked for sometime along this
line and answered the many question
that were asked him about the in
surance rates when the combination
automobile and engine was used.
The matter was referred to the IRE
committee for them To- find out .hc
exact cost of the combination auto ]
mobile and fire engine and upon what
terms II could be secured and AT the
same time To see IL they could dis /
pose of the steamer now i'm the city |
and at what terms. report 10 be
made at the next meeting Of Coun- /
Gil. one Of the points stressed In the |
discussion was that the wagons now |
In use were unsafe and that tho fire |
m"a were unwilling 10 ride upon
them, which was the surcst way II /.
killing out the enthusiasm of the /
volunteer hrcmcn In the departments /
Frank Edwards appeared before I
Council 20 ask that a street bc open /
ed up so that the persons living in /,
the part Of the city where he lived /
could secure easier access u the city. !