Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-05-31

~ASAAANt A~As &'A>
beholder the nights and days on
which the dead firemen rose to an
swer the call of the alarm, sent in
to tell of danger to life and prop
erty.
At $3.50 o'clock the members of the
fire department left the city hall for
the cemetery in car which had
been specially provided for them by
the street railway company. When
they arrived at the site of the mon
ument they found a considerable
crowd assembled, and the speakers
already on the ground. The Pioneer
band accompanied the department.
and three numbers were played, be-
fore the opening of the services and
between the addresses.
As chairman of the committee APP
pointed to superintend the construc-
ton of the monument, James Kinney
made the opening address. in which
he described the steps which had led
up to the construction of the shart
He said that on April 10. 1909. a
committee had been appointed by the
fire department to select a suitable
burial lot for the department, and
1t was decided to purchase ground in
Forest Lawn, where a number OF lots
were purchased for 81 900. 1t was de
cided to erect a monument on the lot
which would be commemorative of
the services performed by the de-
Of he
and a committee to select plans and
superintend the construction was APP
pointed, consisting ~ "~'"f Sullivan
James Kinney and Councilman Cisney
The contract was awarded and the
work completed. Representing the
Mr.. Kinney turned the
monument over to J. r. Norton, the
president of the department.
Replying to the speech of Mr. Kin
ney. Mr.. Norton thanked the commit
tee for their able management of the
them, and without making a talk of
any length. he introduced Mayor
Christy, who said:
The best fire insurance company
for any town or city is a well equip
ped and well manned fire department
Such a safe fire insurance company
Phoenix possesses in the personnel of
its splendid volunteer fire depart
ment. During the more than twenty
years that the present department
has been organized Phoenix has been
well protected. We have had many
severe fires. but through the earnest
work Of the volunteer firemen the
losses have always been kept down
to the minimum. AS illustrations Of
the efficient work of this department
let us recall the great Adams hotoi
fire Of just a year ago. when for a
time ii seemed as If the whole DIsi-
ness district OF Phoenix would be
destroyed; yet under the energetic
work of the volunteers led by their
chief Sullivan the fire
was contained within the walls Of
the hotel building and every person
in the hotel escaped without injury.
And recently when three fires
were started in three different To-
cations within an hour in the city
The department put out each one be-
fore much damage was incurred.
10 not believe too mcuh praise can
be given you men for the intelligent.
and self sacrificing way you
go about protecting our homes and
our property when the fire alarm
s rung.
The city officials I am sure ap-
preciate your work and 1t is the
earnest wish of each councilman that
some way may be devised for Civ
ng you more and better Gre fight
ng equipment. Last fall a commit
zee of firemen called upon the city
council and asked for a fire engine
md hose cart for Five Points and n
house in which TO put the new equip
nent We recognized the needs Of
hat section and also felt that the
East end of the city likewise needed
The fire alarm system
g inadequate We decided to sell
$780, 900 of the bonds Of the city IT,
purchase the needed equipment and
make improvements. Unfortunately
inder the territorial form of govern
nent the American city of Phoenix
,annot issue bonds for any purpose
until the august senators and repre-
'entatives comprising the United
States congress give us their permits
ion.
AN enabling act covering a bond
ssue was prepared and sent to con-
,ress more than six months ago and
here in the territorial committee of
he house representatives it has re
POSED peaceably during these long
months. When the permission will be
,iven us no one can tell. II the
'ity itself was not operating under
IN old Anticipated charter given TO
he village of Phoenix many years
Igo we might ignore congress and
'ote a direct tax and raise the nee
ssary funds to thoroughly equip our
plendid fire department. Under the
provisions of the charter the city as
es or cannot levy over 40 cents on
100 valuation on the taxable prop
rty, and this 20 cents has to cover
III expenditures of the city for all
purposes including the salaries of
he paid firemen, except interest on
he bonds of the city now outstand
ng
This levy brings in just about
alf OF the money needed to run the
ity. as a member of the city
ouncil would like to see more paid
iremen to relieve you volunteers Of
art of your arduous duties. and an
- to date equipment sufficient to
meet all demands. But until Arizona
5 admitted as a state under her