The Calumet news., 1911-12-09
MAYOR wins IN
FIRE HALL fight
NEW STATION WILL WAIT AND q
TEAM AND HOSE WILL BE
LOCATED IN WEST
HANCOCK.


When the council re-assembled last
evening to resume tho discussion after
"a two days cessation Of hostilities. both
sides brought on rcInforcements which
were counted ON To prove effective. the
mayor producing Chief Exley of the
lire department, with a proposition to
hire one man, one team. one wagon
lire lighting force at monthly salary
Of 500. and the forces favoring the
immediate erection OF a fire hall en-
listing the services Of Former Mayor
James. The latter showed by 1uota-
tlons from the law governing fourth
class cities that after March 1 of any
year all moneys remaining over in the
general fund of the city might be used
Tor any purpose which the council saw
fit To apply 1t TO. The arguments for
economy prevailed, however. and fl
was voted to contract with Edward
Horton TO furnish a team Of horses,
stable, and his own services as a
fireman for the sum of one hundred
dollars monthly for a period oe one
year. Chief EXloy viii rent the city
"A sleigh and he suggested that an aux
iliary fire department of four members
be organized TO help Mr.. Horton
combat any fires that break out i'm
the western part of town until reg
ulars arrive. Five hundred feet of
hose from the No. l station will be
taken TO Herton's barn.
Mr.. EXley admitted that n new fire
station is needed, but he did not think
the city could stand the expense now,
when men who have done work for
the city are stating that they cannot
get their money. Instead OF costing
six thousand dollars. he said. the new
hall would come nearer to costing Sl5.-
600. "Why. this city hall was only to
cost $4,000 and it cost $4,000 before
it was finished"
Il never knew before just what this
building did cost, said Alderman Fran
cis. I'm glad ! found out and | know
a lot of others will be.
Alderman Ojala wanted to know
what had been done with the $4,000
that was appropriated for fire sta
tion last spring, and that the treasur-
er's report last month showed a bal
ance of $4,000 on hand.
This was the cue for city Clerk Nc
Donald to get busy with a fusilade of
figures. "The city is not broke" said
Mr. Mcdonald, "and anyone stating
50 says what is not true. The pass
ing Of n resolution approEriating So
coo Is a different matter from collect
ing that amount. All the money rails
ed for the fire fund has been expended
for fire fund purposes. There is
money i'm all the funds, the interest
and sinking FUND having the most. But
all the money i'm this last named fund
is needed I'm the near future Next
year there will be $500 i'm bonds for
the quincy street pavement to be met,
and in 1912 there will be due also pay
mcnts on the Front street improve
mont water extension, streets, side
walks sewers and refunding bonds, tot
alling over $4,000.
Senator James pointed out by re-
fcrring TO the city charter that moneys
remaining i'm any fund after March /,
could be applied to any desired pur-
pose even including the money i'm the
interest and sinking fund. Attorney
IAwton thought that Senator James
was correct. so far as moneys raised
by general tax are concerned but that
it did not apply to any money received
from special assessments, which might
be applied only to the purpose for
which they were raised.
Clerk Mcdonald insisted that the
interest and Sinking fund was all
needed and that to use it in any other
way would be virtually robbery.
Il agree entirely with the clerk"
declared Mayor Dodge. There has
been altogether too much wrongful
transforence Of city funds in the past,
and this is one Of the things which
this administration has started out to
correct. As To Contractor Gauthier a
greeing to carry the cost of the new
fire hall for an indefinite period this is
a misconception as the city would have
to pay interest at six per cent to the
banks, beginning with the time the first
monthly bills for work began to come
I'm. | believe we are all united i'm our
desire for a fire station In West Han
cock, and we are now united in the
knowledge that we cannot afford IL at
present We need fire protection in
West Hancock and IL the money could
be raised | would be as glad as anyone
To see the new fire station built
Alderman Ojala and Alderman Cal
len both expressed their acceptance of
Mr.. Exley's proposition as a substi-
tute for any better fire protection. Al
derman Hosking said the last word
for the defeated adherents Of a new
station. 'We put up a pretty stim
fight" he said, and we feel that this
is a blow to our pet plan for fire
hall. but we must accede to the wishes
of the majority. The proposed meas
urc of protection is better than none"
A motion that the mayor and clerk
sign contract with Edward Horton
for one year at hundred dollars q
month was then offered by Alderman
Hoslting and carried. The contract will
be made at once and signed this after
noon. L1f'HlN
Salaries Are Allowed.
Alderman Francis presented a mo-