The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-09-25
THE MAYOR SUGGESTS
PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT
Read His Recommendation at Meeting
tuesday Night, September Is.

Gentlemen of The Council: While
I believe that on account of the i'm
perative necessity of a volunteer fire.
department, that the city government
should and can afford to make arrange
ments to pay such a department, it
seems that the majority of the council
has different idea; l therefore appeal
to the patriotism of all citizens, both
male and female, alike. The first, to
aid by substantial financial support, and
the latter by their moral support. I
therefore recommend that the bankers
merchants, manufacturers, hotel keep
ers, liquor dealers and professional
men of the city be asked to subscribe
a certain amount, such as they believe
shey can afford per month for the pur-
pose Of paying and equiping Of vol
unteer fire department until such
time as the department can be made
self-sustaining. In addition to the
above, I recommend further, that the
city purchasing agent be instructed to
have a deposit box made with a lock
and key, said box to be placed in the
post office, under the charge of the
post master, for the purpose Of receiv-
ing donations from other sources than
those mentioned above.
For the purpose of obtaining sub
scriptions, committees ought to be
asked to volunteer for that purpose l
suggest the following: For the bank
ers and merchants, H. E. Carr, VIM.
Mcintosh. Joseph Gangler, R. B. Field.
For the manufacturers, F. S. Jacobsen,
M. A. Marley, and L. W Woodrow.
For the hotels, A. c. Barclay and D.
S. More. For the liquor dealers, F.
H. Hutchings and ]. E. Tholin, and
for the professional men, L. ]. Nelson
and G. w. Hoxsey. All moneys, if
any collected, should be placed in a
firemen's fund in charge of the city
purchasing agent, who shall pay each
fireman, including the chief, an equal
amount for each fire, and shall purchase
all equipment recommended by the
chief. The chief is to receive in addi-
ton to the above from the city govern
ment a monthly salary as established
by the city council.
The department should consist OF
seven men, including the chief. They
should be clothed with the same power
as regular policeman, and should have
absolute and exclusive CONTROL of all
fires. Having had seven years and six
months actual experience in the Fire
Insurance business in the city OF
Clinton, Iowa, I believe I can say
truthfully that if fires continue and no
department is organized, a blanket
raise in the insurance rates undoubt-
edly will be made. So far, fortunately,
we have not had to record any loss OF
life, yet this has happened, and it
would not take very vivid imagina-
ton to believe that it may happen
here.
Citizens of Leavenworth and gentle
men of the council, kindly give this
matter your serious consideration, and
if the above plan is considered feasible,
then let us act collectively and at once.
See these committees and ask them
kindly to go to work at once. This
work ought to be done easily in a week
or less, so that the committees can
meet with the council at a special
meeting to be held in the city hall
Wednesday, September %. at 500
o'clock D. M, at which meeting a
plan Of organization could be thorough
" discussed. Let US act quickly and
intelligently.
Respectfully Submitted,
S. c. Woldenberg,
Mayor.