Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1915-01-22
REFUSE TO BUY fire TRUCK
FIREhGEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION
REFUSE TO USE FUNDS FOR
FIRE APPARATUS

attended meetings Of the Firemen 8
Relief association for some time was
held at the city hall Friday evening,
when the members gathered to vote
upon the question of using part Of
the association funds to assist Little
Falls in purchasing fire truck.
Chief Emder, who was appointed by
the appointed by the council as one of
a committee to investigate the advis-
ability and possible cost of getting
fire truck, was the first to address the
meeting. He explained that there is
not enough funds in the city treasury
at this time to purchase the truck out
right and suggested that the associa-
tion vote a part Of its funds to help
purchase the truck. He explained that
the truck would mean great saving
to the city, as the time in getting to
fires could be shortened from IS to 20
minutes. One man would be employed
as truck driver and in his absence the
custodian of the city hall would be
present. A room would be fixed up in
the city hall and four or five young
men belonging to the fire department
would sleep there, so as to be in readi-
MSS to go to night fires, and that the
present volunteer system would be re-
tanned. The proposition Of quicker ger
vice would mean not only smaller loss
by fire but might mean the saving Of
lives. The sum of $4,000 taken from
the treasury of the relief association
to help purchase truck would still
leave it in good shape to care for the
current expenses, including benefit
claims, and the truck would be Of vast
benefit to the iremen.> The present ap-
paratus is inadequate and clumsy, and
when the fremen arrive at the scene
Of blaze after having drawn the appa-
ratus for long distance, they are ut
terly exhausted and not in condition to
fight fires. The chief said that money
expended in this manner by the asso-
citation would be we'll spent.
c. E. Carlson, one of the oldest mem
bers Of the fire department, moved that
= v te be taken as to whether the as
soeiiti' would buy fr' truck. Chief
Emiltr offered an amendment to the
-mt'7 4 II to the effect that the associ4-
:ici. go in with the city on the pur-
chase of fire truck, the association to
pay one-half Of the cost not to exceed
$4,000. The amendment and main
proposition was defeated by vote Of
"a to 81. The original motion was then
voted upon and was defeated by q
vote of 3S to %.
At previous meetings Of each Of the
companies Of the fire department Chief
Ender had explained the proposition,
and as result the matter was discuss
ed quite thoroughly before the big
meeting. A rather heated discussion
was nevertheless expected at the meet
ing of the association but those who
looked for this were rather disappoint-
ed, as only one or two of the members
openly expressed themselves as opposed
to it.
F. w. Lyon and Vim. billstein ex-
pressed themselves as being opposed to
using any part Of the association funds
for the purchase of a fire truck, hold
ing that the funds might he needed
at some future time to pension old
members. Mr.. Lyon also objected to
it from the view that if fire truck
were purchased the volunteer fire de-
partment would be disbanded as un.
necessary. He also held that the pres
ent fire department is doing just as
good work in putting out fires as it did
fifteen to twenty years ago and that
the fire truck would be a needless ex-
pense.
Henry Peterson stated that he OBJ
jected to the association funds being
used, but as an alderman favored the
purchase of the truck by the city, pro-
viding the funds were available.
A number of the members expressed
themselves as being in favor of the
proposition, among them being Chas.
Sylvester, L. w. Vasaly, Ed Loucks.
Chas. Sylvester said that he for one OBJ
jected to using armstrong; in haul
ing apparatus and that he could not
see why the fremen who have to do
the same thing should continue it when
they have an opportunity to get good
apparatus.
A