The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-03-24
Will Call Special Election To
Vote On Bonds For Buy
ing Equipment.
kAGE'S MESSAGE ASKS
NEW CENSUS IN CAPE
Council Wants Motor Fire Truck
and More Men At Station
House.

issue for the reorganization of the fire
department, was read last night, the
ccuncilmen heard the first reading OF
an ordinance to have special clec-
ton for the purpose of voting bombs
with which TO bay modern fire fight
ing equipment.
! The bond issue probably will be for
| $4,000 or $4,000. Mayor Rage and
some of the councilmen expect to go
to st. Louis within a few days to
investigate prices Of fire fighting
motor trucks, and a special meeting
Of the council will be held Thursday
! March 30, when the amount of the
bond issue will be determined.
/ In the same message that Rage
recommended the revampment OF the
fire department, he urged the council
to pass a bill petitionng the Governor
Of the State 10 order d special census
taken of the Cape
The Mayors message was flied and
! cOncurred in on every point that he
brought out. An opinion Of the city
counselor was read also, which stated
that the city, under the law, has the
right to vote bonds for the purchase
Of the fire fighting equipment The
bonds must carry by two-thir,lS ma
.ority Of those voting. 1t vii! require
a special election for the bond
proposition.
The MAYORS message is q, fellows:
10 tie tioil9faD.I IreSideht ITO lem
al" Ni'| COUNCIL o"pe Nlfafoeau'
-H'sSoufl'
Gentlemen:
"Thc recent disastrous confagration
which laid waste to one OF the i'm
Dcrtant business sections Of our city,
serves to arouse Us to a full reaIiza
zion Of our lamentabIe lack of suitable
and sufficient fire fighting facilities,
and the absolute and urgent necessity
of raising our fire department to q
standard. in keeping with the require
ment; of constantly growing and
RAPIDLY developing city.
We have received = clear and con-
vincing demonstration of the utter in
ability OF our fire DEPARTMENT with its
incomplete and inferior CONTINENT to
successfully meet and cone with such
emergencies as are likely to arise.
"The prompt response made bv our
firemen when the alarm vas sounded.
and their valiant and skillfuI efforts
to subdue the flames. under the irving
and DANGEROUS conditions. after they
had reached the scene of destruction,
proved them faithful to their duty.
earnest in their purpose and worthy
of high comr.endation.
eve also owe i debt of gratitude to
the fire departments Of Jackson and
Cbafee from whom We received in
estimablc assistance through the work
of their able and fearless firemen, who
20 nobly hurried to our relief with adj
ditional hose, and volunteered their
services in the struggle to save the
city.
Feeling the necessity for immcdi-
ate action towards increasing the
efficiency of our fire DEPARTMENT, |
herewith submit for voar considera-
ton the following summary of what
regard as necessary requirements in
that behalf:
81. Fire plugs should be placed in
the middle of the blocks. on Water
and Main streets, thus giving better
pressure and saving hose at times of
fire.
"2. Four fremen, including the
chief shouId rar,,i,, corStontIv a+ The