The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-20
MANY PROMINENT CITIZENS AMI
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL EAVoH
1MHDIATE PURCHASE.
INSURANCE RATES CONSIDERABLY
REDUCED IN BELLAIRE SINCE
NEW EQUIPMENT WAS
INSTALLED.
SAFETY FUND NOW has oVEh
$1,000 OR MORE THAN sUFF1-
GENT TO PAY FOE MACHINE.

A meeting of the citizens and TAX
payers of this city. was held in the
rircmrn's room OF the city building last
night. with Mr.. George II. Scheetz.
president OF the local Business Mems
Association. presiding. Mr. SchcctH
opened the meeting by stating that the
object of the gathering was TO purchase
suitable and up-tO-datc fire cqulpmehe
for the city, and that he desired 10 hear
All expression III the opinion of all prcs-
rnt Mr.. Fred J. Fox. asked that the
members Of council. who were present
be asked to state what they have con-
::idcrrd or intend TO do regarding Inc
matter of proper fir" protection for the
town Mr.. Frank McDanicls. ono of the
councilmcn. answered, that committee
from that body had been appointed 10
inspect the apparatus of the surround
ing towns, and make a report on their
finding to council. He said. 1.-The COM
mittcc has worked on the matter for n
matter of year and Il half. and had
recommended time after time. that Il
combination chemical and booster pump
be secured. but few of the members
of the body refused to make a purchase
OF the apparatus recommended. stead
tasty insisting that Il chemical was all
that the city required" He further
stated. We all realize that 90 per cent
of the fires are distinguished with the
chemical. but if ypu have nothing else
10 rely upon. what are you going TO
rely upon for the ether ten per cent or
fires"
Fred Cook local grocer. was tine
next speaker and stated that it was his
opinion that IN" city rouncilmcn were
elected hy the people, for the purpose
of administering thu affairs OF the city.
and that he was OF tho opinion that the
citizens had no right TO interfere. How
ever. it was his personal opinion that
something should be purchased that
would be suitable for the jon.
Insurance Rates Go Down.
Mr.. Cowan, an insurance man from
Bcllairc. and the representative OF Fire
Chief Fitton. OF that city, submitted fig
ures to show that the insurance rates on
the property of the town. would be low
cred by the purchase or proper fire
fighting equipment. He stated that The
insurance rates in Bellairc. since the
purchase Of the now fire equipment n
that city. had been reduced 20 per cent
on business property, 81 per cent on
factory property, and about 30 per cent
! on the residence property of that city.
He further claimed that the purchase Of
| the new equipment in Bellairc had saved
81 matter of 20 per cent on all of the
property Of the town. amounting in the
three years. 10 sufficient money 10 pay
the entire cost OF all Of the equipment
in use in that city.
Councilman James Morrow spoke nj
some length on the subject. saying that
he had been appointed 10 the position
of resigned councilman only short
time ago and was not very intimately
acquainted with the affairs Of that
body. but he was willing To abide by
the decision of the citizens in the meet
! ing assembled. and purchase what they
thought necessary. He said that he
had always advocated smaller ma
chine. considering his personal opinion.
but he was willing TO abide by the do
cision Of tho citizens.
Cease Council Squabbnng.
Fred j. Fox next spoke ON the cnndi-
ton OF the department in Wheeling.
ana stated that tho hazards Of the town
Of Bridgeport required something new
and up to date in the way OF equip
mcnt for fire lighting. He said: This
squabbling in council should be elinin-
atcd and the body should get together
tremendously. We. t:c citizens OF the
alton. and We want our business con-
Quoted In Il business way.
Hon. j. {. Hcinlciil followed. and he
remarked: Council should make 1t
their business to do what the taxpayers
and property owners wish done in TIE
matter They have the trust and con-
iidcnc" of the people. and it should be
their duty To hood the voice OF the
pcoplc." He continued: "I3ridErport is
in drplorablc condition. almost help
less. and Their" is coming q time wh'n
the people will suffer unless something
Is done What docs few cents mean
against "A human life" Why. if VIC
have n fir" and lose only one life. that
lir would be- worth more money than
there is in bridgeport.
Citizens want Protection.
lie stated that h" had property in the
town and was interested i'll the town
heart and soul, and was DESTROYS or
seeing proper tire protection Provided.
He said: Here are the iircmcn, these
men who sacrifice their time, rInlhc"'
and even their lives. for no selfish pur-
pose. and they ask for nothing hut de-
cent apparatus with which To work.
lie suggested ;hat it was his personal
opinion that n combination chemical
and horstcr pump would be the right
thing for the town. Mr.. Hrlnlclh
then offered tho following rcsnluiion:
Resolved. that it is. tho sense OF ms
meeting that the ccuncilmcn Of the
town IF Iridgeport. Ohio. take prompt
action To- acquire proper protection for
the village against fire. and that Il
committed, of ,iiv" bc appointed TO go
before the council at their next meet
ing, which il THIS evening. and insist