The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-08-06
NEEDS ARE SET FORTH
CHIEF BANGERTER SPEAKS
OF THE CONDITIONS
WAGES ARE TOO SMALL
Better Money In Other Lines
Attracts; the Pay Must Be
Increased

"Mankato has a first class fire
fighting apparatus, but lacks men to
run the same" was the comment of
Chief Bonnie Bangerter today when
asked by representative of The
Free Press whether the scarcity of
men had effected the department
work. Chief Bangerter stated that
the department for two or three weeks
during the month of June was
seriously handicapped by the lack of
two men, who just then quit the force,
because they were offered much bet
ter pay in other lines of work These
two men were Frank Richardson and
Carl Phelps. The latter was the
mechanic at the central station and
considered one Of the best men in
that work in the state. Chief Ban
gerter, says that this places all of
the mechanical expert work on his
shoulders, which he is willing to
bear, but in case Of his illness, such
as was The past two weeks, the de-
partment would be seriously handi
capped should the services of an eX-
perienced mechanic be needed.
Call On Friday Night.
ut was no further back that Fri
day night, when We were called to
the Goa Fellows building, which was
then filled with smoke. 1t looked
like a serious fire where the aerial
truck would have TO be used, but ow
'~~ 10 the fac that a number Of the
fremen were then at supper we did
not nave enousu men 10 operate the
ladder until the men returned" said
Chief Bangerter. Continuing he ex-
planned that in such emergencies the
shortage Of men such as he stated,
might result in thousands Of dollars
worth of property. In order to run
the present splendid apparatus, Chief
Bangerter said that at least two ad
ditional men are needed. At the
present time there are eight paid
men on the force. Before May first,
however, Chief Bangerter stated that
there were only seven men on the
payroll. Then one man was added,
and just last week two young men
inexperienced in fire fighting were
added to the department. These
young men are: Lawrence Olson Of
Pelican Rapids, Mimi, who had been
working here for SOME time past and
Lloyd Stricken of this city. Even
with these two men, there should be
two more added to the fire depart
ment in order TO make it efficient.
Wages Too Low.
Chief Bangerter said that one OF
the drawbacks facing the depart
ment in the matter of holding men,
is the low wages paid in comparison
with pay In other lines Of work. The
present salary Of experienced man
on the local department is 800 per
month, and 500 per month for the
first year for inexperienced men with
an increase IS per month for the
second year, and then that man
reaches the maximum when he is on
three years. Chief Bangerter said
that there is not man on the pres
emit fire fighting force, who could not
draw more pay for a great deal less
hours per day. But the boys love
their work, and take pride in be-
ing efficient, and for that reason hate
to leave the service" said the chief.
"And it would be a serious loss to
the city to lose any more Of them"
Chief Bangerter stated that the
minimum wage for paid fremen at
Rochester is S135 per month and then
on up to 5000 per month for the chief,
who also acts as IRE marshal which
brings him 500 a month extra. The
minimum salary Of the local firemen
should be at least S125 per month
according to the opinion of Chief
Bangerter.
The last underwriters report made
Of this city in 1913 recommended
that the fire fighting force should be
increased from seven to ten men. To
meet this requirement two additional
men would have to be added to the
present force.