Evening journal., 1920-07-21
EXPERT Will
ASK CITY To
AID FIREMEN
LconlInued from FIrsL plgo.I }


remarks on the question Of a paid
department. said: "The Wilmington
Fire Department Is The only public
body that works together and doesn't
quit when Ms appropriation ceases.
Just suppose our IRE department
.',as 10 stop work when It's appro-
priailon was spent, and ! have known
nj companies TO spend an within two
months after receiving 10. owing TO
bills due-wherc would The city be-?
II the Street and Sewer Department
was TO spend an us appropriation, ID
would lay OF The men. and you know
lhe cond lion OF our streets
"Iho volunteers VIII not nght a paid
department. but stop knocking The
department and see what 10 can do
AZ the present time there Is an ele-
meW here who are "squatlers' and
who think they can get up a peg or
two by knocking the fire department"
40 The beginning OF the meeting Mr.
llowland explained that ne was sent
20 Wilmington by the National Board
OF Fire Underwriters after the COnti-
mental Fire Insurance Company had
reported 20 the board that the Friend
ship was % disband and the phoc-
nix company was to withdraw It's
ladder truck unless 10 received an adj
ditiOnal appropriation. This caused
the flrc underwriters 20 send me here
20 see what could do towards having
"a paid department Installed" Mr..
Howland continued.
lie said he had made numerous sur
yeys OF the department here In 1914
1876 and 81 and following the kresge
store fire. Mr. Rowland explained how
modern fire nghiing tactics had
changed with the erection 0f lofty
buildings and The fire dangers had In
creased. The volunteers he said. did
not have Che money or time 20 under
go training in nre prevention. which
Is a new doctrine.
Nr Rowland then presented his cs-
fimafe OF the costs Of Installing "a
minimum paid department. Those
figures showed the estimated cost OF
Installing a paid department as slOO'-
Many of the present fire stations,
NJ. Rowland said. could be used in
paid department while some OF lle
apparatus here is of Al quality nc
lrsct0r drawn steam engines are unde-
sirahie ana 40 not hold up IN tests
Ike the gasolIne driven pumps ne
Mr. Rowland said he felt that
rrraf many OF The 1remen favored
Maid department. IT would Ike 10
iako back with me an expression. OF
the nremon on The subject" he added.
f ls only a matter or time, ne SAID,
when this city will experience a CON
Migration with a great loss Of NE ana
property
M Howland exhibited a map show
INK how ihe fire stations could be re-
duccd from twelve. 3s oi preXnt, 70
Ten. ihe companies in the. cenief OF
lhe city being merged. while the Out.
lying companies could remain as a
present One fire ladder company, he
said. should be stationed on Cool
Spring Reservoir bill
Following thc address, one OF ile
fromcn present member or tne
Washington company, explained now
The entire fire department was motor
iynd six years ago. My company
alone spent $1,000 and many OF the
companies are sin in debt on account
| 0f m0t0rIzng az that time he SAID.
I Personally ] favor a paid department
hut 10 Is not right for The city 10
/ thrown us out In the cold w.h TINS
Idcbl at this time My fire company
Jas an Organization, ia opposed 70 "a
paid department"
William a. Connolly. OF The Wecca-
coo Company. was the ncxt speaker,
saving. "IMis IRE department has
been doing business Tor ii5 years and
10 has lhe cleancst record Of any sim
liar organization In The world. u
City Council or others want a paid
department here let them formulate
a plan and present lt 10 us for our
alpr0Val al the same time express
| ins their appreciation OF our en-
deaVors In the past. This they have
not sOno but instead they use a
club and icer us and give us knock.
/ You. Mir Rowland ore ai the wrong
end OF ihc string Start with the
| Chamber OF Commerce and city Doun-
cil and Ten them. 10 come TO us and
We viii meet them half way. We as
volunteer ilrcmcn do not want paid
I dopa-lmonl we are too game 10 quil
I We have served in The past feeling
10 was our patriotic duty, ana 10 Is
hobby with us."
ulainpd how a year ago the executive
COMMITTEES OF The fire department sent
A h4icr 90 cry Council saying that
I lhey were ready for a paid dcpari-
moni 90 BE- Installed when The peopla
/ wanted lt 1--WE also asked for the
passage OF law PROVIDING for "a
| thorough Inspection ~ buildings by
/ lhc nrc chiefs 20 prevent hrcs,' ne
/ said Nothing was done in TIE
matter. however, u being said we de-
sired the laNv SO we could boost iho
wages of uhe officers"
Mr.. Connolly spoke on the bin be
presented 40 The Legislature ln 1917
providing FOR a paid Ore department
/ CITY Council opposed a. hc sQd and
In 1918 when the bill asain cam up
for consideration before a special
session OF The Legislature, CITY y0un-
cil opposed lt.
Lohbyisls on Council. Connolly said
ple1ded they dh not want the eA-
pense OF q paid department Wut on
Inc city and begged lhc members of
the Legislature not 90 load them
T iCouncnD with the extra expense
sRut." continued Connolly 'ln M
year 1920 when N The measure had
T PASSED. We could have had a hrc,
, years start on a paid department. wl
eo 10 the Council and tell Them Ou
financial condition. they refuse q
give us ihe assistance we ask
5 ''rhcy won't support a paid nr
2 department. they won't give the Vol
unieer department relief wha
would you suggest 10 a body OF ha
kind3"
ton Fire Company said he h1l
learned that when the Phoenix Fir
/ Comnany discontinued The use Of it
Two ambulancos and his company on
of their combination wagons, bccaus
on insufficient money city Councl
transferred the money allowed Tor ih
IunkopD ~ flc machines. $500 % th