Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-10
Circulation Every 1AO10
Evening Yesterday xfOxO
City Must Pay II s Firemen.

The possibility or the probability o.
Wilmington finding itself with almost nc
fire protection within a short time, If the
intentions of the volunteer firemen become
effective. calls attention again to the
necessity Of Council taking immediate
steps 20 meet this condition.
The matter of supplanting the volun-
teer fire department is hoary with age and
futile discussion. II has been agitated for
almost 10 years and every interest de
mands. and has for years demanded,
more efficient service than can be expect
ed from volunteers who serve without pay
The volunteer system has had but few
interested advocates and everybody who
has property here, or who even leases
homo is convinced that the city has out
grown the system years ago. There has
alvavs seemed TO be some excuse or OBJ
lection 20 the shift from the firemen them
selves. hut at this time the men are ready
and willing 20 quit the service, and, IT IS
intimated. they insist that unless their
appropriations are increased will discon-
tinuc the work. The time Of quitting Is set
for early August. If the rumors are con-
frmed
The way to have paid fire department
"a 10 have IL; as Senator Sherman once
declared the way 10 resume specie pay
ments is to resume. We have at this mo-
ment the most favorable opportunity to
make the transfer and, if Council docs not
understand that the city demands prompt
action. such as will afford an adequate
measure of protection 70 property heEe, II
fails entirely TO sense the will OF our
people.
It's fair TO saw Of our volunteer firemen
that they have rendered fairly effective
service. perhaps ample for the emergencies
that arose while the city was smaller, but
Wilmington with her millions Of dollars
worth Of real estate demands highly
trained. well-paid and thoroughly we'll
Offered fire department, all under
the control of the city au-
thorities. We cannot expect men to
longer give their time to the service with
out pav and we should not ask 1t.
The economic organizations OF the city
favor the change, and the property owners
and taxables would gladly meet the added
cost for the increased safety that would be
be assured houses and buildings OF all
kinds. and for the decreased insurance
rate that would automatically follow. 1t
is estimated that with the paid corps and
with an economic Encouragement of the
fire houses the change would double or
possibly a little more than double the
present outlay.
The cost Of the service TO the city now is
about 100000 year; the paid depart
ment would cost 100000 or s250,0O0
annually. 1t is believed that this plan
would increase the efficiency more than
300 per cent. This estimate is based on
the fact that under the present system the
city ha. no control whatever of ite fire
service and does not own an inch OF ire
hose nor bit of apparatus. The men need
not 20 to the FIRE if they do not see ht and
vacancies in the companies may be filled
10 meet emergencies by men or boys who
are without training and inexperienced IN
the use Of apparatus, novices at fire light
ing.
Under the later day conditions the work
Of fireman has become in q large degree
science, and requires men who have been
trained for the duty. The erection OF
large tall buildings, and the tremendous IN
crease in the value Of the property here,
has taken FIRE fighting out of the diversion
class Of vocations. 1t trequires a disciplined
force in fit physical condition, ready to
risk life or face any peril, with an under
standing, that comes from training of
not working entirely with the view of del
uging properties, but with the thought
also OF salvaging the goods in burning
buildings.
Every city in this part OF the country Of
the size and importance Of Wilmington
has long ago discarded the volunteer
system and controls their men, owns their
apparatus and in every way masters the
situation, Reading, Pa, being partial
exception, though the city owns most of
the apparatus and property.
After all Of these decades of discussion,
the city is confronted by condition that
demands prompt action and almost
immediate plan for the transfer of the fire
companies, equipment and houses over
DO the city. The fremen are ready and
willing TO give the keeping of the city to
paid department; one or two companies
have already decided to quit the service
almost Immediately, while five or six
Others have indicated that they viii follow
a similar course unless their demand for an
additional 81 800 appropriation is met.
fortunately provision is made in the city