Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-10

we're Fame, Friendship. BrsndywIur,
WeccacDc, Union and Walcf Witch u
Wa reported tbat tho apparatus n siI ~
companies was found 10 good condition
With the exception of Inst ~ Woocsooe,
sofnc 81 which ~ out ~ commission
" Hss stated BY nofnlrfs ~ the FIRE
companies, IN discussing The matter With
The committee, that the companies were
having difficulty IN making cnds meet,
but we're disposed with Tho exception ~
otle company, To make Tho best ~ II uB.
al the city was ~ condition ~ increase
the appropriations.
Sddrczsing the member of Water witch
company, Councilman Alex Abraham
one 81 The members II the Council Conn
nitiec, said the committees WIS algAss
ready 10 receive communications from fire
company members snd 20 cop rate
with them IN the effort 20 attain efficiency
ilo coippIimented Woter Witch corspsny
upon the splendid condition ~ thar
apparatus
Councilman Murray referred 20 -
kindly feeling existing between tho Nom
bofs of Union oompsny and Water Witch,
and Hsid that ho knew the soniiD nnt 81
The Two companies was "a favor n oon-
tinmng tho volunteer system
The east side companies viii be writ.
cd by the committee tonight These
companies include Washington, Phoenix,
Delaware, Independence, Rclnnoo and
Liberty.
The opinion prevails that al of the COM
panifs are app, ssd ~ any chnnke in tho
volunteer system except Weccacoe and
Friendship on the west side and pogsiblo
Delaware on tho east side The equip.
ment " Weccaco'e company s in bad con
ditiOn, and on account ~ tho difficulty
in raising funds with which ~ put u IN
good shape, together with the inadeqJacy
Of the city appropriation to npet eg-
pens ;, the company Is willing ~ quit
Friendship Company. Of Tenth and Tat
nall. owns a valuable price - property
aud II is said they have received 80 offer
~ sG5.DO0 for it A member ~ the com
pauy said this morning that be- kneH
nothing ~ such an offer, but thaf Dr. DID
know that s65OpO wouldn't bug u n ie
said by members ~ the company fhnf
viii take * figures 20 express The amopnt
necessary - buy a. The equipment u
Friendship Company is 10 first clsss con
diiion, now boiler 10 the hrTucHl hsv-
ing just received and given = tr9-out
Il is said that ali tho companies on ihe
cast DE- with the exception Ierhars -
ltfitNHfts NtNlI " Ditff. -f'fi TO tNF fNfflEH
involving an abandonment ~ ihe Nolur
tecr System Tho sentiment 1mOna tie
members Of Reliance Company vas ind-
Gated IN the election SATURDAY uirh'. 4t
which time those opposed ~ suy changr
ron out, although fhis question did nor
figure on the surface
Just what would bc done in fho event
definite offers were received from Two Or
three of the companies ~ sell out and ihc
others standing pat. it would ~ hard -
say Whether The city would consider fhe
purchase ~ the equipment If one ur tuo
or three companies and inauWirate he
paid department on the instalinent plaH.
has not vet been discussed Yet d seems y
remote possibility that the sentiment
among the companies viii ever be
unanimously in favor of the change
And Of course on the other hand the
city could stop its appropriations and
force the companies 10 sell. but ~ would
have to havs It's own organization and
equipment ready 70 take up the work Of
FIRE fighting
The contracts with the companies rlIn
until August ~ this year, and whatever
sentiment may develop a. n the abandon
ment Of the volunteer system, - a whole
or in part, nothing will be done before
that time.