Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-06
hitch DEVELOPS OVER
RURAL FIRE SERVICE
Some Wilmington Companies
Have Ceased to Respond
Outside the City.

The Levy Court today received and
fied "A communication from William
] Lutx, chief engineer OF the VIII
mfnxton Fire Department. saying the
Fame and Water Witch fire compan-
les ceased responding TO rural fire
alarms August 81. which leaves only
three Wilmington companies, the
Rrandywine. Liberty and Union. that
perform such service.
Concerning fire appropriations the
Rrandy~ine. Fame, Liberty, Union
and Wafer Witch Companies and
the Levy Court differ. The fire conf
panics clkim the appropriations are
for tho preceding year, and The Levy
Court says they are for the ensuing
year. Each of these companies was
granted $50 last month, which the
companies allcge was due on last
years appropriations and the Levy
Court declares was on accoun. of SER
vice this year. Clerk McIvor pre-
rented to the Levy Court today a
statement showing that the first fire
appropriations were for the fiscal
ycsr. that began July 1. 1913, and
ended June 80. 1914. He also read a
resolution adopt d November IL, 1919,
by the Levy Court and approved by
Edwin &. Clark, who then was coun-
~ comptroller. that a warrant be
drawn for the sum of $500 in favor of
each Of three fire companies In VIII
nsineton. the ~-ater Witch. Fame and
Reliance. and that the comptroller
and county treasurer be directed to
take the proper course to carry this
into effect and charge to unappro-
priatcd funds. The county budget
has been adopted each year. including
the present year. for appropriations
trom July l to June 30 of the follow
inE year. Clerk McIvor stated. The
fire companies included in the apprs-
priations for the fiscal year begun
July /. 1921. and ending June so, 1922,
are the Fame. Brandywine, Water
witch. Union and Liberty. Their
appropriations OF sa0o each were SUI
spendcd during the paid fire depart
mcnt controversy.
Five Points Situation.
The Levy Court today deferred ac-
ton on a request from the Five
Points Civics Association for a fire
Appropriation. William IL. Sewer.
president OF the association, made the
follow ing statement.
Following a disastrous fire at
Iicil.mcor last winter residents OF the
various suburbs in Christiana hun
ared. through the Five Points Civics
Association. realized that it was alb
soluteiy necessary for them to have
IRE protection i'm the form of mod
srn fire apparatus stationed in their
midst az all times. With this end in
view n machine was purchased at a
eo-t ~ 81 GOO, and already the cost of
the apparatus has been saved several
times in property saved from flames.
"on May % of this year a commune
cation was addressed to your honorable
body by the Five Points Civics Asso-
riafion. asking that the court allow us
an Appropriation for the maintenance
81 such a machine. We understand
that in preparing your budget for this
year you have aliowet for additional
assistance to the rural ire companies.
hu; ina~much as the machine we have
installed is the only one of its kind
in the State and able to secure aGe-
auste water supply from creeks and
siuices. which heavier machines are
prevented from reaching. we feel that
we are called on 10 perform more SER
vice than an ordinary chemical APP
paratns or a heavier pumping ma
chine could give.
AS an illustration of this situation
We refer TO the fire at the Foster
farm. when out OF five machines at
that Ere we were the only one that
could r~ach creek. The other ma
chimes. because OF their weight. were
stalled in the mud in the roads, or
tho chemical streams the lighter ma
chimes had were insufficient to combat
the blaze.
Under these conditions we feel
that We are performing as efficient
fiie service as any Wilmington fire
company could be capable Of under
ilke conditions. and we earnestly re-
quest the court to allow us an ap-
rropriaton that VIII be sufficient to
maintain this service and in keeping
with that allowed other fire companies
that own pumping engines.
"As proof that We are a necessity
~ the rural sections we would state
that since July 4, when the machine
wnr placed In commission. we have re-
sponded TO eight alarms"
~