Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-18
PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT
ASSUREDBY DECEMBER |.
City CounciImen and Safety
Directors Reach Agreement
at Conference.

Directors OF the Department of
Public Safety. members of the finance
committee and the public safety COM
mittee of City Council had a long con-
ference last night at which they
reached an agreement relative to the
plans TO be followed In the establish
ment of paid fire department In
this city. City solicitor Reuben Sat
terwaite, Jr.. and his deputy, +. War
rem Green, attended the meeting. As
a result of the agreement II is now
practically assured that the paid de-
rartment will be prepared - function
at midnight OF November 30, at which
time the present emergency contracts
with the volunteer companies expire.
James II. McManus. chairman of the
finance Committee of City Council, af-
ter last nights meeting stated: Com
rlete agreement and thorough un-
derstanding as to the steps to be taxi
en- TO establish paid fire department
exist between Council and the Depart
ment of Public Safety. Council will
make sincere effort and use every
honorable means 20 give the citizens
Of this city an efficient paid FIRE de-
rartment by December l."
rectors that Council as whole would
approve the contamination of the var
ious contracts held up by the prelim-
mary injunction issued i'm the Court
OF Chanccry but which been dis
missed In part by the decision of the
court last week. Council will row
prepare an ordinance authorizing a
bond issue 90 defray the expenses of
the city in taking over the volunteer
ERE companies real and personal prop
eriy and other supplies. This bond
tissue will not exceed 100000. The
ordinance win not be ready probably
rntii next week for first snd second
reading. II Ia not expected IL can be
passed and the bond sale held before
December but this win not cause any
delay In the establishment OF the new
department..
Now that the safety directors and
tse Councilmen have come to a def
mite understanding as to the method
Of procedure in establishing the paid
fre department the next step by the
directors viii be TO contract for the
purchase ~ the houses OF the several !
volunteer fre companies. their engines
other apparatus, equipment and |
furniture and I'm fact whatever they /
may deem In essential to the estab- |
nshment of AN up 10 date and well /
equipped department.
when they have done this they viii |
make up their estimate OF the cost |
n ! then they will have another con- |
ference with the Council After that 1
stepr will be taken toward the adop- 4
& ~ of an ordinance providing for a I
bond issue 90 an amount the same as 4
the directors estimate.
Il viii be impossible. officials feel, 20 /
set bond ordinance through by 1
December I. by which date IL is hoped /
90 have the paid department ready 20 |
start work. II will. therefore, be
necessary 20 have agreements with !
the fire companies 20 turn over their |
houses and equipment 90 the city 4
on the xrength of the city's. credit. /
with the understanding that payment |
will he made when the money is re-
eeived from the bond issue.
None of the officials involved anti |
clnatc any trouble In this respect. I
They are confident the volunteer 1
frc companies will not question the
ability % the city 10 make payment
but there may be some delay along
this line until the bonds have actually
been sold
Council and the safety directors
are more than anxious to have the
pnid IRE department established and in
-orking order and they are co-operat-
ina, each 20 the fun extent OF their
ability % this end.