Firemen to Flush Streets at Jamestown, N. Y.

Firemen to Flush Streets at Jamestown, N. Y.

市长卡尔森,詹姆斯敦,n . Y。一直指责d by some for the high tax rate in that city and he proposes to reduce it by making the firemen flush the streets which last year cost $14,000, and in order that the firemen, who may be engaged in flushing the streets, may be in a position to respond quickly to alarms, one of the motor or horse-drawn wagons is to be kept in readiness along the route where flushing is to be done so that the firemen can be promptly conveyed to the scene of a fire. “The proposed appropriation for the maintenance of the fire department during the coming year is $44,363.49, and to this sum,” the Mayor says, “must be added part of the cost of the purchase of motor apparatus. And in view of these expenditures, I feel, as a public servant, that every effort should be put forth in making the department more serviceable to the community, especially since there is only an average of about two fires a week in which the department is in actual service. It has been said that the insurance rates might be effected. This bugaboo is always brought forward when any one suggests economy with reference to fire departments. As a matter of fact, compared with taxation, insurance rates upon the average taxayer is a matter of trivial consequence. It as also been stated that any effort to utilize the firemen for any other purpose than fighting fires would be an infringement upon the civil service rules, and yet when we had the volunteer department, there were 13 full paid firemen who were under civil service rules, and these men were often engaged in flushing the streets, precisely as I am now proposing, and no one raised any question at that time about ‘violation of civil service rules.’ It has been said that some of the present firemen will oppose the proposition of performing any other duties, but I do not believe that any fireman who has the interest of the city at heart will refuse to serve the public in any capacity, in which they are able to serve. In fact, I know some of the firemen have expressed themselves in tavor of a diversion irom the routine of continuous confinement in fire stations. And in this connection 1 would say that I would be perfectly willing to allow extra compensation and regulation of hours, which would be entirely agreeable to the firemen under the proposed arrangements, knowing that this innovation would add to the efficiency of the department. I can see no difference between using hose to clean a pavement or putting out a fire. In either case it is a matter of public service, and the various fire houses are so located that a division of the work of cleaning pavements could easily be carried out in a most successful manner and when the plan has once been introduced and its success demonstrated, we would hear no objections from insurance companies, firemen or any one else. Everybody would be satisfied with the improvement. 1 might add that since the purchase of motor apparatus considerable money has been expended for repairs. I see no reason why the services of the firemen should not be utilized in making such repairs, thus saving the expense now incurred.”

市长卡尔森,詹姆斯敦,n . Y。一直指责d by some for the high tax rate in that city and he proposes to reduce it by making the firemen flush the streets which last year cost $14,000, and in order that the firemen, who may be engaged in flushing the streets, may be in a position to respond quickly to alarms, one of the motor or horse-drawn wagons is to be kept in readiness along the route where flushing is to be done so that the firemen can be promptly conveyed to the scene of a fire. “The proposed appropriation for the maintenance of the fire department during the coming year is $44,363.49, and to this sum,” the Mayor says, “must be added part of the cost of the purchase of motor apparatus. And in view of these expenditures, I feel, as a public servant, that every effort should be put forth in making the department more serviceable to the community, especially since there is only an average of about two fires a week in which the department is in actual service. It has been said that the insurance rates might be effected. This bugaboo is always brought forward when any one suggests economy with reference to fire departments. As a matter of fact, compared with taxation, insurance rates upon the average taxayer is a matter of trivial consequence. It as also been stated that any effort to utilize the firemen for any other purpose than fighting fires would be an infringement upon the civil service rules, and yet when we had the volunteer department, there were 13 full paid firemen who were under civil service rules, and these men were often engaged in flushing the streets, precisely as I am now proposing, and no one raised any question at that time about ‘violation of civil service rules.’ It has been said that some of the present firemen will oppose the proposition of performing any other duties, but I do not believe that any fireman who has the interest of the city at heart will refuse to serve the public in any capacity, in which they are able to serve. In fact, I know some of the firemen have expressed themselves in tavor of a diversion irom the routine of continuous confinement in fire stations. And in this connection 1 would say that I would be perfectly willing to allow extra compensation and regulation of hours, which would be entirely agreeable to the firemen under the proposed arrangements, knowing that this innovation would add to the efficiency of the department. I can see no difference between using hose to clean a pavement or putting out a fire. In either case it is a matter of public service, and the various fire houses are so located that a division of the work of cleaning pavements could easily be carried out in a most successful manner and when the plan has once been introduced and its success demonstrated, we would hear no objections from insurance companies, firemen or any one else. Everybody would be satisfied with the improvement. 1 might add that since the purchase of motor apparatus considerable money has been expended for repairs. I see no reason why the services of the firemen should not be utilized in making such repairs, thus saving the expense now incurred.”