Selma Prepares as War Threatens

From "Selma; Her Institutions, and Her Men" by John Hardy, pub. 1879:

At a meeting of the Council, held on the 30th of November 1860, and ordinance was passed authorizing the organization of a fire department, under which our present excellent fire department was organized. An ordinance regulating the city hospital was adopted. An electron was held on the 6th day of December 1860, by the firemen, under the provisions of the fire department ordinance and T. B. Pierce was elected Chief, John McElroy, First Assistant, W. Allen, Second Assistant. The Independent Blues were given fifty dollars to buy the company an ammunition chest; and the same amount to the Governor's Guards for the same purpose. M. C. Wiley resigned his seat as a Councilman and the vacancy was filled by the election of Dr. I. Morgan. C. Sutter was employed to change the old flint and steel muskets into percussion ones, that belonged to the city. Race street was allowed to be used as a race track. The Treasurer was instructed not to pay any more interest on bonds payable in New York, until the difficulties between the North and South are settled. John McGrath was discharged as city sexton. At almost every meeting of the Council for two years, the question of Second street was discussed. The opening of that street cost the city more money and trouble than any other street. E. M. Gantt was appointed superintendent of street hands at a salary of seventy five dollars per month. The Mayor was instructed to procure arms from the Governor of the State, in accordance with the act of the last Legislature. The Mayor appointed on the board of health, Dr. Mullen, Robert Hall and Alfred Berry for the east ward and Dr. Kent, Dr. Morgan and J. M. Keep for the west ward. The duty of lighting the gas lamps on the street was imposed upon E. M. Gantt, street overseer. On the 30th day of March 1861, the Council directed John M. Strong, as Clerk of the city of Selma, to subscribe for $50,000 of stock in the Alabama and Mississippi Rivers Railroad Company and pay for the same in eight per cent. Coupon twenty year bonds of the city, but from some cause were not issued until the first day of January, 1862, and thus making the bonded debt of the city $283,000, bearing eight per cent. Interest, payable semi-annually. The $60,000 issued to the Selma and Gulf, as well as this $50,000 issued to the Alabama and Mississippi have always been considered "moon-shiny," and it is believed by many that their payment could not be enforced if the city were to resist their payment. On April 24th, $500 were appropriated to any military company that might enroll from the city to the threatening war, and the marshal was directed to put the cannon in good order and to buy powder and ball, and a committee appointed to ask the governor of the State to furnish powder for the use of the city. The expenditures of the city, for city purposes, from the first day of May, 1860, to same day, 1861, were $30,550, and the assessed value of real estate $2,500,000 and the personal taxable property, $3,000,000. Col N. H. R. Dawson and A. H. Jackson resigned their seats as Councilmen, and W. W. Marks and James W. Lapsley were elected to fill the vacancies. The Mayor appointed the 2nd day of May 1861, for the review and drill of the Phenix Reds and Franklin Fire Company No. 2, to take place in Col. Weaver's old field in front of Mrs. Worley's--W. B. Haralson, J. B. Haralson and Charles Lewis, were appointed judges, who awarded the flags that had been prepared by the ladies of the city.

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