Horses for Selma's Steam Fire Engine
From "Selma; Her Institutions, and Her Men" by John Hardy, pub. 1879:
On May 10, 1869, the following officers were elected for the fire department: E. W. Pettus, Chief Engineer; H. G. Noble, First Assistant Engineer; Robert Lapsley, Second Assistant Engineer; and George peacock, W. S. Knox and D. R. Purviance, Fire Wardens. The new charter extended the city limits considerably; petitions went into the Council to reduce the tax on some, and to exempt other property from taxation, lately brought into the city limits. These petitions were signed by Geo. O. Baker & Co., and numerous others. Forty dollars--twenty-nine dollars and thirty-four cents to the Dallas Male and Female Academy, ten dollars and sixty-six cents to the Sate Public School--was appropriated and paid to the City Board of Education and to the Superintendent of the county. The City Tax Collector, E. I. Morgan, became quite negligent in paying over moneys as he received them; charges were brought against him, and after much investigation and contention in the Council, he was dismissed and D. R. Purviance appointed to fill the office. Gen Shelley made a contract with the city to work city prisoners in his brick yards. The hook and ladder and all accompanying apparatus cost $1,270. The police pay roll for June 1869, was $825, and that for city officers and labor, $1,794.84. The Mayor was directed to have a well drove in the West Selma graveyard. Judge E. W. Pettus declined to serve on the city school board and Col. C. Cadle was elected to fill the vacancy. The salary of Councilmen was fixed at twenty dollars per month. B. S. turner resigned his seat in the Council. The Mayor vetoed the ordinance giving the Councilmen twenty dollars per month. The right of way to the New Orleans and Selma railroad was granted along North street and through other streets. W. B. Gill was elected to fill the vacancy in the Council in place of B. S. Turner. Judge Pettus resigned the office of Chief Engineer of the fire department. Ten per cent. of the gross revenue of the city was appropriated to the public schools of the city, to be paid to the City Board of Education. O. R. Floyd was given permission to open a market house in East Selma. D. R. Purviance's term, for which he was selected as tax collector, having expired, Capt. Henry Cochran was elected tax collector. Councilmen Beach and Silsby resigned their seats in the Council. The Treasurer was forbidden to put the city money in bank, except at his own risk. Henry Blevins was elected Councilman from the second ward, in place of john Silsby and Mr. Silsby was elected to fill the vacancy of Capt. Beach, form the fourth ward. Resolutions were passed thanking the Selma Rome and Dalton railroad Company for transporting the hook and ladder apparatus free of charge form Dalton to Selma. B. Jacobs resigned as engineer of the steam fire engine. The old market house building and lot was sold to Thos. R. Ferguson & Co., for $25,000. R. C. Goodrich, the City Clerk, became involved in some way, and W. S. Corbin was appointed City Clerk. Simmons & Co. leased the city wharf for one year. Col. C. Cadle was elected City Auditor. The Mayor was authorized to employ some one to take charge of the steam fire engine and act as market clerk. Mr. Hart having resigned as market clerk. Judge Saffold and Col. Cadle were paid $200 to go to Montgomery and look after the railroad interest of the City The Mayor employed B. Jacob as engineer of the steam fire engine and market clerk for one year at $1,000 salary. A pair of horses were purchased at $550 for the steam fire engine E. Gillman No. 1. Wm. Smoke was appointed policeman for the south side of the river at fifty dollars per month.
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