Report of a special committee of the City Council, on the improvement of the Fire Department / and also, on the best means of obtaining an additional supply of water for fire purposes, for the city of Halifax, N.S.

by Halifax . City Council. Special Committee on the Improvement of the Fire Department

Taking this broad view of the question, the Committee, then, have two schemes presented for their consideration; either of which, for about the same cost, it is believed, may be made to answer every requirement of the city; and to each of which, certain peculiar advantages, and disadvantages, appertain.

Supposing the purchase of the Halifax Water Company’s Works, which, at present, barely suffice for domestic purposes, to require £50,000; it would require another £50,000, to make them efficient for fire purposes, and for the supply of the upper parts of the city. But an advantage would be gained by having a great part of the work already completed.

On the other hand, supposing Mr. Longard’s scheme to be adopted; the carrying out of this scheme, solely for fire purposes, would cost some forty or fifty thousand pounds, while to extend it through the city, so as to make it available for every purpose, would cost some fifty thousands additional; beside keeping the streets in confusion for years to come.

It is thus apparent, that neither scheme is perfect, and that either scheme fully developed, so as to be made capable of supplying the wants of the whole city, would cost, somewhere in the neighbourhood of £100,000.

Such being the state of the case, and assuming no better plan to be presented to the Council, the Committee suggest, whether, upon the whole, it would not be best for the city, partially to adopt both schemes, and thereby secure the advantages of each, without incurring the inconveniences of either. The Committee have an impression that the present Water Works could be purchased, and put in good working order, for a sum, not exceeding £50,000; and that for another £50,000—perhaps for less money—an ample supply might be obtained, by Mr. Longard’s scheme, for fire purposes, and for the supply of the higher parts of the city. The cost of both schemes, would thus, not exceed, what it would be necessary to expend, to make either scheme perfect; and the city would enjoy the unquestionable benefit of having two sources of water supply, instead of one.

The Committee do not consider it any part of their duty, to suggest the mode, by which the capital, necessary for these operations, may be raised; yet it is their conviction, that in a financial point of view, the enterprise would be a safe one.—A fire tax, levied upon real estate, would meet the interest of half the capital; and the other half would be more than met, by the revenue derivable from consumers.

The Committee present the above view of the case, as the best practical solution of a perplexing problem which, at this time, occurs to their minds,—reserving to themselves, of course, the right to adopt any more feasible plan that may be suggested.

As a preliminary step, however, and taking all the circumstances into consideration, the Committee finally recommend:

That the City Council shall, forthwith, or as soon as may be convenient—consult some competent and experienced Engineer, whose advice and opinions may enable the Council to decide, what is best to be done, in order to accomplish the desired end.

This course was adopted by the city of St. John, in like circumstances; as well as by Montreal and Quebec; and from the Report, lately published, it appears, that a precisely similar course was pursued, by the Common Council of Glasgow, before they embarked in that splendid scheme, by which they have recently introduced the water into the city from Loch Katrine.