After the election of Mr. A. R. West to the position of chief engineer, the old original No. 1 Fire Engine Company, or a large proportion of its members, at one of its meetings passed the following resolution:
"Whereas, The city council has seen proper to persecute and finally to declare us not an organized fire company, and
"Whereas, We who compose the Fire Engine Company No. 1 have since organization labored faithfully to make the department as efficient as possible and have in all cases discharged our duties as firemen, therefore
"Resolved, That we turn over to the city council all the fire apparatus in our possession. That we refuse to offer our services as firemen so long as any member of the city council who has been persistent in our persecution shall remain in said council.
"Resolved, That we condemn the city council in thus deliberately and intentionally using their power to cripple and destroy the efficiency of the fire department.
"Resolved, That we preserve our company organization and that each and every one refuse to touch, use or handle any of the fire apparatus belonging to the city of Cedar Rapids."
This old, original company, No. 1, was then a fire company to all intents and purposes, acting under the original organization, with most of the original members belonging, but they had no apparatus, no engines, nothing to use in case of fire. But this did not long remain. A subscription was started among the members of the company, and they with the aid of their friends and citizens soon had subscribed a sum sufficient to buy a substantial hand engine of a late pattern, together with 5,000 feet of new hose, a new hose cart, and also to put up a comfortable and neat engine house in which to hold their meetings and to shelter their engine and the other necessary equipment.
This engine was purchased of Josiah Gates & Son, Lowell, Mass., and cost the sum of $800, which amount was paid in cash from the proceeds of the many subscriptions. It was called the E. S. Hill Independent Fire Company, in honor of E. S. Hill who was the patron saint in all their contentions with the city council, being an alderman from the First ward, and also one of the most liberal subscribers to the fund to procure the engine, he having led the subscription list with $200.00.
The hose cart was procured from Quincy, Ill., where it had been previously used by that city, and cost $300.00 all complete. The hose to the amount of 500 feet cost the sum of $500.00. The material for the building of the engine house was obtained free from the local dealers and the construction was almost all done by the members of the company.