Municipal Archives


Petition for Fire Department Telephone Expenses, 1882

​​Collection 1991-005​

​Overview

Repository​​
Office of the City Secretary
Dallas Municipal Archives
1500 Marilla Street, 5D South
Dallas, Texas 75201
CreatorOffice of the Mayor
TitlePetition for Fire Department Telephone Expenses
Dates1882
Quantity1/8 linear inch
AbstractRequest for city funding of Fire Department telephone calls.
Identification1991-005
LanguageRecords are in English

​Scope and Content

​Charles Kahn (1830-1910), Dallas Fire Chief and Alderman, was born in Bishopshelm, Germany, and moved to Dallas from Paducah, Kentucky, in 1872.  Kahn joined the volunteer Dallas Fire Department in the mid-1870s and became Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department in the late 1870s.  In 1885, he was instrumental in organizing the first paid fire department in the State of Texas.  The salary of the first paid members was $40.00 per month, a generous salary at the time. Kahn served until October 1887.  After serving as Fire Chief Kahn was elected as to the Board of Aldermen from the Fourth Ward and served in that position 1892-1895.  Kahn died August 3, 1910.  

Collection consists of a July 20, 1882 petition from Chief Kahn to the mayor and Board of Alderman for compensation for telephone expenses for the Fire Department.  The text of the request reads 

“I still think to be entitled to fourty five dollars $45.00 for keeping up the telephones for the benefit of the Fire departement and protection of the citicens of Dallas.  I beg your pardon Gentleman, if I have assumed any Power not delageted to me, but have only acted for the above stated purposes.”

Organization​

​NA  

Access​

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.

Citation

​Petition for Fire Department Telephone Expenses, 1882 (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related materials

​None

Index Terms

Dallas -- Texas -- History
Dallas (Tex.). Fire Dept.

Container list

BoxFolderTitle, Date
11
Petition for Fire Department Telephone Expenses, July 29, 1882
[From Dallas Fire Department Chief Charles Kahn to Dallas Mayor and Council regarding payment for department telephone services.]