The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-11-29

SIS Fire Engine worth much, that
will not carry water over fifteen feetl
Is Is our Fire Hose in good order, when /
i is proved, that at the fires on the 221 and
l3d insts., the fire hose. in most cases leak
ed 50 much, MS to render them in meas
ure, worthless?
How many Captains are required to
command one Engine
docs not the safety Of this Town de-
nand an immediate attention to this impor-
tnnt subject2"
The questions above quoted are copied
from communication which appeared in
the Mercury of Saturday last. and we con-
slider them of so much importance that we
have transferred them to our columns.
We mentioned, few weeks since, that
a report had been made in Town Meet
ing, on the state of our fire department
which report it was our intention at the
time to have offered some remarks upon.
but, being awnre that any thing we could
say, on that subject, would have but little
influence in opposition to the confident opin-
ion of the sufficiency and good condition of
our fire engines expressed by Gov. Engs,
we withheld our remarks, until an oppor-
tunity should offer to present them with
better prospect Of their receiving some at
tention. Luckily, very luckily, for the safe
ty of the town, our citizens have had two
opportunities of Witnessing the admirable
order and efficiency (according to Gov.
Engs) of some Of our fire engines, without
much individual loss. On the first occasion
oftheI trial, THREE out of the sir en-
giaes in to,cn, pere found, from some cause
or other, unable to do the duty required Of
them.
Citizens Of Newport, we would ask you,
in the name of common sense and common
prudence, are you still willing to risk your
lives and property, in such an important
point, without a more adequate provision
for their sofety7 Are you still disposed to
be penny wise and pound foolish : Will
you still wait until the horse is stolen before
you procure the lock to put on the stable
doorl We ask these questions seriously,
with a full conviction--in which we nre
sustained by mnny--thot the means we at
present possess are Inadequate to ensure that
degree Of security which prudence demands.
We wish every man to reflect upon this
subject, and act as he feels the common
safety demands, withom delay.
Although we have been singularly favor
ed for many years with exemptions :rom
serious fires, we must not expect a continu-
ance Of the exemption. Our town is in
creasing in population, new buildings nrt
going up, and the risk of fires is great,
augmented, while our means of subduine
them, except in the immediate neighbor-
hood Of the factories, is less than formerly
We ought to he prepared to meet promptly
and with abundant means, any outbreak
which may occur as our safety, on many
winters night, would depend Oh our ex-
tingnisl,ng fire before it got well under
way; or else, ifit should break out to wind.
ward, the almost total destruction Of oul
town would ensue.
We are truly living in Tindcr-bor, as
the writer of the communication above re.
ferred to, so appropriately calls it, and it be.
hooves us to be careful and well guarded
tha, The spark be not communicated which
may reduce the whole to ashes.
Although the narrowncss of Thame.
street and the closeness with which tn,
buildings are packed together, renders :
fire in that part of the town highly danger
ous, those who have considered the subjec
are of opinion, that fire on the hill wouI,
be the most difficult to subdue, on accoun
of the scarcity Of water. We have hear,
it suggested aud mention for public consid
Grafton, that few reservoirs Of water, will
forcc pumps attached to them, would b.
very serviceable on the hill, not only in cas-
of fire there, but for the ease with whicl
water can be thrown from them on the low
er part of the town. The expense Of ihei
construction, it is presumed, would no, b
so great ns that of engines, nor would the
t require SO great an outlay to keep them i
order. They might be placed at any con
veuent aud commanding points, und, i
case any difficulty is encountered in pro
caring water, the neares, reservoir might b
supplied with sea water by one of the fac
tories, and the others supplied from ths
one.
CoMMuNIcaTioN.
Ii is truly astonishing that the a,,eu