Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-12-18
FIRE AND FIRE COMPANIES.


FIRE AND FIRE COMPANIES.
ar Editor I'll was pleased TO see in tbe -,
uaheue some remarks from your pen. ON IN.
oassh'as''on and efficiency OF the iire aepartmsr,
" our iown--soer remarks being called forth fror,
the recent fire. which occurred = fax n,t,. -. ~.
ana which laid in ruins propsrty b.son.,,. ~
capt Gardner Of this town--we thin. ~. .e.ls
history OF that FIRE fully justified you in ,our -.
MARKS ana nov Ia connection with them p.rm,, ~.
TO submit few also. A'' ~
No one will be fousd to deny. that an efs,;sps
organized hre department in every CIV. Tas., 80
Village is Of paramount importance and ,h.s -.
good and faithful citizen ought 20 feel h,m.ssh.1
10 bear part In putting and keeping In o,sy.,,an
an ehectual system to protect The propertv "a
ives Oh their ielio~-eiuxens from the devouriny
namss-no one we thlnk who feels his respon.,a,i.
ny viii deny tue truth Of the foregoing.
u then this be the true position, the question NAV
at once be askea--fias the Iosn Of Mar,in.bu,,
such an osganixstionf Is her FIRE departoneo, ,u,.
hclen' ior the task imposed upon III Can or doe.
u perform all the duties devolyiae upon II, Ana
can nes eie1ehs ITO down at night, with the firm
'ssa'anee resting on Their minds that should thew
be aroused from their sleep by the .ufgoc.,ins
smoke or the roatiag flames, that an arm ,.;li ~
extended and q hand ready to snateb tb.r 81
theif properly from destruction Our ansv.r /.
emphatieaiiy no.
Ia tins position just assumed, let no one think a,
suppose we design any reflection on those : ho =.
banded toseiher 10 our Town for tho laua.hl. rar.
pose OF protecting the lives and pr oper,y Of tb,i,
fellow citizens--fsr be il from 10 70 a. susb,
against efforts made or that are now max 5, d.
present ffe Company, :"
We know thar there ia 4 sr.., a..,.fn
the want OF Propsrimsnsge mentst fires and ~, :,
this time our Town Is rife with such -, -
failure OF our present fire departmeu, liz. $780,.
than the mere orders and command. .,x., -
hire oy the officers OF the present COMPANY. .nd 4,
Is thi'-a Cant 81 Ae meant They have The -il
they have the disposition and they have n. a..,,.
but the means they have not--snd permi, =. !.
say IL Is impossible that they can have than /.
all this we mean to say that no one Comn.nv -.
command tho number OF men or can h.ss ~.
amount OF apparatus necessary to meet The exs.
sencies winch must arse a. any ERE which mshs
occur in our Town hence success can bur 49,.
II ever crown the efforts made by our prcsen. 6,e
company TO that extent which should s,,.nd N.
fire department Of Msrtinsburr.
We therefore with condolences subrnj, tbs f.li.-.
ing suggestions to The candid reflection and .c,,c.
OF our fsilow-Citisens, and we do hone soms,hi..
will be done and that quickly towsrds hi, impos.
| tant matter.
Our hrst proposition is--thst the Trustees AZ ,hs
Corporation OF Msrtnssurx appropriate ,ui;cisn,
funds TO buy smother Englne and apparatus, which
may be necessary for full action =, Gree and thu,
,unos siso Dc appropriated TO make the present
Engine complete ~ tor instance. New Hose-ths
old once which we understand 10 be vor,bIs..
Our second proposition is--ihstth, Town \. Al.
vided into two divisions by such lpe :, the r,u.
tees may see III to d'sw. end that the Enripee BE-
placed In houses at such points a. will be mest con.
ven'eni TO tho mass OF each COMPANY. and .hep .
new Company is legally formed and ready 10 do
service IN the hire department, tina, the Jrustees
give in charge TO said Company the keeping Of ,.id
New Engine and apparatus.
Our thrd proposition is--ihst funds be further
appropriated for the purpose Of building other ci,
terms than those already built. and A. sucb conv..
nient places as may suggest themssIye. 10 tbs
Trustees. and that oil the pumps 10 Town BE- ken,
in full and complete repair.
ms appears and no doubt 10 quite an extensive
ana may prove an expensive undertaking on tho
part OF our Corporation but we have no hesitation
IN saying that If took every Dollor Of axes raised
IN tins Town for the next five years TO carry into
ehees our propositions, that the money thus expsn
ded would be better expended than the taxation Of
any hve years proceeding in the history Of Mar.
t'hsburg-and also that 1t would receive the I'm.
qualified appreciation of almos, every tax payer in
our Town.
we prefer The mode Of taxation to subscriptiou
Tor the reason that every will pay according
to ms OF her interest in this nallet-wheress on
the subscription plan those who have The most prop
cry to protect may be disposed to pay the ess,---
which should not be.
1t the present Trustees feel any doubts sbou,
Immediate action, let petition be gotten up ct
once expressive of the desire of the Clttsens Of our
Town and be presented to the Board.
ifany one doubts the prophet, of the FOREGOING
remarks, let reference be made TO the history Of tho
hfes IN ooI Town Tor the last Eve years--so fatal
have hrss proved that Insurance. Compsnies actually
refused 10 Insure property or Merchandise 10 OUT
Town. No doub: this has been brought about by
permitting on our part the entire destruction Of
properly by FIRE.
Let then the course be pursued which ws have
pointed out, or some other by which all efforts
otour Citizens may be brought TO bear through the
operations OF two Fire Companies. and then ws
never be ready 10 do our whole duty when tho
cry OF Fns shall be heard in our Streets.
MANY CITIZENS.