North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-12-20
CITY AFFAIRS

We refer our City readers to the Corporation pro-
ceedings, in another column. .. s.
| The late destructive fire has impressed every one
with the importance of making such arrangeme nts
will prevent, if possible, the of similar
losses for the future. Various plans have been sug
gested but while prompt action is demanded it is
also important that the authorities should move only
after due consideration, and should do nothing which
would not promise much benefit as practicable
from the necessary expenditure involved. Every
guard thrown around property-every provision made
to protect it against fire. enhances its intrinsic value
and thus adds to the wealth and facilitates the pro-
gress of the City. Our City is steadily grow
ing and its prospects. under the influence of Rail
Road Improvements and the like, destined to get
better and better. The Corporate authorities must
keep pace with the advances thus made by the cih-
zens; and while the streets and sidewalks are improved
and strict police kept up, is of the first importance
that the best arrangements should be adopted guard
against fire. and TO and extingush it, whenever
and wherever it breaks out. Our wells should be
| enlarged and deepened-metalic force pumps should
be substituted for the present wooden ones and the
number of wells should be increased. In addition
to this, brick cisterns might be constructed in vari-
parts of the City, and kept filled by the rain
water from the houses thus doubling the chances for
water in. case of fire. An Artesian Well has also
been suggested, well plans for conveying water
from some stream into the City but these are ques-
tons which cannot be decided upon at once. Before
any step could be taken in relation to the first it
would be necessary to ascertan-from one COM
petent to examine and pronounce a reliable opinion
the geological formation and nature Of the earth, or
other substances to be bored and in regard to the
latter proposition, it would be in Indispensable to have
survey and well-considered estimate of the cost
These are matters, therefore, for consideration but
not for immediate adoption Something must be done
rloa0. But water will be of little benefit if our en-
gines are too small, out of order, if the organ
cation of an efficient fire department should be longer
delayed. We must have good engines, plentiful
supply of water, and prompt s:rong-wlled, and
determined head of the fire department; and then the
officers and members of the Fire Company or Com
panies will have heart to work, because they
will feel and know that they can accomplish some
thing for the protection and good of the community.
There is fact, by the way, which ought to be
borne in mind when our present scanty supply of
water is spoken of. 1t is this: During the last six
or eight monihs from some other, the water
in this locality has sunk from four to five feet; and
the consequence has been that wells have been
drained of much of the water in them when first dug.
The market-house well, for instance, held six
feet of water when first SUNK and gravel was thrown
in to fill it up to the requisite depth, TO prevent
stagnant water; the gravel has been taken OUT
but the water has gone low that it is difficult it
not impossible to obtain supply of water from this
pump for the neghborhood about it. And we know
of another instance, in which gentleman sunk his
well nine feet deeper. and still obtained wafer.
We have made these remarks and thrown out these
various suggestions, from sincere desire to advance
the interests of the City. At time like this every
citizen, however humble, is under obligations to the
community to present his views; and every one has
right to be heard. We have spoken not only citi
zen, but as member of the Press, called upon by
many to express their views upon the occasion.