Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-01-05

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! | fsa. n fellow eitirenSpf Davenport ril
4 rcaArs ex7srimensaily ere long. unless We
are more energetic and united in action il
\ dev;sing means TO keep that subtle etemcn
| in its place Although an unpleasant top
| ic for consideration. yet tits needful that We
t'sAan.a taik~sn write about Il. and saesths
aora. in large capitals in our newspapers
so that We may prepare for it--much bette'
20 do 50 now than TO hear the appalling cry
Of Fire Al msdnight. especially il il Shouts
occur during the approaching windy season
and we be as unprepsred for il as We no"
are-entirely without means to extingnish
the hames OF a conasgration however small
in its beginning.
Ne water in our wells or cisterns, no
reservoir nor fire company. not even a buck
ct company nor hook or ladder 10 rely on, in
one of HE most thriving towns Of the great
West. with population Of seine seven
thousand inhabitants, and justin that tran
sitioa state from small town to a large
city. when tn. loss of few thousand dol.
lars from its ca pital (for that is lost which
il burnedlF) may hsve the effect Of setting
us aekwara some teass.
Perhaps the Importance Of the subject OF
this article nav be sufficient excuse for
one of the .youuger citizens occupying SO
much space in these columns-one who
has u aited sometime patiently. yet with
anxiety, Cor the "City Fathers" and the CID
CT a,i more influential citizens to act IN
the N alter, aud thus far has been disappoint-
ed. Until We have better arrangements.
permit ma to offer few suggestions for
our mutual benefit: to be adopted generally
if approved Of:
Isl. Letcrery housekeepcr, store keeper,
Sc, provide at least half-a-dozea wooden
buckets (suci a. are made at Moline, Cost
ing twenty five cents each) mark them in
some way with the owners name, and have
them placed in some part of their premises
10 Be used oulg as Fire bucieis, 50 they may
bs constantly in their place also two large
lark woslen blankets. which will be found
very useful in preventing the spread Of
danes by we,ting them and putting on
places X here sparks are falling, or 10 a mo-
nent fbv making one cut IN the centre Of
each large enough to slip over mans
head9 can be converted into a fire coat,
useful in enabling ia. wearer to approach
near a burning houss or even in il il need
ful; Gives may be saved BY this simple ex-
redicn.) Old woollen carpeting, tee,
should be kept in some accessible place for
the purpose Of placing on roofs, &C., keep
ing it wet. And again, lei US all keep con-
s,an,l. on our premises at least two barrels
OF water, near 10 bu, not adjoining buildings
True thi. last precautien may b. of little
adysatage in freezing weather, yet IN
mild time one barrel or even one bucket Of
water promptly applied will be Of more ac-
count than the waite rs Of the Mississippi
where they nov are. This nue.. Tor our
own individual duties.
I'd L., our young men Immediately form
bucket, hook & ladder company, the aPPa-
ratus for which will cost but little and no
doubt can be quickly raised By private sub
scriptons. Let them exercise occasionally
ina "sham fight" of lire---they will find il
much more useful stun" than running
through our streets At night with burning
boxes and barrels.
81. As the want of supply of water is
most 70 be dreaded, even with all the pre-
ceding preparations, let our City Council
mako contract with those draymcn who
have casks to haul water to fires whenever
called on, night or day, by the Mayor, Mar
shall or other properly authorized persons
the CITY pairing them a fair compensation
for t'Iair services while 50 employed. Let
the name. aud residences of draymcn SO
contracting be publicly known aud the less
Q. their license be the result of their refusal
to obey proper summons,
The above arc r2ash outlines, hastily
thrown together, Of some Of tie means nov
within our reach for the extingushment o.
iiies. The writer is sensible they can be
much improved, or better plans proposed
and ii this article shall cause those Of more
experience and better judgment to odsi
their views. one OF his objects will be at
tanned.
OF course The adoption Of snch means
should not make US careless, nor desist from
constant agitation of the subject of sup
Div Of water for our city until We have a
49, Lf,T n1iei br .