The Nevada journal., 1857-09-04
Fire and Water.

'ectloh against Hres. III is proposed TO
grant exclusive privileges for term of
twenty years to a company which will
accomplish the object. The city, in
consideration of water in times of fires,
is bound to pay the company the sum of
$1,000 per annum in monthly install
ments. This is all very well, and if the
contract between the parties is sufficient
ly specific, and if ample obligations are
imposed we may indulge hope that
day will come when the city will not be
exposed, powerless, to the mercy of the
devouring element.
The special election for the purpose
Of voting upon the contract is more i'm
portant than anyin which we have been
called upon to exercise the elective
franchise. An exigency exists we are
allied upon to meet. Water we must
have, Or another general confagration
viii overwhelm the place in ruin. 1t is
impossible for The present population of
he city To withstand another fire
horefore the necessity Of taking imme-
re steps to obtain protection. But
Fhe utmost circumspection should be us
Ell rron 50 important an occasion. Be
FIRE we vote away privilege of the
greatest value to the city, it behooves us
- 0ce if an adequate return is to be had
i'r lie sacrifice. It Is of vital import
e rs that bona fde contract with re-
roansible parties be completed at the
earlicst moment. 1t should be so drawn
rs TO secure n perfect and durable work
equal to any emergency.
We call the attention of citizens to the
contract on which they are to vote on
the 10th instant, and we offer few sug-
gestions thereon. VIII a reservoir of
three hundred thousand gallons be of
sufficient capacity in time of need In
telligent persons familiar with hydraulic
mining inform us that such a supply
would be exhausted in about an hour by
the use CT only one hydrant. Should
the town be ignited in various places
from sparks or otherwise the reservoir
might, if our informants are correct II
their estimate, be empty before a fire
had fairly commenced. Perhaps it is
intended to have a stream at hand to
keep the reservoir filled. 1t should be
stated in the contract. The protection
Of our property is of too much impor-
lance to be committed 20 loose con-
tract in which we are bound irrevocablv
to pay $4,000.
Would it not be well to have an I'M
derstanding that the iron pipe spoken of
IN the contract should not be sheet iron,
and that said pipe shall be continuous
all over the city and connected with the
reservoir in such a manner as to be con-
stantly filled with water The contract
provides for no water in the pipe. The
reasons formaking these suggestions are,
that the contract is not specific in this
regard, and because we are crediblv in
formed that the water companies now
supplying the city receive from its in
habitants in the ncighborhood Of 81, 500
per month for the supply furnished. 1t
IS 10 the pecuniary interest of such com
panies to defeat the introduction of more
water into the town. The contract now
before the people allows till next June
for the completion of the proposed works.
A failure OF the part Of the company to
perform their obligations by that time
must prevent the erection of the works
by another company for year longer
We suggest, would it not be a polite
investment for the present companies to
construct a reservoir in the place pro-
posed. and lay down sheet iron pipes in
which no water is to enter The whole
expense Of such an affair, we arc assur-
Il will not exceed four or five thousand
dollars aad It would enable the present
ver companies TO draw fifteen hun
5a5 lals month from the people
term of not less than eighteen
months longer, or in the aggregate, the
nnrt little sum of twenty seven thous-
ard llarsl We do not suppose such
? coarse is designedly to be pursued by
water companies, but it is well to
aard against it while it can be done as
rell as not
Ii is suggested that in the event of a
IRE, If the water works are out of repair,
or from some cause attributable to the
carelessness or negligence of the com
pany supply of water cannot be OBJ
tanned, the works should be held liable
for damages to some extent at least.
n