The Nevada journal. [volume] (Nevada City, Calif.) 1851-18??, 1857-10-09
Fire and Water.

Tagging behind every other place of any
pretension in the State we would like
to be assured of it, as, if all the proofs
of the necessity of works to supply the
city with water should fail to make an
impression, there might still be left a
cord to touch which might rouse us to
action. There is little pleasure in set
ting forth facts and multiplying argu-
ments in favor of an enterprise the i'm
peratiye need Of which, not to say prof
itableness, must be patent to the most
stupid intellect. We have published
enough in the shape of proof already,
and now the only resource for hope is
that we have not arrived at that point
to be dead to emulation-that a spark
of pride still fingers which will spur us
to make show of an enterprizing spirit
if it must needs be affected.
Not long since project was submit
ted TO the people, which on account of
its imperfections was properly voted
down, by a small majority however,
The votes cast for that measure were
doubtless given mostly by men who de-
sire to see the town protected against
fires, and very large majority of those
who voted in opposition, to our certain
knowledge are extremely anxious to see
some good plan devised for supplying
the city against the time of need. Bat
why do not the people act upon their
trustees in such a manner as to force
some signs of life from that apparently
inanimate body? 1t would seem that a
scheme of so much Importance ought to
receive more attention. The exposure
Of a million of dollars of property to fire
daily should be a sufficient inducement
to invest one per cent. of it for its per-
manent protection. Self protection.
which will move sometimes the most alb
ject aud cowardly to fight, seems to
have little perceptible influence upon
the body of our citizens. There is a
desire to see the town protected, it is
true, but apparently it is of the quality
Of the slu@gard who wishes and dreams
of wealth but puts forth no effort to gain
it. Outside Of a few individuals there
reigns the most listless apathy. True,
there is little money, but this does not
prevent us from inviting capital from
abroad, or at least exhibiting some signs
that we are alive and belong to TIE pro-
gressive Anglo Saxon race.
Among the ruins of ancient days that
have survived the tooth of time, are
found the magnificent remains of canals
and acqueducts by which once crowded
cities were supplied with water. Along
the sides of mountains, over wide rivers
and across sandy wastes their courses
can be traced, still proud trophies of a
former civilization. The denizens of
forgotten metropolises are lost in the
dim shadows of long ago; their pa
trician villas, their gorgeous temples
even, dedicated in pomp and splendor
to the immortal gods, have wasted
away in the lapse of of ages; but the
grand structures thai bore salvation in
their coursing tides, live, like the good,
monuments of well spent past. Pres
ervation has been vouchsafed to the
preserving, proclaiming against the raw
ages of elemental war the wisdom of
storied antiquity in constructing works
of public utility. Rome had her Gro
ton, and wherever went the imperial ca
gle public works marked the course of
her invading wing. Britain still retains
the monuments of Roman art and Ro-
man civilization, shaming her more
vaunted advancement, and arid Syria
is not without the footprints of Roman
enterprise and policy. The whole coun-
try that belts the Mediterranean is full
VI VI oll uCttIGS uGuICdlCu 20
the public good.
Shall we with all our boosted enter
prize and public spirit. with all our gold
to which the sands of Pactolus are but
prospect, with all the wealth of our
mines, live in cowardly fear of life and
prOperty-live and filch the golden har-
vest to the last solitary grain, then
fold up our tents, like the Arab and
quietly steal away" leaving nothing
but desolation behind, to mark where
American civilization had been
1t would seem that such is to be our
destiny, if we are to judge from the
mastery inactivity of the present Board
of Trustees and the quiet acquiescence
of the people. Other towns in the
State are pushing ahead in enterprises
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