The Nevada journal., 1857-05-22
Gge 9(tbaoa Journal.
Friday Morning, May 2.sd.
protection AGAINST Fire.

Protection against FIRE.
Whilst our sister towns Of less size
and resources are taking effectual meas
ures for supplying themselves with wa
ter against the time Of greatest need, we
have, as yet, put forth no effort to avoid
a similar calamity to that which befel
us less than a year ago. Grass Valley
is farther advanced in the way of pro-
lection against fire than we. Her eiti-
zens have begun to sec the policy, say
necessity, of an abundance of water,
and to count the cost of obtaining sup
ply Oroville, but year or two of age,
has water in abundance and well or
ganized fire department. On several
late occasions the wisdom of the projec-
tors of such plans of protection has
been signally demonstrated. In this
country, emphatically land of fires,
the need of system Of water works in
every town of considerable size, is ur-
gent. We undertake to say, without
the fear of successful contradiction, that
property enough has been destroyed in
California by the devouring element
within the eight years past to underlie
the streets of every town in the State
with efficient and durable water conduc-
tors. And we undertake to say further
that the taxable property of the State
would be, to-day, had proper guards
been provided long ago against fires,
fifty per cent greater than it now is.
To some it seems Ike stupendous
undertaking to supply this city with
water enough to make it secure. How
gladly would every man who owns a
wooden building in the business portions
of the city pay two per cent, per an
mum, to be safely insured against fires.
We presume there is not a property
holder in the city, who would not jump
at the chance Of having his combustible
property insured so cheaply. This same
property can be insured forever for that
per centage.
Take the most cheap and economical
plan Of security we can, and see what
will be the cost. The advantages are
plain to every intellect.
A reservoir can be constructed on OF
near Grave Yard Hill, for a few hun
dred dollars, of sufficient capacity fo1
all our wants. The water could be con-
veyed to it in a common ditch. From
the reservoir log pipes can be used at a
small expense. An intelligent gentle
man, conyersant with such work, assures
us that bored logs can be furnished
ready to put down, twelve feet in length,
for two dollars each. On rough egti-
nation, two thousand yards of pipe viii
be ample for all purposes. To this add
the expense Of hydrants, and an esti-
mate of the total cost, exclusive of lay
ing the pipes, is early obtained.
But allowing the cost to be twice as
large, by no calculation can the whole
sum necessary to be expended exceed
fifteen thousand dollars-an inconsid-
cradle sum for the lasting benefit that
will accrue from it,
The amount of property daily risked
in this city, cannot be less than four
hundred thousand dollars. The inter
est on this sum at the lowest rates for
one month will, according to the estima-
ted cost of the wooden water works, be
enough to construct them. Men will OBJ
iect, that wood viii rot and not be strong
enough to withstand the pressure. Logs
kept filed with water will last a long
period of time. Good spruce logs Of
not unwieldIy Dimensions, with FIVE inch
bore, are computed to stand a pressure
of at least two hundred perpendicular
feet of water. If this computation be
correct, we have a cheap and efectual
check against the fiery element within
our means, which, in justice to ourselves,
should be used
We are not yet through with this sub
ject.
Rich DIRT We were shown speci-
mems of dirt on Saturday last, from the
Blue Lead at Little York, which were
uncommonly rich. The specimens were