The Nevada journal., 1858-04-16

! fecolectlon OF former calamity, the
warning of Downieville and the more
recent one of Forest city, the history of
the State tells us of the inevitable fate
of unprotected California cities. Fire
must sooner or later consume them all
The mighty element has laid them all
in ashes, and is liable every moment to
do the same again. This city has suffer
ed i'll common with the rest, and more
than she ought to have done considering
the advantages held out for her protec-
tion. Very few places have the same
facilities, and, we are sorry to say, fewer
still have availed themselves less of the
means in their power. Less than two
years since more than million dollars
in property were lost to our citizens for
the want of water that slight tax would
have supplied. With commendable en-
ergy, nothing daunted by the severe Wis
itation, they have gone to work and erec-
ted another city fully equal to the old.
But the idea of providing against anoth-
er fiery visitation has not yet been seri-
ously entertained. The immense prop
erty which we see on every hand, is on
the edge Of volcano, and no one knows
when the fiery irruption will take place
1t may come to-morrow-it is liable to
happen to-day. 1t would seem the part
of prudence and good Judgment to take
some measures to avert a threatened
disaster. The hard earnings of years
are worth an effort to preserve. Pow
erty is not pleasure to be courted. or
an evil not to be stunned at all times
when possible. 1t is possible and feast
BILE to protect the city against almost
any contingency in the natural order of
things. A small amount of money, COM
pared with the value of things risked,
will put us out of harms reach
But on former occasion we said all
that was necessary on the subject we
would most desire to touch on again
the supplying of the city with water by
pipes and hydrants. 1t is evident that
is the best method of guarding most sue
cessfully against devastating fires. 1t is
plain too the cost of such works is tri-
fling compared with the material good
they would accomplish in the hour of
trial. However, we see no disposition
evirced except on the part of few to
undertake a work of the kind so much
needed for the security Of property, and
we suppose some other expedient must
be resorted to for the accomplishment of
a polite purpose.
We have a military company of able
bodied, we'll dressed men, organized for
patriotic purposes. In case Of war or in
vasion they doubtless would heroicaliy
peril life in defense of the country, or to
add lustre to American arms. The pros
pect of a war in which they will be call
ed on to exhibit their prowess is exceed
ingly small-barely the color appears.
Probably the youngest of them may live
to green old age without seeing tent
ed field or smelling the vilainous salt
petre of hostile foe. And yet for a
contingency very dim and remote, a
staunch body of citizen soldiers are ex-
ercised in feats of arms weekly in our
streets. Purses are literally opened,
and remarkably fine interest is taken
in the military affair. This is showing
a commendable public spirit, and not to
be discouraged. But as patriotism. like
charity, should begin at home, and the
truly brave should be found where dan
gers do most thicken, it would appear
quite as we'll to have a little public spir-
it expended in defending ourselves
against an enemy lurking like the hid
den Greeks at Troy, within our own
wooden walls-an enemy that we know
is to come for certainty, whose inva-
sion cannot be counted remote, but too
fearfully near. Why should we make
provision for an event that may never
occur, and in which we are but partially
interested, and leave our immediate in
terests uncared for? Why stop the
spigot and heedlessly allow wholesale
escape at the bungl
In short, if we can have q military
company, why can we not have COM
pany of firemenl 1t seems certain that
a system of pipes is not likely to be
adopted for the protection of the city
against fires, and the next best thing
should be substituted A fire engine, if
on the ground early and well supplied
with water, can save the city. Then let
us have it. Hold out some encourage
mont +o N oaronany of firemen and strono n