Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-01-09
~ Our late fires and the manner in

~ Our late fires and the manner in
which the management for their extinguish.
ment was conducted, must have ugsested
to all the propriety Of securing some
organization for our mutual protection
against them. An engine, with a we'll
organized company would Of course be
the most desirable and serviceable; but
this at present is out of tie question, as
we could not before Spring procure an
engine. Then too, the article is rather
more expensive, than with our limited
means we should be justified in indu'ging
in. The hext best thing that occurs to
Us, as within our reach and Of great i'm
portance even had we the FIRE engine, is a
we'll organized Hook and Ladder Com.
pany, furnished with the necessary supply
OF equipments; to these could lie added
number Of light and strong buckets
though the latter article might be left to
future consideration. Such a company
could be easily organized from the mate
rial at hand in the business portion of
our city-and the necessary hooks and
ladders could be readily supplied by our
carpenters aud blacksmiths-so that We
have the resources for furnishing ruch an
organization within ourselves-and all
could be done for the pertec,ng of the
arrangement in few days, if some enter
prizing citizen would but take hold and
forward so necessary an arrangement.
AS to the necessity of something being
done in this direction, none can Doubt
The character Of the buildings in the
business portion of our city, coupled with
the fact Of tba, par, of the town being so
compac.ly bui|,, is sufficient to satisfy any
person that fire in any one of the build.
ings on the lower part of Pearl street
would be tantamount to a general cot fla.
garation in that locality unless something
was done TO arrest the extension of the
flames, either hy extinguishing the fire in
its inception-ard it could only be cx,in-
guished then--or by deprivins it of Sup.
ply Of fuel by tearing down intervening
buildings. The first course sh ould aud
could be adopted when the fire is discov.
cred sufficient y early to adm. Of il bn,
then ladders are generally required as
most Of our fires have their origin in defec.
tive chimneys, and make their first ap
rearance on the roof of the building A
practical illustration Of his was exhibited
at the fire on Second street Had there
been an accessible ladder when Il e.Gre
was first discovered, it could have been
extinguishcd in q few moments and with
hardly any damage to the building.
We submit these suggestions to the
public only for their consideration. and
with no intention Of advocating our plans
in preference to those Of any one else
Should any person desire to recommend
any other policy or move for OR rrotcc-
should be most happy not only to give
them publicity, but to adept them should
they be mos. acceptable to the community.
N We are pleased to welcome back to
Sioux City our old lend Gen. Bo ,ge. who
has been engaged Tor the last six weeks
IN bringing across the State a train Of
thirty seven wagons, loaded with Commits
sary stores. The hard-hips Of the trip, as
detailed to US by the General, were almost
1rightful. Not one Of the drivers who
originally started with the train was able
TO get through, thus necesitating the EN-.
ployment q new men constantly, while
the old ones we're returned frozen too
badly to be longer serviceatle. Uufortu.
mattel the goods were not on hand, ready
for transportation, at the time agreed upon,
and this delay was the great cause Of the
subsequent difficulties. as the General
would have got through before these late
storms and severe cold weather, had be
no, been detained So long waiting for the
goods. That the Comnissary department
here has now a supply Of stores, is entire
ly owing to the indomi,able energy Of this
cont ractor.
RAJ Improvements seem to be the order
of the day a. this Military Post. Wan, Of /
lumber, and want Of almost everything
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