, 1865-03-14

men being spared for other duties than those of
guardians Of the peace and ven now We see
frequent complains in the public papers that
their number is insufficient for this purpose. It
is evident, then, that We canuot expect the re-
CURED protection from the police, DOr is it at all
desirab g that the fre-extingui hing arrange
menrs Of the metropolis should be left to them.
Inc time Is evidently NV arrived when the
question of the most eficicn the cheapest, and
easiest mode OF thoroughly protecting the metro
polls from the destructive Eavages Of fire. and
providing a more eFtc'u.i check to the tremen-
dous couf1 grations that have occurred so fire.
qu"ntly OF late, shall he set at rest and the es-
adjustment Of a truly NJ tropoitan Fire Bri.
g'de be accomplished, for with the %improyi-
dence of an Amos savage state of society, We
have left ourselves at the mercy Of the flames,
and tor more than a quarter OF u century have
ShametuIly neglected our duty in this respect,
because the insurance companies arranged for
extlnguiShlug their own ii e., by d set Of men
and plant aud to their inclination or otherwise
We have trusted FIR help in extlnguishing QUE
wn. 1t is neither just to the Insurance COM
panles, nor safe for ourselves to trust wholly or
even in part to their aid when fires occur. It
should be remembered that their men and enc
gines are designed and maintained by them.
NN'HNO SAaAPJ ~ ShO PAOLGNbIOo VA GAACIL "
funds, and that there is no legal claim on them
to maintain their establishment for the public
benefit; but we have all grown into the false
belief that we are entitled to look upon them as
intended for the benefit Of the public at large.
No doubt, to a certain extent, they do confer this
benefit but all they can do with their present
means and appliances, IS far from sufficient for
the daily increasing requirements and We find
that having to defray the cost of them, they
stand, as is natural, on their undoubted right
when they decline to augment it. What We
now want Is q complete au entire change of
sy$tem-)ne which does not infiot a compulSo-
ry m,in,enance of rates for the %purpns,, hut
bring into requisition that important and price
less principle-the Volunteer system-t whose
energetic aud chivalrous e~xertions VIC can trust
with far greater certainty and satisfaction than
to any paid system whatever.
1t will, of course, be urged-1s it was in the
case of our vO'untecr riff 3men-that they are
not needed, that they can not be made efficient,
will not work as well as paid men, &c, &C.; and
W, have seen how all these sinister prognos ica-
tons have failed. It may also DO remembered
that stronger reasons than these we're urged
aIIin1t railways. and, in fact, against every i'm
provemenf. or "in1ovation,'' a. il is termed, but,
in spite of all thu could be urged to the contra
ry, they have invariably, when once started,
gone ahead, and their most persevering aud
strenuous opponents are found amongst their
staunche-t supporters
The VoIun'eer riff ,nen, it should be remem-
bered, provide far "A dln2er afar off and yet to
ONE but the v~o'untear fr3men are ready and
wiIlinL to deaI VIII oln that is in our midst,
aud my IN 'et u' At any corner at any moment,
and who can q 'tis moment say that he may
no, even VIII : IN speaking. require their
services.
To be continued.