The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1869-02-12
WHILE THERE rs VET TIME.

hour. IL has 50 far escaped, almost mir
raculousiy, but every wooden building
in the town is the prison of ravenous
FIRE dragons that An unlucky spark will
liberate, and whose red tongues are blis-
tering with fierce thirst for the unpro-
tected prey. Take the business part OF
the town. with its crowded shell houses.
the numerous liquor stores and saloons,
lodging houses. drug stores. livery sta
bles, etc, filed with combustibles. and
on stormy night, with few minutes
start of fire, what would be the posi-
BILE result Think of the recent fires,
and while congratulating yourselves on
their quick extinguishment. consider
whether the probabilities are in favor of
continued exemption from disastrous
conHagration. There is not in the
mountains a city 90 exposed to destruc-
tion, with such inadequate means for
protection. with 80 much property at
risk, or the proportion in fire proofs or
unexposed localities smaller. In the re-
cent Town Site investigation it was tess
titled that we have three millions four
hundred thousand dollars worth of i'm
proeements in only a portion of the
town. On Main street many buildings
worth 5000. 10000 or $4,000 have
double and treble that value of goods in
them. II is not an excessive estimate
to place the amount of property con-
stantly imperrilled by fire in any por,
tion of the gulch, 1T five million dol
lars. Upon at least four-fifths Of this
no good insurance company will lake
risks. leaving $4.0OO.OOO OF pr>perty,
the ownera oi which have constantly
suspended over them . more desperate
peril, by lesser thread. than the sword
of Damocles. While the few might en-
dure the loss, 10 the many it would
bring utter impoverishment. Whatpre-
cautions have we? Except the pres
ence of citizens in their daily pursuits.
and the accidental notice of nocturnal
stragglers, and an insurance of not ex-
ceeding 100000. None. What facili-
tics for extinguishing q fire? The good
will and energetic efforts of
few persons, limited number
of hydrants. q few hooks, the where
abouts OF which nobody ever has any
knowledge during q fire, and such pals
as can be laid hands upon by the i'm
promptu fremen. When the horse is
stolen it is 200 late To lock the stable.
The property in this town is certainly
worth preserving. 1t is an object to all,
for aside from the local suffering that
woald ensue, the destruction of the
Main street sections WOULD be injurious
to every interest in Montana. in the
check it would give to other invest
ments and the double price it would
place on necessary commodities OF life,
of which it is the territorial storehouse.
The immediate precaution should be
during this mild weather. clean the
stove pipes that have accumulated four
months SCOT; have cask OF water by
every building, and a ready means of
reaching every roof. Further than this.
procure steam fire engine, have ii ar
rive by steamer, place it under the
charge of the police. excavate three or
four places for reservoirs along the
gulch, and the town will be cate. The
engine may cost $1,000 or $1,OO0-say
fifty dollars from each frm-and the
destruction of more than two or three
buildings by any fire would be an im-
possibility, for in twelve minutes it
would be throwing more water per min
ute than all the men and hydrants in
town could in an hour. We urge upon
property owners consideration of these
things. The chances are many to one
that the day will come when it will be
too late fer precautions; it is not now.