National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-06-23
BRADFORD, FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1871.


a man who applied for insurance
upon his buildings, had the question
propoundcd to him: "What iacili-
ties does your village possess fol
extingnishIng fires - The answer
was, alt rains sometimes :!
Now this is about the condition
Of Bradford Village at the present
time, notwithstanding the fact that
over $1,000 has been expended by
the Fire District for the purposes of
protection against fires. In saving
this we east no reflections upon the
Fire Company, or Fire District Off
GERS, past or present.
We have a fair fire engine, and
another small one which has done
good service in times past, and
might again, and good fire com
pany. We have just erected fine
engine house which will be surmoun
ted with a bell for giving fire alarms
Now if we had a Hook and Ladder
Company well furnished, and one
thing more, we should be as well
protected as we can be. The one
thing more needed is u supply of
Water. Without water all these ap-
pOintments aye useless; and now
the question is, will the Ere District
take measures to provide an ample
supply of water, or shall we remain
in a condition which, if fire sho'd
break out in the business portion of
the Village. would compel us to sit
down, fold our hands and see the
buildings burn. There are Miyta
buildings in the village standing
but few feet apart from each other, |
most of them large buildings, aud
all wood. The supply of water for
this portion Of the village is con
tanned in one cistcrn holding about
100 hosshcadS, hardly enough to
wet down the roofs.
At the north end of the Village |
are two cisterns holding, we believe,
so hogsheads each. One of them
has not had a foot of water in il
since the first of the winter, and the
other near Hubbard Wright's, was
pumped dry in 40 minutes at the
time of the Vermont House fire.
1t is due to the officers of the Fire
District TO say that they have en-.
deavored to obtain leave to take the
waste water from some of the hous.
cs near to fill the empty cistern, but
without success.
The ciStcrn near the marble shop
is leaky aud is only partly filed
The ciStern at the South end is sup.
piled by spring at the bottom, and
the water runs in in wet times and
runs out in dry times.
Some Of the buildings in the Fire
District are beyond reach from any
of the cistcrns. This is our sit va.
ton, but it ought not to remain so. ;
Our village lies so that it is diGi
cult, perhaps impossible, to obtain ,
proper supply of water from springs ,
or brooks but there are other
sources of supply, which might be
brought into use.
We think that a force pump sho'd |
be pnt into one Of the mills, and
pipe laid, or hose supplied, to carry
water as far north as L. II. Aliens
new cistern put in near
Chas. Stevens residence, (Which we !
believe the District Committee con. ,
template putting in); and an in
creased supply at the North and {
South ends of the village,
The time to do these things is
now, and not after We have had sew t
nral more destructive fires. (
We have no doubt that if the dis :
riot had had hooks and ladders, '
md plentiful supply of water, the c
Vermont House main building =
might have been saved, while as il v
was, only the heavy rains of the Y
previous day saved Mr.. Wright's (
barns and, We think, house also. G
OF course some will object to r
these provisions on account Of the J