Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-12-14
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING. DEC. ii. lMe
OUR FIRE APPARATUS.

S;pfethc e r a. c0nt,lc,:t;On in l., son. many
of orr exchanges have suggested improve
ments in the mode q! cNtngu'shnE tTeS.
and a general revision OF the syst IN control
ling fire departments has been inan-uEaic''
Throughout. the Union. Portland. win one
of the best Of fire departments. Is not sails
fled with the facilities that have heretofore
been its pride and boast and is taking Meas
urcs to secure greater efficiency in staying
the ravares of the terrible destroyer, whlic
San Francisco with n service probably now
equal To any in the world. is ais" dcNisin2
WAYS and means for promoting the common
object.
The Chicago and Boston calaint!ss prove
that there is absolutely no material Of which
buildings can he constructed that Is fire
Droar in a large contlagration: that while
brick. stone and iron may rcsiS. an ordinary
degree Of heat, they crunble or fuse b'.ore
the tirey blasts Of a great con.!agration Is
readily as the light wooden structures of a
country village Until some substance is dis
covered that will withstand the ordeal, all
effort must necessarily he directed towards
pcrfccting the modes of preventing and On
tinguishing fires.
This subject is one in which orr citizens
should feel lively interest. y steam iirc
engine is an absolute nocc ssity. lts'eam can
Ike used to advantage in cities it can he intro
duced with much more pro2ciety III towns
where the number oC experienced iircnen is
small and where muscle and Skill can be put
to a better Use than working the jumps OF a
hand engine. In a town like this, construct
cd almost entirely of wood. under the prevail
ing brcezes of Summer and Winter fire
would gain fearful headway after passing the
bounds within which our present facilities
would be of any service. In the dry season
the roofs of houses are like piles of finder,
that NAV &c ignited bya spark, and during
the Indictment period, roaring fires and en-
,losive compounds used for illumination en-
nance the danger from within. Fortunately,
however, even in the business part of town
the buildings are low and within easy rcacl,
of large streams from the hose: consequently
with an ample supply of watcrand the means
of applying it, the danger can be in great
measure avertod. 1t is said to be Tic part OF
wisdom in time of peace to prepare foi
war. Will not property CwEcrs heed the
warnings that are of almost daily recurrence
Can we be taught by none but our own mis-
fortunes? Can we expect exemption from the
calanities that have besallen more favored
communities than our own? Under these
circumstances, what better investment can bt
desired than the appropriation of a few hund
red dollars to improve our fire apparatus
There is ncne Everybody must conccde that
the danger is great and the means available
to lessen il.
We trust that our contemporaries who arc
or should he the guardians Of the public in
terests, will agtate this matter until the com
munity is aroused to action. Where there is
a will there is way, and we have no fears
bat that, with united effort, means will be de
vised to secure an efficient fire apparatus fol-
our thriving town.