The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-23
FIRE AND WATER.

The village meeting did right in refusing
to vote money for "A reservoir on Main
street, on Saturday night. A reservoir
holds hatful or two of water, but it
costs good deal, and fire worth putting
out il not much afraid of reservoir that
can he pumped out in half an hour, like
the little pond in Railroad Park. Larger
pipes and hydrants are needed. We should
think village that, had suffered as much
as this from fires, would be pretty spry in
arranging means for defense and preven-
tisn. Yet, only a two-inch pipe feeds the
reservoir in the depot park. This is
small pipe even for business purposes
With steamer it will not last over thirty
minutes. The pipe should be ten inches in
diameter through the whole length of Mer-
chants Row, Cor the accommodation of
business, as well as security from fire. Hy-
drants should be set every hundred feet
along Merchants Row, and then the hose
could be quickly attached and be ready for
instant and active service. AS it is, to
protect buildings on Merchants Row, there
are but two hydrants, one in the Park and
one, the best in the village, at the corner
of Grove street. These are both distant
and inconvenient for fire in Merchants
Row, but are the only resources. For the
southeast there are two hydrants, one
near the Bardwell House, and one on the
hill. For the court house, the churches
and other buildings on that portion of
Centre street, and the northeastern portion
of the town, there is but one bydrant, that
in West street. In the lower part of the
village there is no hydrant at all.
There ought to be six inch pipe leading
from the reservoir through Centre street,
connecting with ten inch pipe in Mer-
chants Row. This would greatly lessen
the danger of that portion of the city.
The efficiency of the steamer is much
impaired by the necessary delay in convey
ing it to fire. The village should own
two horses to be kept in the engine house
ready for service Even if they were en-
ployed working on the streets during the
day time, they should at least be handy at
night. In cities, the fire-horses, when the
fire-bell sounds, prick up their ears and
show impotence to hurry to the fire, for
they know the meaning of the signal as
well as the fireman. They do not know,
as the fireman does, in what part of the
city the fire is, but they understand that
there is confagration, and feel interested
in the case, and trust to their drivers to
guide them Alright Before the sound Of
the bell dies away they are dashing out Of
the door and galloping through the streets
So much importance is attached to thu
matter of getting the engines to the fires
with celebrity, that contrivance has beer
invented, and may be in use in Boston al
this time, for throwing open the doors OF
the stables by electricity,so that the horses
all ready for their work, may spring into
the street. Upon arriving at the scene OF
the fire, plug is found convenient, with &
gushing stream as large as mans leg.
We do not expect to rival cities in thes'
conveniences, but improvements on presen
arrangements are much needed, and tn
taxes necessary to make them had bette
be borne as a sort of premium on fire
insurance.
A year ago the village appropriate,
money to put in better pipes and cree
hydrants, but did not vote a tax, and con
scquently the instructions to the trustee
could not be obeyed