Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1873-03-01
SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1873

city from destruction.
The foregoing, which we clip
from the Shreveport Times of the
Goth inst, we take as the text ofen
article it IS our purpose to write to
the city fathers and citizens of Dali
las. It is butta fragment of the
general report given in that paper
of tho fearful fire which occurred
in Shreveport on the 10th inst,
and by which moro than 100000
of property was consumed. Had
the authorities of that City taken
time by the forelock and provided
the necessary means for the extin-
enlistment of the fire fiend, there
would have been no occasion now
for tho journals of that place sug-
costing that chad there boon an
other steam fire engine, much val
liable property could have been
saved-enough, indeed, to pur
chase two or three steam engines
They have fire department. in
Shreveport, however, and sufficient
" strong to render valuable scrvI-
ces in the protection of the proper
ty of its merchants and landlords,
and by tho heroic labors perform
cd by its members, tho city was
saved from perfect and complete
destruction not moro than one
week ago.
Howwould it bewith Dallas, should
n fire break out on Elm or Main ST.,
during one of the heavy north
ers which not unfrequently prevail
in these regions? Can any math-
cmatician in our city compute how
many men and blue buckets it
would take to save the best pro
tected building along either of those
streets, taking into consideration
the Trinity river as tho only and
most available water facility at our
command? Suppose that an invcn'
tory of any block from the Crutch
field House to the street below ID
C. Hoskins Drug Store was taken
and at the most reasonable estimate
how many steamers with the nee
essary compliment Of hose at s4oOl
each, would the value OF such BLOCK
purchase ? Again how much would
! DO annually saved to the m erchants
on their stocks and to the landlords
on their buildings in the reduced
rates of Insurance, should they g
earnestly to work and organize and
equip two companies OF firemen
In one-year, we venture the asser
ton, that tho savings in tho premi
ums of Insurance alone, would yielt
every dollar necessary to establish
a fire department. But it is com
planned that the city is in debt, tina
its treasury is empty an that it il
entirely unable to provide the mean
necessary to suppress the mos
frightful and destructive elemen
on earth. We do not wish to die
tate, but to suggest remedy, ant
ask that the live men of our city
take into consideration the crud
theory in advance and from it dl
gost something tangible and feast
BILE, and calculated to protect thu
great interest of this city from thu
ravages of fire which may occur il
our midst at any moment. W.
weuld therefore suggest that I
meeting of the substantial men o
the place be called and that this ide:
be discussed and systematized SO al
to secure the end sought, viz Tha
the city fathers be requested to ado
an additional tax upon the assessed
valuation of the property in oul
city sufficient to raise $4,000, ant
that each tax payer pledge hImsel
to pay in cash this tax upon de
mand by the proper officer to col
lect it. No man in onr city woult
be required to pay over 500, an'
this sum, thus expended, would b
returned him at once in the reduced
rates of insurance and in the relic
every prudent man would feel il
knowing that his property wa
protecTed and in a great degreese
cure against absolute destruction
either from inccndiary or acciden
tai fires. We have alreadytgans
ferred to our column letter fro2
a conscience-stricken member @
the Internationals in which con
fession was made that the city Q
New Orleans had been spotted b.
the burners and would ere long b
given to the torch. Here is anoth
er letter from another Information
al, which we take from the st. Lou
is Globe Of the 18th inst, in whic
the plot TO burn the GREET city G
st. Louis is exposed. All thes
communicating may be notbinI
more or less than sensation, bu
they certainly suggest tbe impo'
lance Of being always really. vii