Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-09-19
Two Solemn LessOnS-The One FruitleSS
Of G0Od-What will the Other be.

To any citizen of Frostburg passing
along Main street, east of Broadway,
the new buildings on the northern
side and the vacant lot adjoining the
pastoral residence, have for months
been suggestive of the calamity which
visited this town the second day of
February last, consumed four buildings
and seriously threatened a great many
more. One might 60 further and re-
member the meetings held subsequent
ly which resulted in legislative en-
actment amending the charter and en-
larging the powers of the Water Com
pany, to the end we might possess an
ample supply of water. After this,
also, it is easy to recall the proposed
purchase of engine, hose, and other
appliances for the extinguishment of
fre-how, all at once, we were to pos
sess nearly every indispensable to per-
feet immunity from disaster But
days and months glided by. The bill
passed and was buried in the Laws
of Maryland "a grave as. yet with
out resurrection. AS the summer
passed and autumn approached fortune
lulled to deeper sleep the erewhi1e
stormy and apparently earnest asita-
ton. While it lived it was thing of
life, stirring life, but it died and de-
composed before its prime.
At length, the afternoon of Septem-
Der 9Th awakes and renews the Febru-
airy horror-fnds us, if possible, in a
worse condition to combat with fire.
At the mercy of the relentless flames,
we were forced to witness destruction
unparalleled in the history Of the
town-in fact, a destruction which,
proportionately, swept more territory
than either the great fires of Chicago
and Boston. In this extremity we are
forced, through our own culpable I'M
providence to send to Cumberland for
aid-to ask Cumberland people to un-
cover their property to save ours.
In the few succeeding days we We're
favored with several demonstrations
favoring adequate provisions Of pro-
lection. Two ministers in eloquent
words have demonstrated against fur
Their postponement. A public meet
ing has devised a plan which we are
informed cannot succeed for the want
of money Thus the quietus has prob
ably been given to the drowsy subject;
it lacks only time and rebuilding to
soothe it to it's accustomed slumber.
| This indifference amounts to nothing
better than criminal neglect of the
best temporal interests of the town,
chargeable, more or less, to every in
dividual citizen. If not, what is the
apology? We know it is not want of
ability, and our people are not ready
to admit it is a want of sense. What
then Is it the race for money and
the lack of business amity between
tradesmeno Have these swallowed
every notion of public enterprise and
accepted the fatal risk of destruction
as preferable to joint effort for protec-
ton ? If so, in this way the proper
ties of very many who cannot afford
loss are imperiled, and who can do
nothing without the cooperation of
the business men. 1t is shame, shame,
shame A people as populous, money
making and Woodworking as ours
a people who have built pleasant resi-
dences and costly churches by the
sweat Of their brows-these people
leave these great interests to the mercy
of an element of especial horror in
Frostburg! We ask again, why
lone doesn't because the other
doesn't )" or the lone might do toe
much-the other not enough A
family of children might naturally in
dulge in a debate of this character, but
how small for men whose great cry is
1--WE mean business !" Viewing re-
suits it would seem that meaning is
all.
A false lesson has been learned from
both fires in the prompt and satisfac
tory adjustment of insurance. Large
sums have been paid out to indemnify
losses, until it is not uncommon to heal
the remarks, nobody hurt, " " better
off than BEFORE etc. Referring to the
value of ground in some cases this il
true in others it is not. At any rate
insurance companies are not so solicit
GUS for Frostburg risks, and threaten
higher tariffs or withdrawal from the
field. They are right. We cannot ex