Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-10
A WORD ABOUT FIRE MATTERS

There has been much talk of Ia,o
among fircmen and others about the
purchase of one or more fire engines for
the use of our Fire Department. Now.
for our part, and we had intended TO
say something on the subject several
days ago, We are opposed to the propo-
sition. We arc opposed to it for the
simple reason that we do not believe
that the plan is the best that can be
adopted for the safety of the town. In
the first place the purchase of engines
involves, necessarily. the expenditure
of Il large sum in the construction of
cistern> To render them of any prac,i-
cal benefit. Nothing would be gained
10y turning the water from the present
water works through an engine. The
supply of water would not he increased
Il single drop by such IL course. What
we really wan is more water and
greater pressure. Our plan is to ron
strict a reservoir hi~h up the mount
ain side, Just east of town. We would
mex orange with the Ruby Console
dated to zap their pipe where it comes
owe the mountain above the Rich
mond. There is hardly Il doubt that
the Ruby managers would permit us to
fiji the town reservoir from their pipes.
and especially ut such times as the
furnaces We're shut down for repairs.
Small Gas-pipc SAY II inchl would
he sufficient to conduct the water from
the Ruby pipe to the reservoir. This
could be secured at Il triiling
cost. From the reservoir to town
and through the streets. four-inch
iron pipe of the most substantial
pattern should be used. Plugs should
then be provided at convenient points.
and each plug should be furnished
with lection ofhose, rccled up ina box
right AT hand. To preventive malicious
cutting of the hose oranNthinp of that
description, each box should be secure
ly locked. Every member of the Fire
Department. police officer and persons
,c,idinw in the immediate ~nei9hhor-
hood of each plug could be supplied
with keys. With such an arrange
ment as this. II or W. men could
get an effective stream Oh any fire thai
might occur i'll Il very few seconds.
and experience teaches that the best
N"N ~ i-ht AZ III N''N'tii 'NI IL
to bc-in early. \ pressure of 100 or
200 feet. easily ~atta;nabie in the man
ncr we have described, would be Srili-
cient to riddle II house in own in
three minutes. The burning of more
than II building at time would be
absolutely ont of the question. We
cali upou III Pee pie to think of this
matter aud especially do we direct tie
attention of the commissioners to
The plan we have st impcrtcctly pre-
~cnted. The total cost would proba-
bly, not exceed SIo.nOo. Now that we
have Il town government let us derive
jhe greatest possible benefit from it.
Money spent in rendering the properly
OF the " more secure against the
rayagcS OF the flames will not he re-
GREETED. and we believe the Commits
~iener>. if they have not arranged for
sufficient funds, would be justified in
Straining the credit of the town to ac-
colnpli>h this Very important i'm
praNenlcnt. Money Or no money. we
would rejoice to see the work under
taken without Il moments delay. We
have now la | IL say. and i'll coIclu-
sion we invite or people to express
their views. pro and con. through thc
columns of thc SENTINEL en- this im-
portant subject. Ii anybody has Il
ic,Sible plan for ;hc conSunnlna-
ton OF the end desired, let uS have 1t.