The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-12-16
Mr.. EDITOR Allow me a small space

: Mr. EDITOR. Allow me small space
in your paper to correct some of tEemis-
-ftatements in relation to the length OF
Time CONSUMED IN getting to work onthe
fire at Harrisons Mill last week, and to
J, make few explanations in relation to
the Fire Department.. A great many
curse the Steamer and lay all the blame
ion Ter for the delay. The Steamer was
ready for work long before the hose was
layed. will admit that serious mistake
or blunder was made in passing Market
st. reservoir which was nearer the IRE
and would have saved much valuable
time in going to the Harbor which was
nearly fifteen hundred feet fram the fire
and in the rear of il which is poor
place to fight fire, as we should always
/ head it, or work on he side most in
danger. When the Steamer reached the
water there was only three or four men
to pull the hose cart, with 700 feet Of
hose on it, up the grade from the harbor
We had to beg and force men and boys
Unto the service until we gotup to SIM
mons factory, there we met another COM
pany and helped lay their hose, still that
old not reach the fire and an other hose
company had to be called which finally
reached the FIRE and word went back
TO the steamer to go ahead She i'm
mediateiy started mp but before the wa
ter reached the fire or very soon after
one length of hose gave out which had to
be replaced and her another blum
der and delay was made. This
length of hose was bursted in
the center at the trial Of the steam
| er last march and to save the hose We sent
to Chicago for another coupling and had
| it put on here where they blundered aid
put it on wrong, that is, put on the coup
| ling wrong end to, SO that another coup
i ling would not connect with it. The
| foreman of one Of the companies was
sure that the hose was all Iayed wrong
| from the steamer tothe fire notwithstand.
| ing each end was connected all right and
refused to go back one coupling farther
and disconnect there, but wasted time
in trying to strap the bursted hose which
rol~
very valuable time aid caus.d some hard
swearing at the d--n fire department
and ali its officers. The fact is Mr. Ed
tor the fire department here as well as
elsewhere where volunteer department.
exists cannot be relied upon at all times,
| fore the citizens should be willing
and ready TO take hold and assist the
few reliable and willing fremen, as there
are brit few that can be depended upon
at all times. What good does it do TO
stand around and grewl and swear at the
d-n fiiemen, who are doing the best
they can, and receive nothing but curses
for their pay? will admit that the
city has paid out considerable money for
tie Department the past few years, still
they need more to make them anything
like an efficient department. There are
more reservoirs needed and more hose,
there is now only 1850 feet Of hose be-
longing 20 the city, 700 of that IS with
the steamer, 400 with No. one, on Market
Square, and 400 at No. 8 house in the
north ward We need and should have
more hose as soon as possible for our
reservoirs are SO far apart that the fire
cannot be reached without hose, as was
the case at the last two fires. One
machine only could work as there was
hose only for one machine while the
other two stood idle. Now in the case
where fire was spreading the hand
machines could do good service In check
: ing it in some direction or in getting to
work first on the fire as the first water
put on the ire does the most good, but
need not take up more of your space.
I have now written much more than |
ment to. A FIREMAN
FT1rr, Errocr Fr1Crv, pTrc ', oro,,c