The Van Buren press., 1877-10-30
Shall 1t BE Done =?

Unswcrviug and persistent determine,
ton arc necessary adjuucts to the sue
cesstnl cventuation Of any desired end.
1t is useless to fasten the barn-door after
the equine quadruped has made its es-
cape. Truth is cmphatically embodied
in each of these automatic utterances,
and this fact is so certainly obvious that
it needs no effort of substantiation.
Sometime about the lst of July,
meeting was held in the county clerks
office for the purpose OF forming a hook
and-Ladder Company. The organiza-
ton, We learn, was formed, and the
names of the greater portion of our cit
izcns were placed upon the roster. We
believe that this was all that was done
in the matter. Now, as to where the
occasion of this cessation of work rests,
we are not prepared to say. But of one
thing we are certain, there is n culpable
degree of neglect some where. We
know that there was complete organi-
zation, and we also know that there are
none Of the appliances necessary to con-
stitute the companya practial rather than
a theoretical existence. Quite three
months have passed away, and there is
no hook-and-laddcr provided, and the
company has gone "where the woodbine
twIuetn. soncono is lacking in the
" unswcrving and persistent dctermina-
ton" of which we spoke at the start.
We have another suggestion to make,
and it is prompted by conversation we
recently had with young friend ofours
who could authenticate all he told us.
A gentleman, by the name of Townsend,
a resident of Little Rock, purchased a
hand-tire-enginc, to be given to a com
pany of negroes that was to be organic
ed. The tire-departmcnt SO bitterly op-
posed the movement, that the abandon
ment of the scheme was rendered nee
essary, and the engine reverted to Mr.
T., its owner, who has it now in his pos
sion, and desires to dispose of it at a
sacrifice. Now, our proposition is, that
one Of our leading men write to this
gentleman, and learn the terms of sale /;
and that steps be then taken to obtain
the money, purchase the engine, and
bring it to this place; after all this has
been done, the company may be form
ed, and made amenable to duty Shall
it be done"
A fire, once under way, in any part
of the town, with our poor manner of
extinguishmcnt, would be terribly dis
astrous in its effects. Had not the night
of the Court House-burning, been damp
and rainy, all this part of the place
would have been imperilod by the lurd
flames. If the old Callahan mill had
been located near the dwelling part Of
the town, who is able to tell where
the fearful demon would have stayed his
devouring fires? These are facts, most
terribly truthful facts. 1t is time that
this ruinous inactivity and lack of inter-
est in matter of such pondcrous, over
nowerino imnortance. to the welfare of
all our people, should be brought to an
end Lest VIC should be called upon to
mourn over the smodcring ashes of our
homes and busincss-houscs, let us pru-
IDENTIFY provide those means within our
reach that may ward off the many woes
that are inscparablc companions of the
firc-king. 1t is too late to close the
door, when the horse is out and gone"
We ask the candid consideration of the
proposition which was the object of this
article. We need action in the matter.
+" SHALL IT BE DoNE?"