The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-10-28

To the Editor of the ENTERPRISE.
In reply to the thrusts made at the
council from time to time, accusing
them Of being slow in making public
improvements, / submit the following
statement. At the first meeting of the
present council, the question was
brought up of the needs and demands
Of protection to our village against fire
To this end committees were appointed
to look up the supply of water, etc. II
was decided after carefully discussing
the matter to put our reservoirs already
dug in available condition, and dig
more IL needed; also to purchase a fire
engine with necessary appurtenances,
Mayor Fuller corresponded with parties
east and obtained offers for an engine
at very low rates. Then Mr.. Il. Doland
generously offered while on trip East
to look up the matter, and reported on
his return home that he had investiga T.
ed the matter thoroughly, and was
satisfied that it was good bargain. AT
the next meeting after Mr.. Doland's re-
turn. it was expected that the council
would ratify the preliminary purchase.
But instead Of this, councilman Hustled
reported that there would be and was
opposition to the movement on the part
Of prominent business men of our viii
lage. At Mr.. Husted's suggestion, a
committee of four was appointed to in
terview the business men OF our village
as to whether they were in favor or
against buying the engine. At the next
meeting the committee brought in q
decided and almost unanimous report
that the business men Of the village
were not in favor of the enterprise; and
here the matter rests.
ONE OF TIE DADS.
We cannot understand how the busi-
ness men of this VILLAGE can reasonably
frame an excuse for leaving our town
longer unprotected from fire. We
understand that q good engine with
700 feet of hose, ladders, buckets, uni
forms, &C., could he had for about
5000. A hose cart and hook and ladder
wagon and all other necessary ap-
pliances for an efficient department
would make the total cost less than
81, 500, SO that the expense cannot be
reasonably urged against 1t. Besides
We have an excess in the treasury of
about s., 900, so that it would add moth
ing to the taxes. To say that it would
be no protection, is against the expert
ence of every town of its size In the
country. Ifa fire should get started
in any of our business rows, no human
power could stop it till it had all burn
ed up. A single fire and small one
would destroy many times the cost of q
fire department suitable for town the
size of this. The council is ready to
take any action that the people will
indorse. Provision is now being made
for a suitable water supply, 30 that
objection can be urged no longer. We
do not expect fire engine to prevent
fires, but it is according to experience
that they do prevent the spread and ex-
tinguish fires, and that as a rule they
annually save property holders many
times their cost. 1t seems to us crimi-
nally careless to delay this matter
longer. We are convinced that the sober
second judgement of the people will
justify the very small expense neces.
sary. We should like to publish the
reasons if there are any that can be
urged against it, and will cheerfully
give room to any of our business men
or others who will favor us with their
views. By all means let us not go to
sleep over this question now and make
it necessary to have a 1000 fire to
waken us to the exercise of ordinary
business prudence.-ED.