The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-03-12

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fire. The motion was made and passed
at time when few voters were pres
emit, and when those on hand were
mostly persons who do not own prop
erty which would BIO endangered by
fire. There was no attempt at debate,
except the assertion by a voter that
eve who are not exempted from taxes
have to do the pumping whenever
there is fire."
1t is a most contemplate policy
which would bcgrudge the members of
the company the little favor granted
them heretofore. Jfno account is. made
of the great value to the town of hav-
ing drilled and efficient body of fire.
men to be on hand in case of need, they
have already saved to individuals on
several occasions many times the bonus
they receive and they might any day
have occasion to do the same thing for
any citizen, The protection they afford
is worth very many times the few cents
they cost each taxpayer.
When one thinks of the promptness
with which the company have appeared
with engine and has at every alarm OF
fire which could reach them; of the
swiftness and efficiency with which
they have got to work; the bravery
with which they have faced almost un.
endurable heat and often positive peril
II appears inconceivable that meeting
of citizens of Middlcbury could dclibcr.
ately vote in the way they did. Every
one knows that the services of the com
pany have been had practically gratis
for TIE foxes RENTED and the sun
paid by the village by no mctos com
pensates for the time and trouble of at
tending the meetings of The company
drilling, and the iima lost during bust
ness hours in attendance at nres. I
hardly pays for the clothes they hav,
spoiled at single fire.
1t is not likely that the question O
the pay has influenced the fire compan,
in maintaining their organization ant
efficiency. Patriotism and feeling O
the need of protection and of the dut,
of citizens to afford that protection have
been the leading motives with them
And we have little doubt that they. will
still maintain their organization fren
the same motives, although the mani
festation of apparent ingratitude ant
lack OF appreciation shown at the tow
meeting was q poor return for thei,
services. A consideration of the facts
attending the action of the town meet
ing, and the very general expression O
regret by our better citizens should
show The members of the fire compap,
that the vote of the town meeting wal
in no sense an index of the feeling O
the town regarding them. We have
little doubt that another town meeting
would speedily undo the action of the
last one in this respect.
One thing is certain. Middlebur,
cannot afford to be without fire com
pany. Neither can we afford to appear
ungrateful and unappreciativc TOWARD
a fire company which serves us fol-
nothing. The few men who decrv The
company and its efficiency do not know
what they are talking about. To figh
fire to any purpose needs an organized
and trained body OF men, to serve as s
nucleus and a direction for the effort,
OF others, as well as for the greater pur
pose to which trained body can work
The Middlebury fire company does al
that could be expected with the means
given them. That they are not able tc
drown out contlagration with SOUR
gun is no fault of theirs. If necessar,
to retain their services town meetin,
should be called to remedy the unwis,
action of March 2. There is no doub
that the village will exempt them from
village taxes, but decency would seen
to require that the wrong should b,
remedicd where it originated.