The Opelousas courier., 1882-08-19
The Election last Tuesday.


held in our town, by the property tax
payers, to vote on an ordinance levying
q tax for the purchase of steam fire
engine, to take the place of the useless
hand engine which has SO long been a
dead weight upoa the Fire Department.
Before the election the Fire Company
and many of the voters were confident
that the ordinance would be sustained
by a large majority, and did not put
themselves to the trouble of canvassing
for so vital measure which seemed to
address itself so strongly to the reason
and sound judgement of the people.
But soon after the polls were opened
quite an active opposition developed it.
self, notably among parties whe never
belonged to, nor never subscribed one
dollar to the Fire Department. These
opponents worked like beavers the live
long day, with arguments too numer-
Gus and ridiculous to mention, and
were rewarded by seeing the measure
voted down. The result of their vic
tory, however, may not be one of con-
graduation to them and their adher-
ents in the future, as their verdict on
Tuesday last was q virtual annoan-
cement that they wanted no fire engine,
nor fire department. That in case of
fire, salamander. like, !" they would
run into their holes and escape the
flames.
Forseveral years past strenuous efforts
have been made by the members of the
Fire Department to get themselves
placed oD good footing to protect the
town from danger and loss by confa-
grafton. They were not only willing
TO risk their lives in fgting the flames
in time ofdanger, but gave their time,
subscribed money, and used every rea-
sonable method to raise funds, BY which
to purchase an engine to help them de-
fend the property of our citizens. Two
years ago We advocated, through the
columns of the COURIER, the purchase
of one or two village Babcock Extin
gaishers, and wrote several articles ex
planning their workings, merits, and
the great saving of water ia its
use of carbonic acid gas. We offered
to head subscription with $25 90 to
make up the amount to purchase it.
But that was vigorously opposed at the
time, on the grounds that g Babcock
would not extinguish fire in the open
air, and would only be efficient in a
close room,' and by ether as unreasen-
able and untenable objections. Yet on
Tuesday last, some of these same op-
penents had concluded that they want
ed Babcock Extinguisher, while others
wanted a hand Engine. But it was a
conspicuous fact that few If any, of
these hand engine men belonged to any
Of the fire companies, and did not fur
aish any of the muscle required to acork
one. Others objected to the ordinance
on the grounds of its unconstitutional
ty that the Town Council had no au
shortly to pass such an ordinance, un-
der article 242 of the constitution,
and therefore could not order an cleo
ton for its ratification Or rejection
At any rate, the engine question has
met another defeat, and We are Ho
nearer a solution than we were several
years ago, and old No. is again thrown
back upon its own resources-bnt will
not sllirk the issue, she is going to have
Steam, Fire Engine, and let its oppo-
nents not forget IL. Let the Hand En-
gine advocates organize themselves in
to 4 company and Work one let the
Syringe men organize and squirt to their
hearts content, and let the bucket bri-
gade mobilize its forces and go to dash
ing water but Fire Company No. /
are going to take steam IN their engine,
and Intend to hold and increase their
fund until they get Il.
So old fogyism and oil other rnaicon-
tents had as well let them alone and
pursue their own methods Of defense
against fire, if they Aaue any. The Fire
Company knows its friends and will
not forget them either.
A GEEERous EXAMPLE. Mr. Joseph
Gibbs, who was member Of Fire Go.