The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-11-24
Fire Department Talk.

Our friend Biz" in the Repository is
improving, prOfting by the talk of the
DEMOCRAT as to the fire department. By
reading Chief LathTOp's last quarterly
report TO the Council "Biz" might learn
more and advance still further. In that
report the Chief recommended ten more
alarm boxes to be located in various
parts of the city, claiming that these
were very much needed.
As to ''systematizing," we too have
talked with "a gentleman of OfexpeTience"
who says that the card of Chief LathTOp
referred to is correct as far as it goes,
but each hose company should be fur
nished with an indicator as well as the
steamer. The same gentleman says we
need not wait for these hose carts, Z and
3, to wear out, for when the city limits
are extended these will be needed else
where, and their places can be,supplied
with horse hose carts.
The DEMOCRAT does not "object to i'm
prOvements"; but favOrs and urges i'm
prOvement. Indeed, the DEMOCRAT pub
lished Chief LathTOp's late report in full
and commended il, which the Rep. did
not do. The report also recommended
that the steamer boiler be repaired and
put in first class order and made ''reli
able" If an additional man is necessary
at the steamer, let him be hired by all
means; but another man will not neces-
sarily make the boiler more reliable"
1t seems Akron has "seven paid men"
to work their fire department. Wonder
if that constitutes the entire fire depart
ment of Akron. Canton is too much of
a city to get along that way. Why, we
have ITO gallant men on watch!
No city of the size of Canton can afford
pay fire department entire, and no
city of this size has an efficient and suf
ficient paid fire department.
Our neighbOT says: "TO be sure the
fire fund is deplete, but larger one
"can be provided for; and the taxpayers
are not caring" etc. The Rep. sang
different song before the election, when
Fawcett and Wyaut, the latter chair
main of the committee on fire depart
ment, were bowling for relief to the
poor taxpayers. Now, "the taxpayers
are not caringP We are glad to learn
this!
We have learned of Chief Lathrop that
our fire department should have at once
a good and sufficient hook and ladder
truck, with two good horses and two
paid men to care for them, and ten new
fire alarm boxes. In addition, as soon
as the fire fund will Justify, two new
horse hose trucks and four electric in
dicatOrs, and at least 5000 feet of new
hose ought to be got. These are badly
needed.
We trust our friend will go on in we'll
doing. Our "smOthering" seems to have
had good effect, and is really enlight-
ening and improving Biz" in his ''Ob-
servatiOns." The fire department needs
something to work with before getting
more paid men and horses. The men
we have, need proper and sufficient ap-
paTatus. These should first be had. The
UOOdpF ia that Onr 6rnmaU baUa hann On
successful with the means at hand
Why does not the Rep. join us in urg-
ing upon Council the purchase of lad
ders that are safe? The Dannemiller fire
demonstrated that the ladders now in
use are absolutely dangerous, and the
firemen refused to ascend on them. HUI
man life should be cared for. In case
of accident the city might find this very
costly caTelessness.