The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-09-04
GETTING HINTS FOR AUSTRALIA
Inspecting the Fire Departments in
American Cities.
New York Tribunel

Inspecting the Fire Departments in
American Cities.
New York Tribunel
z. w. Moon, Of Sydney, Australia, is an
underwater. and Is In the city on a mission
from the government OF New South Wales
to inspect fire protection appliances, esps.
cially electric fre-nlarm signals He will
visit the principal cities Of the country before
his return, and has already inspected the
fire department at San Franci,~o Speak
ing Of the Australian fire system, he said to
reporter.
There is room for great improvement in
the fire department Of Sydney. Formerly
the entire expense Of maintaining q fire
brigade fell on the underwriters After
much effort parliament passed bill in q
measure relieving the insurance companies.
Aside from paid brigade, we are yet in
such primitive state that it Is necessary to
maintain volunteer organizations scattered
through the city. When fire breaks out
it is the duty Of the nearest policeman, or
whoever detects the fire. to run to the near
est engine house. give the alarm, and notify
the fremen where the fire Is located The
fire-bell is rung three times. The nearest
engine house then rings its bell, and SO on
over the city until the alarm becomes gen.
eral 1t is slow method. But we have
never yet had a fire large enough to swsep
away a whole block. This is partially. per-
haps mainly, due, however, to the fact that
nearly all the buildings are Of stone. In
other parts of the colony you can imagine
from what 1 have said of Sydney that the
fire protection Is crude. New Zealand has
absolutely nothing"
Allow about your insurancsr
AlVa In hot In,
fire and life insurance. The American sys-
tenn of life insurance is especially a profit
able venture. All the prominent people
took out policies on its introd uction and pro-
nounce themselves satisfied We have a
great respect for America in every branch
of industry and trade. The commerce be-
tween the two countries Is on the increase
constantly. We import from the United
States nearly all our agricultural impie-
ments and great deal Of other improved
machinery. Australians look with favor on
all American productions The exposition
had much to do in bringing about this senti-
ment toward the United States The few
Americans who had strayed into Australia
prior to that event were not such as to in
spire respect and regard. There were a
good many ciecus people and show people
came down to us. and they were a pretty
rough crowd, and a good many beats and
sharpers came to Australia just to fseee u.
Nov that Is all changed. Several reli-
able American firms have established
branches in the colonies and are doing q
thriving business American railway cars
suit us better than English railway car
riages though the latter are still used for
the most part We shall have section, par
lor and buffet coaches of American pattern
in time. Our people are becoming thor
oughly wide awake, energetic and pro-
gressive. Sydney was formerly a Sleepy
Hollow. but Is full Of activity now. We
are now only eighteen hours by rail from
Melbourne. which is almost American in its
energy The large Melbourne houses have
established branches in Sydney and given
US wonderful Impetus