The Helena independent., 1889-08-06

The INDEPENDENT extra yesterday
morning conveyed to the people Of Hell
ena news of the terrible disaster that
has befallen Spokane Falls. which on
Saturday was prosperous city Of TWEEN
ty thousand population OF more. but
where to day there is little but heaps Of
ashes. The calamity is startling one,
and elicits from the hearts Of people
here. as il will from residents Of other
cities throughout the country, the most
sincere sympathy, which will be sure to
take the form Of substantial assistance.
Already Offers Of aid have been sent to
the mayor Of Spokane Falls 10y the
mayors OF other cities and to private cit
izens- merchants and artisans-from
business and personal acquaintance.
But great as the calamity is, it is not 10 be
supposed for a moment that il will be
lasting in its effect. The example IL
Seattle is TOO recent 10 permit Of such a
conclusion. That city, which but few
weeks ago was devastated as Spokane
Falls was last Sunday night. is already
springing up more substantial and beau
tiful than before, with every prospect Of
attaining a greatness that would not
have been. possible under the ante-fire
conditions. The same spirit Of daunt-
less courage that WAS shown in Seattle
will come to the surface in Spokane
Falls, with the result that year or even
less will see a city OF gOOdly proportions
standing where now hut ruin meets the
gaze. Meanwhile, il will become the
people OF Helena 10 remember that there
may be distress in a neighbOring city
which il Is their duty to alleviate so far
as their own circumstances will permit.
The citizens meeting last evening re-
suited in the extending Of a helping
hand. and private subscription papers
will afford others the opportunity TO con-
tribute towards the relief Of the desti-
tute. That there will be suffering, keen
and bitter. there is no room for doubt
for the city was unQnestiOnably over
crowded when this confiagTatiOn over
took il. and those without means who
cannot turn their hands TO the work OF
rebuilding the city will be poorly stu
ated indeed. Helena has been somewhat
backward under similar circumstances
a fact that has been freely commented
upon by the journals OF other cities. and
the present offers Citing occasion to
redeem the past.
Following as closely as il does upon
the destruction OF Seattle by fire. the
Spokane Falls disaster contsins a warn
ing for Helena that must not be neg
Iected. Spokane Falls was possessed of
means for combating g cOndagration
that were superior 10 those existing in
Helena. Since the Seattle fire the eity
government Of Spokane Falls strength
ened the fire department by the pur-
chase Of additional hose and carts, and
increased the number OF its paid fire
men, but yet the precaution was inef-
fectual Helena did nothing Of the
kind. Its apparatus, nOtOriously insult
icient, remains just what il was two
months ago; its water supply available
for the purpose Of extinguisLing fires is
s!armingly inadequate. The existing
conditions constitute q tempting OF
providence that is censurable in the ex-
treme. A considerable section Of the
city is dependent for supplying fire hyd-
rants upon a corporation that has not
had al any time since the first Of April
70 exceed foot OF water in its reservoir.