Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-12-19
FIRFi FIREll FIREilI
The City Sadly in Need of Some Means OF
Protection-The Chronicle Makes
Suggestion.

Suggestion.
The repairing Of defective chimneys
and the building of new ones where
they are required in the business part
of town, will do much 10 lessen the
danger of destructive fires in time to
come. Defective fues and crumbling
chimneys are danger in themselves,
but are not the only causes Of fires.
Now that one serious danger has been
eliminated by the wise action of the
city council, let us take some steps to
make ourselves still more secure from
the ravages Of the fire fend. Accidents
out occasionally, despite all precautions
that may be taken to prevent them.
The first step should be to guard against
them, the next, to cope with them when
they do get started and under headway.
We are really without any means of
fighting fire. True, we have fire COIN
pany, and as we understand it is in ex
cellent condition as far as the organiza-
tion is concerned, but it is equipped
with nothing more than a rattle-trap
hook and ladder outfit, and would be
powerless in the presence Of genuine
confagration. A business man, speak
ing on this subject a few days since, sug-
sested the purchase Of chemical engine
by the city. These engines can be
purchased for a few hundred dollars,
and they obviate the great difficulty
the absence of plentiful supply of
water. In cases where a purchase Of
one Of these engines is contemplated,
the companies handling them make
practice of shipping one to the town,
put it up, and under the management Of
an experienced man, demonstrate their
efficacy in extinguishing fires that may
have been discovered in their incipien-
cy or which may be well under way.
Now it need not be said that the city is
! not in condition, financially, to make
such purchase ut this time. Everyone
understands that it could not be made
by the city government, and right hero
the Chronicle wishes to make sug-
gestion. Let the business men of the
town make this purchase. Let them go
down deep in their pockets, Unnecessary,
buy one of these engines, put it in the
care OF the fire company, and develop Il
greater degree of efficiency in that or
ganization. At later period, when
the railroad bonds are out Of the way,
and our municipal finances are in
better condition, the city will, without
doubt, be willing to. purchase the engine
of the individuals, and in the mean
| time, tens of thousands Of dollars worth
of property may be saved from destruc-
tion by the flames.
Suppose that some of these nights a
! fire breaks ont in the heart Of the city.
What will be the result? By morning
the business part of tie town will be a
smouldering mass Of ruins. 1t would
not "kill the town" Not by any means.
But we are not prepared to pass through
such an ordeal, with a huge amount Of
enjoyment, just at present Neverthe
less we may have to tonight, or next
week, or next month, perhaps not at all,
but there is always a possibility, and
money spent in lessening these chances,
is money wisely invested. 1t may be said
that we can get through this winter just
as we have through others, that our
good fortune of the past may continue
indefinitely. This is true enough, but
| there is always first time, and no one
knows when il is coming. Without
warning Buffalo Gap was almost wiped
out Of existence in two or three hours.
1t never had a disastrous fire before,
and on that Sunday morning the people
down there didn't anticipate any danger.
We don't either, but it may be very
near us. Can we afford to take chances?
What do you think of the CHRONICLES
suggestion?