The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1892-12-21
MASS MEETING.

OVublOiotNtAOGs
Last Saturday evening, pursuant TO
call, the taxpayers an d business men Of
Wadswortl assembled in mass meeting
at Pythian Castle to consider the ways
and means OF protecting Wadsw orlh
property from destruction by fire, ant
the organization Of a Fire Department.
All the business men were in the hall at
8 O'Clock, thus showing by their pnnctu-
atty and presence that they, a, the
heaviest taxpayers in general, felt a de-
cided interest in the affairs to be dis
cussed.
w. IL. A. Pike was called to preside
and n. A. Hummel was chosen Secre-
tary Of the meeting.
Chairman Pike briefly stated the OBJ
ject OF the call and showed the necessity
of something being done in the way OF
protecting our property from fires. He
stated that the railroad Dn)tly wa
willing to favor. Wadsworth all it posi-
bly, could in the matter by granting use
OF their water supply in case OF fire, by
putting in fire plugs on the main street,
and by cooperation in the numerous
ways within its power. He called to
the minds OF those present the circunl-
stances OF the last fire, how the wind
favored us; how, had it not on that oc-
casion, the DISPATCH would have had to
record the burning OF nearly the whole
OF that part OF own Forth OF the railroad
track the scarcity OF water at that time,
etc.
Mr.. Eugene Griswold said he favored
protection from fire, and thought if the
railroad company showed a willingness
to do all in its power. the citizens and
taxpayers OF the district should GER
tainly b. willing to do their share. He
was in favor of having a committee OF
Investigation appointed TO inquire into
details and report at a future meeting.
Mr.. G.. II. Lewis said he was perfectly
willing to do his share of whatever the
people wanted doae. There was no
doubt in his mind but that there was
unanimity oil feeling in the fact that
so n~ething must be done, but thought
that the means to the end was the prin-
ciI,al thing.
Wm. Macpherson thought there should
be a fire syslem and til 1t the taxpayers
should say what kili OF II system and
what they wanted doae, so an estimate
could be made Oh the cost.
The Chairman said ii Luything should
be done in the matter at once, the best
way to do it would be by an Act OF the
Legislature authorizing the Issue OF
bonds, $l,0)) a year for the number OF
years required to wipe ont the cost. He
claimed that ten cents on the SOB OF thu
taxable property OF the district would
raise 81 ,0)o, and the taxpayers would
not notice the amount.
Mr. Griswold said he would like to
hear a general expression regarding the
amount that should be raised, and
moved that the following proposition be
submitted to a vote OF the people and
taxpayers of Wadsworth: chat a sum
of moley, not exceeding So, 900, be raised
for the organization OF a Fire Depart
ment."
+ The motion was carried by a unani-
nous vote. The "means'' part of the
business having been accomplished,
quite a discussion followed rs to the
way" things should be done. 1t was
suggested that plugs would do. for part
of the main sire ct, ard c~isterns should
be built in other parts of town. A ca
pacity of 20,0)) gallons-l6x16x10 it,
seemed to meet with general favor. Mr..
Lewis thought a two-inch pipe running
into such a cistern would be inadequate,
but Mr.. Pollock venturel the opinion
that ii the %cistern was full, such an en-
gir e a we would require wouldn't pump
it dry during eternity.
VIM. Donaldson thought that some
good hose AID c~isterns in %conjunctiop
with the yard engine would make a first.
class combination and one that would
be equal to anything suggested. He
thought the railroad company would be
willing to give the aid OF the yard engine
aud water supply in case Of fire.
Commissioner Pierson gave some in
teresting facts regarding Reno's ways
and means OF tightidg fire, and Mr.. Fow-
Ter made some good suggestions IN the