The Dickinson press., 1896-03-14
Fire Protection In One Of Three Ways,

Since the fire of the 5th the people
of Dickinson have again been agitat.
ing the question of more adequate
fire protection. A few still think.
that a high grade chemical engine
the proposition of last season-would
be the best thing to get; others look
with favor upon the proposition to
lay a water main from the Northern
Pacific shops up Barnes to its inter.
ception with Cakes, thence out to.
the corner of Cakes and Clough
streets, placing four hydrants. An.
other plan. and a very good one too,
though not generally appreciated, is
to put in fire walls on Willard street.
The town has nothing but a cart,
hose and some mighty good iremen.
No buckets, no hooks and ladders
and no ready supply of water. For
example, at the last fire it was an
hour and ten minutes before the fire.
men could get a stream of water.
1t was no fault of the railroad com.
pany. The company has water and
steam for the town in any and all
cases of fire, and every man in charge
of the company's property is under
instructions to use every means pos.
sible in saving the property of the
town; but this does not mean that
they shall keep a live engine in the
yards nights at an expense of $l7 per
IL hours or that they shall keep a
fire pump in readiness. They cannot
always be found equipped for imme.
date business in case of a fire, and
this is the part that the town should
attend to.
Now let us briefly consider the
different plans of protection talked
of.
A chemical engine that would be
of any practical use for fires would
cost from $1,000 to $25O0. They are
very effective on incipient fires, and
statistics show that about so per
cent of the fires of the country are
put out with chemicals; but after a
fire has once got under way chemi.
calls are of no further use. If the
town had a good chemical engine,
properly equipped, the insurance
rates on business property would be
reduced about Is per cent.
To layIa water main, below frost,
from the N. P. round house north by
the bank corner to the corner of
of Barnes and Cakes streets, thence
east two blocks to Clough street. all
equipped. would probably cost $25OO,
as follows: 1900 feet of cast iron 4.
inch pipe, $500; lead, $3.50; 4 by.
drants, 500; 4 Us. 800; ditching
and laying pipe, $500; l first.class TO.
tary fire pump. $500; 1000 feet addi-
tional hose-ample to reach almost
any part of town-$35O. The above
figures are merely estimates and
were given by Foreman L%ittlehales.
There is little question that the
Northern Pacific would give permits.
sion to the town to lay such a main
through their yards into the steam
power house, where there is a man
on duty day and night, and who, if
the town had the necessary .appli.
ances at his command, could furnish
ample power and abundance of water
at a minutes notice for any fire that
might break out in any part of Dick.
inson. The insurance companies
would make a reduction of about 20
per cent if the town had a fire protec.
tion of this kind.
The third proposition is to build
two good fire walls in the business
portion of the town. This would cut
the insurance rates so per cent. One
wall, in the proper place, would cut
the rate at least Is per cent if not
more,