The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-27
Proposition to Respond to
Alarms.at Valley Falls is
Not Popular.
But Among the Taxpayers Of the
Northern District There is
Much Rejoicing.
SOME PEOPLE WANT CHEMICALS
Chief patt However, Does Net Approve Of
Them, Claiming That He Gan Do Better
Service With Present Apparatus.

Ever since the fact was announced in
the TRIBUNE that there was some talk OF
having the fire department from this city
respond to the alarms of fire In the Valley
Falls district there has been great deal OF
comment by the citizens and taxpayers OF
the city. For the people of the district OF
Valley Falls it would be a grand, good
thing and would save them q great many
dollars during the course of the year. No
definite arrangements have been made as
yet, and possibly the matter will not come
to head. Among the taxpayers OF the
northern district there Is much rejoicing
at the prospect of settling the vexed ques-
tion In such an easy manner and in way
which would be so advantageous to them.
To the taxpayers of this. city, however,
the matter is presented in another light.
The question Is assuming an important
aspect, and the more the matter is looked
into the more;serious 1t becomes. The ar
gument Is advanced that it would be a
money making scheme for the city, and
would help to lesson the expenses of the
department. The reason is further ad
vanced that the small number of fires TAX
ing place in that village would not mitigate
tion. This would be very good logic il
the future facts would bear out their asser-
tions. II will have to be admitted that
when the new fire alarm signals are put
in by the frewardens, the frequency
of alarms will be greatly increased, and
consequently whatever apparatus the town
has will have to respond much oftener
than before.
A great many people may doubt this
assertion, but the fact remains true, never
theless, inasmuch as alarms for small fires,
such a. chimney fires, brush fires in the
spring and autum, and fires for like cali
bre which, under the old system, were
fought by the people themselves. When
the fire alarm boxes are put in place it
stands TO reason that the people will make
use of them, no matter how slight the
blaze may be. This being thelcase can the
citizens of this city afford to have the
city's IRE apparatus 30 far away from the
business portion OF the city in order to
speculate in uncertainties. Many of the
taxpayers feel that it will be taking or as
suming too much of q risk to enter into
an arrangement of this kind. Another
question which will present itself how
will the call men reach the scene of the
fire? The city cannot expect them to do
extra work without lpaying them extra
compensation.
Another thing which is being agitated
to some extent Is the question OF. purchas-
ing a chemical machine for the local fire
department. The practicability of these
machines is question upon which emf
nent fire fighters differ to a wide extent.
The late Chief Briefly of the Pawtucket
fire department.: was an enthusiastic ad
mirer of these machines, while Chief Patt
claims that he can do better work, and
more Of it, with the apparatus now in
possession of the city. He claims that it
is bad policy to weaken the hose carrying
capacity of the pieces of apparatus. In
any case it has been fully demonstrated
that the local fire department has been
equal to all emergencies in the past.