The Newtown bee., 1897-11-19
WATERFOWL.
HOW ABOUT THE FORMATION OF A FIRE
DISTRICT.


HOW ABOUT THE FORMATION OF FIRE
DISTRICT.
What is a fire district? is a question
that is being asked at present. Doubt
less this apparent interest in the matter
has been brought about by the action of
the Citizens club, which held meeting
few evenings ago to discuss the merits
and dement's of fire districts. The name
fire district is somewhat misleading.
From the name one might be led to sup
pose that it referred to the prevention
and extinguishing of fires only. This in
reality is only small part of the useful
ness Of fire district, and in place like
WatertoWn, where the town already
owns certain apparatus for fighting
fires and volunteer fire company is In
existence, it would have no effect what
ever on the means in use, only in so far
as it might hasten the introduction of
waterworks. II such fire district was
organized here it would not interfere in
anyway with the claims which citizens
living in outlying parts of the town have
on the fire company and fire apparatus
at present. IL we consider the forma-
| ton of fire district for the purpose of
making certain improvements In or near
the center of the town and beneficial to
the center of the town only, without
coming into conflict with the citizens
living in the outlying parts, we shall be
getting nearer the intent Of the law as
passed by the General Assembly of
1898, and which is as follows: IA fire
district may be organized for any or all
of the following named purposes: To
extinguish fires, to sprinkle streets, to
light streets, to plant and care for shade
and ornamental trees, to construct and
maintain sidewalks, drains and sewers,
to appoint and employ watchmen or
police officers" If district wishes to
increase its powers, as for instance it is
voted to build waterworks or to take
charge of the roads and streets within
it's limits it can only do so by special
act of the General Assembly. 1t can
vote to lay a tax on that part of the
grand list within it's limits as last COM
pleted by the town assessors or the next
to be completed, In just the same man.
ner as school district; it's officers are
the same as school district officers. To
form a fire district the selectmen ON
petition of two or more legal voters liv-
ing within the proposed limits are
obliged to call meeting of the citizens
within said limits, and at that meeting
it may be determined whether fire
district shall be organized or not. 1t
will be seen from this that the useful
ness of fire district commences Just
where the town stops. To construct and
maintain sidewalks, and TO light our
streets would be an inestimable boon to
the people living III the center, besides
it would add materially to the value of
property and tend to draw people here
to build permanent residences. The
added stimulus thus given to the growth
of the town, would doubtless be suffic-
lent inducement for the present water
company to commence operations look
ing towards the establishment OF water
works, the same being true in regard to
the disposal of sewage. It would seem
as if the organization OF a fire district
was step in the right direction, step
which would assure Watertown OF
place not in the rear, bat among the
leading and progressive towns of Con-
necticut.