The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-03-04
THE LESION oF THE FIRE.

"After all guess II would be mis-
take to spend our money for the gas
plant when we need water works so
badly"
At least one man who has hereto
fore been strong advocate of the gas
bonds was heard to make that remark
last Saturday evening, and the same
thought must have occurred to scores
of others, whether it was uttered or
not.
1t was fortunate fire, so far as fire
can ever be fortunate. 1t occurred
early in the evening, in an exposed
situation, when the air was perfectly
calm. The fire department was
promptly on hand and worked with a
devotion and energy that cannot be
too highly praised. The firemen were
assisted by scores of volunteers, and
IL is saying little to say that every
thing that could possibly be done by
human beings, with the appliances at
hand, was done to arrest the flames.
And yet the fire could not be put out.
All that could be done was to confine
it within as narrow bounds as posi-.
Bile.
Fortunately the buildings were
small and the:total net loss will be
comparatively insignificant. But sup.
pose the wind had been strong from
the south, ..as it 80 often il this time OF
the year: The entire block would
have been destroyed without a doubt
and probably the block beyond it. II
the wind had been from the east the
fire could not have been chopped east
of the Presbyterian church. If it had
been from the north it is at least an
even question whether the fire would
not have swept at least to Broad way
We may thank cur lucky stars, there
fore, that half of the business area o.
lola is not in ruins today.
Will someone who is good at mathe-
MATES kindly figure up how long il
would take the profits of the gas plant
to make good the loss the town would
have suffered from such a fire as we
would have had If conditions had beer
only slightly different If he can
then he can tell US how much better
1t would be to own the gas plant than
to have water works when the next
big fire comes.
A chemical engine is all right al
the very incipiency of fire, but il il
no earthly good after the fire gets out
of doors. The only weapon with
which to fight 1t then is water. The
only way to make water available fol
fighting fire is to have water work $
We can't buy the gas plant and have
water works also, that is sure thing
What is the sensible thing to do
therefore, to spend all our money fol
gas plant which we already have
and leave our city at the mercy of the
fire, or to spend it for water works
and thus practically guarantee the
town against any very serious fire
| loss?
The answer to that question Is the
lesson of the fire, and it would seen
as if there could be but one answer
Laying aside all malice and unchar
itableness and looking to the good o
the town and that only, can anyon,
really say that we would better go in
debt $40 900 on mere speculation
when to do that would make it i'm
possible for us for many years TO com,
to make any provision for protecting
the town? Tho very best that cal
be hoped from the gas plant is that i
might pay the city II small annual in
come, while water works may some
time save the town from utter eXtinc
ton, besides being always n source o
health and convenience to the people
These ideas are not the thoughts o
the REGISTER alone, but are the sug
gestions that come up in one form
or another i'm nearly every group O
men who are discussing the fire
They certainly deserve candid ant
patriotic consideration.
-