The Arizona sentinel., 1901-04-17
Resolutions Adopted By the Yuma
 Fire Department.

unanimously adopted the following pre- amble and resolutions, to-wit:
 Whereas, H. W. Blaisdell, manager of the Yuma Water and Light Compa- ny, over his signature, in recent issue of the Yuma Sun. made certain allega- tiOns which are not sustained by the facts, or not relevant to the point at issue. tO-wit, to the effect that the fire hydrants are leased to and are in control of the Yuma fire depart ment; and that through the neglect Of the department in not flushing the fire | hydrants the hydrant from which the supply of water for the Post fire was attempted to be drawn had become so choked with mud as to render ineffect- i've the water pressure supplied by the water company; and that at some uncer- tain time, designated by Mr. Blaisdell as "at once," it was demonstrated at Sanguiuettl's hydrant that there was a sufficient pressure to extinguish fires; therefore,
 Be it Resolved, That we, the mem bers of the Yuma fire departments, here by express our dissent from Mr. Blais- dell's conclusions, deny his allegations, and present the facts, as follows:
 That there is not now and never has been any contract or lease, written or oral, expressed or implied, between, the department and the water compa- ny whereby it was made the duty Of the department to flush the fire hydrants; that the department has never been nnder any obligation, either legal or moral, to perform that duty, fer the water company is paid fixed price by the Village of Yuma, fer each and ev- cry fire hydrant, and it is as much the duty of the water company to keepmud out of the fire hydrants as it is to keep water in them.
 That at the Post fire it was not evi- dent that there was hurtful collection of mud in the hydrants, fer the water flowed through the hydrant when first turned on, and continued to flow with the same pressure and in the same quantity for an extended period, with no increase in either pressure or quan- tity, which should have resulted by the water washing the mud away, if mud existed.
 That at the Post fire it was apparent to any person with the commonest in- formation concerning water under pressure that the defect was in the head, and not in the hydrant.
 That if during the progress of the Post fire any person attached hose to the Sanguinetti, hydrant, thereby de- creasing what little pressure there was at the fire, such person offended against the village ordinance and ought to be prosecuted: and it is not material what preisure existed at that hydrant on the day previous to the fire or the day fol- lowing; but we believe, and we speak from practical experience, that there never has at any time, at that or any other fire hydrant in the Village of Yuma, been sufficient water pressure to effectively fight fire of any conse- quence.
 That the experience of the depart ment since it's organization has been series of unsuccessful attempts to ex tinguish fires, because, and only be- cause, of lack Of water, and such series is too extended to be the result of un- fortunate coincidences; and the defect must be, and we assert that it is, in the water system. While the power plant of the water company is more than am- pie for the needs of Yuma, it's water head, as furnished by it's reservoirs, is too low, and we are reliably informed, and believe, that it's water pipe is con- structed of such thin material that it would be worse than futile to attempt to put pressure on the fire hydrants by direct pumping from the plant.
 The attention of the municipal gov ernment and the citizens generally, and MT. Blaisdell, is most respectfully di- rected to this state of affairs; and we most earnestly urge, if disastrous con- fagrations are to be avoided in the fu- ture, the imperative necessity of reme- dying the water system of the Village of Yuma.
 That, in conclusion, our adverse crit icisms of the Yuma water system are not animated by any spirit of personal hostility to Mr. Blaisdell or antipathy to the corporation he ably represents and manages, for we are sensible of lively gratitude to Mir. Blaisdell and his water company for generous and substantial financial aid to the depart ment (generosity which could be we'll emulated, we believe, by other persons and corporations in Yuma); but rather by the hope that the discussion may lead to the betterment of existing con- ditiOns.
 That these resolutions be incorporat- ed in the minutes of the department and the Yuma press be requested to publish them.
 THOS. D. MOLLOY, President.
 Attest:
 w. H. STOREY, Secretary.
 The land contest between T. c. JOr-