Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-10-05


made the victim Of the deyouring flames
and this tithe more damaging than any
visitation which has preceded 1t. 1t
seems that history will never cease to
repeat itself in our case, and it seems
that our people will never cease to re-
peat the folly Of neglectiDg TO do the
things which they ought to do. For this
our people deserve q ecolding, but we
are not going to scold. The loss to so
many Of our friends is 20 great we can
not scold. but in sorrow We can only
sympsthise. bow our head and grieve
with them. Bit the past is past, lot tis
lift mp our heads and see IL something
can not yet bs done to safe guard the
future. We cannot 20 on this way, we
cannot bear repitltiot1 OF these disasters
year by ysar. We burn down faster
than we can build up. Shall We 60 on
until the last house, and the last store
has vanished in holacoast OF fame.
At the time Of our last fire, which oc-
Cured on the 30th of December, 1900,
We dwelt long upon this subject and sug.
gested remedy. After speaking of the
Feasibility Of bringing in the water from
Buck, Bull and Bear springs, we con-
cluded that the expense of that scheme
was greater than our citizens could bear
at that time. And IL 1t was so then, it is
certainly more largely so now, as this
last confiagratiun has weakened us
financially to the extent of $4,000. But
there 10 another plan which we mention
ed at that time, and we are not to poor
to carry it out. In speaking of that
enterprise we cannot do better than to
quote from the remarks made at that
time which are as follows:
"But there is another proposition
which We might consider. 1t il based
upon the fact that We have running
through different portions of the city
several large and strong water veins,
(all our water runs in vertical veins in
this formation). Some Of these veins
run northwssterly and southeast srly,
while there are others. not so large on
an average, which cross these at nearly
right angles, running from southwest to
northeast. The proposition is to sink
we'll 100 feet deep at one of these cross
ings. Put in a pump with sufficient
power to force the water up to a reser.
voir erected, say on the hill north est,
short distance above Mr.. Carrigan's
dwelling house. This reservoir should
be lept full at all times. and ready for
use in case of emergency. One of the
large water veins, perhaps the strongest
one, crosses the creek close to the Ochre
mill and power could no doubt be pro.
cured very cbeaply from the mill COM
pany to pump the water when needed
to the reservoir on the hill. From the
reservoir ten inch main pipe should be
laid say to the corner of 9th and Custer
Avenue, where FIRE plug should be es-
tablished. A large watering trough put
up for stock, with a separate tank kept
covered for the peoples use.
This plan is here merely outlined in
the rough, but we feel certain it is feas-
able and would cost but little money.
1t should be done by the city and always
belong to the city. The number Of
these wells and reservoirs may be add.
ed to in the future as the growth Of the
city and circumstances may dictate. We
think our city council might do we'll to
meet and canvass this matter, and call
into their council engineers who are
familiar with this character OF work, and
obtain estimates Of the proper capacity
required and the approximate total cost.