Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-02-05
Present Conditions of the Local Or.
g%anization of Firemen and
Their Apparatus.
A CHEMICAL ENGINE NEEDED.
Writer Takes Occasion to Reply to
Some Current criticism-De.
tends Remuneration.
Editor of the ARGUS.

HN lltIh'ANs VI ilto III tslhNb
this winter-four occurring in five
weeks. has caused considerable dis
cussion OF the local facilities for fight
ing fire, of the department and also
OF the policy of rcmunorating the de-
l,artment when called ont.
A dense ignorance of conditions, of
ever the existence of a fire ordinance,
OF the duties of fircmen and the dang
ers and necessities to which they are
exposed. appears to exist among our
townsmen, otherwise well informed,
and seems to justify a review. neces,
sarily somewhat lengthy, by a mem
her of the department.
1t is hardly necessary to state that
the fire engine is a secondhand con.
trivance purchased from Fort Ben.
ton after that town had installed a
water system. There are several
valves in the engine which are inclin-
ed to freeze up on little provocation.
while in severe weather the feathers,
il left in contact with the metal. will
freeze thereto and unless tightly clos.
ed before pumping the water will leak
and render the engine useless. as was
the case at the Judith Basin Bank
fire ten days ago, The engine house
is a cold storage house. colder than
outside upon the coolest day and
chinking OF many cracks and hours OF
feeding fires is necessary before the
apparatus can be put in shape after
being used. While in summer the
hose company has a good-cnOugh dry
ing bench. there are no facilities for
drying hose in tho winter and in r..
c,ut instances tho company has re,
s0r,cd to the makr-shin of putting
the frozen hose on the raitoFs OIL the
binding. an operation which cousum-
e. much time aud from which the
hose could not be- taken and placed
o. the cart until after hours OF heat
Ing. The department has had no OK;
ira hose and should two calls have
occurred within twelve hours of each
other it would have been impossible
to respond had the hose been wet at
the first call. Few axes, one pike and
a few lanterns have completed the
equipment with which the company
has been expected 10 battle with the
flames. In a fire among frame build
irgs, in 4 good wind, a flower spray
would have proven quite as ef%fectual.
Notwithstanding these facts the of
ficers and members of the company
have maintained and improved the or.
money for necessaries. such as Ian
terms. oil. rubber coats and repairs to
apparatus and at every call the mem
bers respond and do their best with
facilities at hand.
When the former council. j. p.
Barnes, mayor, adopted ordinance No.
20. Creating a Fire Department, and
included therein a clause providing
for the payment to the members who
responded of 81 for each call. they
did not do so with an intention of pay.
ing the members for actual services
performed, but with the purpose of
providing recompense for the inciden.
ia! expenses incurred. the loss OF
clothing. the personal injuries and
further to encourage the boys in ere
ating a fund which might be used not
only for the benefit of the members
but for the good of the city and in
case of serious injury to any member
for his care and some portion of ex.
penses incurred. The company adopt.
ed their own constitution and by
laws and chose their own officers
and 1t is safe to say that their organic
alton is as complete and as well man
aged as any order in the city. The
meetings, which are held twice q
month, are devoted to consideration
of the needs of the company and tn,
town; they have accepted many new
members. but at the same time hav,
exercised discretion and have main
tanned discipline among the crew
Their treasury is contributed to b,
every member who fails to attend tn,
meetings. practice calls or fire alarms
and their annual ball. has. on two oc
c~aslons. resulted in profit. Drafts IN
on these funds are made for curren
expenses. for repairs, for new euuiu
ment, for labor and in the past tw,
Donth. for additional help in kcepln.
the apparatus prepared for use. Al
ter the experience of the 25th OF Jan
uary the company held Il special meet
ing and determined to incur the ado
ed expense Of a competent man To r,
main with and take cprc OF the appnt
atus through the cold weather, deem
ing such action essential to insur
mlompt working OF the mcko-shift al
planes with the care Of which the
are charged,
A minority Of the company At thi
special meeting urged that no bin h
presented 10 the city for the last tw
fires. but after earnest discussion. the
we're out voted and the bill for on
FIRE was presented and Monday nigh
approved. Voluntarily the compan
long ago modified the ordinance {
the purpose that no Day was to b