Connecticut western news., 1902-01-16
"A FIRE DISTRICT"

Last week we were informed that chicken theives were around and that at least several of our neighbors are minus 8 goodly number of their hens, and eggs selling at 35c a dozen at that. Whether these people had their chick ems locked up at night or not (but quite likely not we are not informed. but we will vouch for this much at any rate, viz, that in the future their chicken houses V ill be locked up, SO as to guard more efficiently against their midnight mArauders.
 Canaan like all other towns, is liable and occasionally does have fire. Only last summer Mir VanDeusen's hay press burned down, being wholly destroyed by fire. No matter how careful people may be, we may have 8 fro at any time. This is something we can't prevent. Therefore no blame can be attached to 1t. Yet there is something we can do and which is nothing short of criminal negligence. so long as it is left undone, viz, have at least some kind of protec- tion against fire, when it happens to be our misfortune to have fire. Suppose on cold, stormy night, your house should catch on fire, what earthly hope could you have of saving it? You would have no protection whatever and simply could look on and see it and it's contents consumed to ashss-Such recklessness, to say the least about, is daring, certainly, if nothing worse
 We learn that only recently Judge Roraback, on two occasions called for public meetings of the citizens of this town, in the interests of some protec- ton against fire, to secure some hose and organize hose company, but everybody evidently was so much interested in this good move and had 50 much confidence that all their neighbors would attend the meeting that none came. Never mind, Judge. Some of these people may live to see the day, enabling them to see the folly of wilfully ignor- ing their own opportunities, meant for their protection. Certainly this is play ing with fire, and no children at that.
 Of course it is in the hands of the people to say. whether or not, they will have established in our midst a fire district, to secure some hose and or ganize a volunteer hose company. and if fire does break out, we have at least that much protection, but no one can compel them to do so, but should they neglect attending to 30 important . matter as this, until taught by some sad experience, we venture to say, that arguments no longer will be need ed then to see the importance of 8 fire district and fire protection just as those farmers, who recently had their chick ems stolen need DO further arguments to convince them that it Is by all odds the safest to lock up we'll your chicken house at night.
 The fire district idea. in the past was defeated on most abnormal improbabili- ties which we deem it not worth while to enumerate again. Suffice it to say that the establishing of c fire district first of all would mean some organized effort in protection against fire. It would uot mean . $20, 900 sewer and it would not mean electric lights for our town. un- less after the fire district ia formed, the people again by 8 vote decided that they wanted a sewer and electric lights, just as little, as if they elected to office Andrew Jackson, that that also would mean an election to office for Andrew Johnson, when in fact it does not mean anything of the kind.
 Moral: Let us look our doors before the chickens are stolen.
 Let us have fire protection ere it may be too late.
 M Fl M