Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-03-12
Lack Of Necessary Apparatus to be
Of Efficient Service Threatens
to Disrupt Organization.
SPECIAL MEETING FRIDAY NEXT
City officers and Citizens Are lnvit.
ed to Attend and Discuss Needs
Of the Fire Fighters.

buIlH6 tuc past WiultI lutIt nus
been a constantly growing dissatis-
faction on the part of the members
of the local fire company with the
apparatus with which they are pro-
vided and the seeming disintered-
ness of the citizens In their welfare.
The boys have discussed the sub
ject and "cussed" the engine at ev-
cry meeting they have held; they
have ~endeavored to overcome the
obstacles; they have at their own ex-
pense employed a man to look after
the apparatus. and yet what they
have done has availed but little. Az
the Lewistown hotel fire and at the
Burleson fire they did well; at the
fire in the Judith Basin Roller Mills
they might have done well, while
they we're nearly useless at the fire
at the Judith Basin bank.
The elimination of their troubles,
however, was at the fire of the End
instant in the Schmitt blacksmith
shop. The engine was not placed at
the nearest point because there were
not men enough at hand to pull il
there; from where the engine was
placed the hose would not reach the
flames; at first the engine would not
work well and later was totally dis
abled; almost the entire time OF the
fire the boys were hampered by a lack
of help, while hundreds stood near
the fire and watched it burn. And
yet many short-sighted citizens,
either through ignorance or because
they thought it was the cute thing to
do, joshed the boys numerically for
their failure.
At the regular meeting of the com
pany held last Friday night an ami
mated discussion arose over the state
of affairs. several wished to quit,
while with others there appeared to
be a settled determination to leave
the organization unless the future
promised something better to fight
| fire with than the ~antiquated engine
and inadequate other apparatus which
they have done the best they could
with for years past. A resolution
was adopted to ask pay from the city
for attendance at all fires but instead
of placing that money in the com
pany treasury or distributing it
among the members to appropriate
1t to the purchase Of new apparatus.
This hardly covered the entire
ground, however, and later it was
unanimously decided to hold anoth-
err meeting, at which the question
ito be or not to be" will be presented
to firemen and citizens for settlement.
This meeting has been called for
next Friday night at the council
chamber; every fireman is urged to
attend, the mayor and city aldermen
are asked to be present and an in.
vitation is extended to every tax
paving citizen interested in fire pro-
lection to come and participate In
the discussion. The boys do not pro-
pose to continue as in the past-the
object of jeers On account Of failures
for which they are not responsible
and still they do not wish to resign
until they have deliberately consid'
cred the possible results Of such Ii
disruption of the company. Next
Friday night an opportunity will be
given for all to be heard on this mat
ter. If the council chamber is too
crowded adjournment can be taken
to some other place.
One of the members Of the depart
ment, when seen Saturday, suggest
ed the following general plan and Of
fered 1t as an incentive to others to
devise something perhaps more prac-
ticable:
First: Repeal by the council of
the remuneration and fine clauses in
fire ordinance;
Second: Increase of membership
to full fifty-six men. as allowed b.
law. the additions to be. so far a.
practicable. from active. property
tax payers.
Third: Employment OF n compc'
tent, experienced fireman.
Fourth: Purchase of an up-to-
date chemical engine. additional
hose, hose cart and small apparatus;
erection of hose drying tower and the
purchase by the city Of a team for
drawing the engine. THE team might
be used on the roads within con
venient distance Of the fire house,
Fifth: Digging of two or three
wells in parts of town remote from
the creek and which might be used
until waterworks were installed.
Sixth: Levy, by vote Of the PEG
pie, of a fire tax. for the purpose OF
meeting obligations incurred and the
proper maintenance OF the depart.
n,an