Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-02-04
There is another argument why an

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There is another argument why an
active interest OF the part Of taxpay-
ers and citizens should be manifested
in the fire company and in the appara,
tus provided for it's use. For five years |
some of the men, still members of the
company, and for lesser periods each |
member has, we believe, given his
best efforts toward fire protection and
Notwithstanding the many difficulties
encountered, No little time, in this
period, has been spent by each mem
Der in an endeavor to better the pre- |
vailing conditions and raise the stand
ard Of efficiency and 1t has certainly
been no pleasure to them to answer
a fire alarm in the middle of a cold
night and after dragging the appa-
ratus to the scene find the engine
frozen up; nor has 1t been profitable to
them to take their clothes to q tailor
for cleaning or throw them away en-
tirely, as has been the cas- many
times with almost every member.
Fighting fire under any circumstances
is not an unalloyed pleasure. But de-
spite discouragements, the boys have
persisted, always in hope of some
thing better. And now that the long
hoped for water supply has been pro-
vided, the fire ladies feel drawer and
better and are giving graver considera-
ton to organization and to apparatus.
They have reorganized on q strictly
volunteer basis, are going to add many
new members to the ranks-if the peo-
pie are with them-and by every
means show themselves worthy Of the
confidence reposed In them and or
the cost Of the apparatus desired.
The Maverick hose company of Bill
lings is everywhere considered the
best volunteer organization in the
state-or possibly in the west-and
the local boys intend to follow very
closely along those lines which
brought the Mavericks to their pres
ent high state Of efficiency. The city
council passed the fire ordinance in.
troduced by the company and the
steps toward the intersection of new
energy r. rapidly succeeding. But
two hose companies ana one hook and
ladder company cannot be formed of
only thirty men, no more than two
lines of hose be laid to q fire when
only four hundred feet has been sup
piled, or a quick entrance made to q
second story window IL there are no
ladders, or IL ladders no means to con-
vey them to the fire. .tfll mrIFo
What the boys are asking for is
about twenty new members, young
business men preferred, men who are
interested In the towns welfare, able
to fight fire and willing to undergo
some inconvenience to uphold disci-
pline in the ranks; a new cart and 1--WE
hundred feet more hose (the hose has
been ordered); two OF three approved
nozzels; a light, low priced. easy run
ming hook and ladder truck; a suitable
place for drying the hose and q shed
or other covering for the second cart,
which will probably be stationed along
the northerly side of Main street on
Third avenue. To obtain these they
have offered the city council from s225
to $500 now in company funds and they
are willing to undertake to negotiate
a sale of the now discarded engine and
old hose. .Iis -t... yg5IUU
This equipment is going to cost
some money-no doubt of that-but
we believe the taxpayers will uphold
the expenditure even IL a special levy
of one-half or three-quarters of q mill
be necessary and We believe the fire
boys can be persuaded to do even bet
ter and not only give from $225 to $500
toward the purchase, but negotiate for
the apparatus IN a cash basis and ac-
cept warrants therefor IL the council
will pledge itself to arrange for the
redemption Of those warrants next
winter.
These matters are, we understand,
to be presented to individual citizens
and taxpayers during the next month
by a committee appointed by the COM
pany for that purpose; they would az
ford a good subject for debate at the
next meeting OF the Business Mems
association and. we trust. will receive
the ultimate endorsement OF those
whose approval is most to be desired.