Bisbee daily review., 1903-03-13
DOUGLAS NEEDS
 FIRE PROTECTION
BORDER CITY WILL HAVE TO PRO
 TEcT BY SUBSCRIPTION
Review Correspondent Interviews Cit izens of Shelter City, and Finds Them in Favor of Fire System
Especial to Review.)

Especial to Review.)
 Douglas, Mar. 12.-Dougias is grow ing fast, outstripping her border sis ters with a rapidity of strike that IS amazing. The erection of the most stable structures to be found anywhere within the limits of our territory has long been a matter of admiring con- ment from the visiting public. But our residential districts are entirely of wood, hence an invitation to the utter destruction of vast areas should fire once get we'll started. The only protection we now have against the demon of flame is a small hose car. with not more than four hundred feet of hose. In many districts of the city. this would not be sufficient to reacn i from the hydrant to threatened houses. The town is not incorporated so that a bonded indebtedness cannot be pro | posed as a means to raise the neces- i sary funds for better fire protection. | It is up to the property owners them selves to subscribe the amounts nee ! essary to purchase at least thousand feet of hose in addition to that now in use. Will they do it, or will they wait till the horse is gone before locking the stable?
 An illustration of the gluttony of flames was given us when the last fire licked up the wooden structures of the tenderloin and was only checked " the most heroic work on the part o(
 the volunteer fire department Had anything like a wind been blowing
 wooden Douglas might have been 2
 thing of the past.
 We do not wish to be classed as
 "croakers" in the matter of adequate
 fire prolection but simply desire te
 urge on the good movement known tC be on foot for better preparing our
 selves against total annihilation Tht business men and property owners O
 our prided city can well afford to droI
 for the moment the urgent calls of tn, strenuous life and devote few wei spent hours in a systematic canvas of the city for the purpose of procur ing funds for well equipped fir house. Procrastination may have dir
 results.
 The columns of this page are ope , to any and all who may desire to e,
 press themselves on the subject or [
 enlighten the public on this or an ' other detail of the city's needs. Q s. F. Mcguire when seen in regar I to the matter of better fire protection
 gave it as his belief that the only thin
 which could be done at present towar
 the betterment of conditions would h < the purchase of a thousand feet (
 hose. this to be brought about by pull
 lie subscription MT. Mcguire wh c stated that so far as the rumor ths c the Douglas Improvement compan e were to erect a tank which would fu O niSh high water pressure. it was onl 6 among the future possibilities and nC if a matured plan.
 70 J. Nj. Sparks, present chief of th e volunteer fire department, was see n as to his plans in regard to 8 nor o1 complete fire house equipment M " Sparks has been one of the most pror ,s inent leaders of the movement and ha D made several active attempts to O e ganize a fire department under u !. territorial law. While Mir. Sparks hc o devoted much valuable time and su a scribed liberalIy toward the promulg
 ton of this much mooted question.
 great many of Douglas representati'
 business men have remained most let P argic on a subject which must vital 6 concern them and their interests. MT. Sparks stated that another < tempt would be made to organize
 company of fire fighters and to procu : the hose necessary to properly col e with fire.
 ,d As the matter now stands witho legal organization the chief has n power to act in condemning fire tra T which exist in the busiest portion IT town. Under the law of the territo T he would have the prerogative of co ,e demning such buildings or compe
 ing the owners to take more preca
 tionary measures to guard agair
 possible ignition.