Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-10-02

agement OF the new engine, but II
seems that there were rival ambitions
rife at the time. and the Council
thought it would be better to organize
another company, and Olympia No. 2
was enrolled and admitted to the Fire
Department Nov. IA, 1883, to have
special charge Of a possession which at
first was quite as much of a plaything
as utility. Joseph McCarrogher was
the first engineer at salary of SIS
per month.
Several capacious cisterns were exca.
waited, and with Columbia No. l.,
Olympia No. 2 and Barnes Hook and
Ladder Co., our people felt quite Sc
cure from fire. 1t was found that the
hand engine was quite as serviceable as
it had been before, for quick service,
the first necessity at all fires, and the
Silsby for STEADY pull" after the
fire had gained Roadway. In several
instances, Columbia engine complete
ly subdued wellstarted confagrations
before the five minutes required for
getting steam on the Silsby, but that
both engines had amply paid for
themselves before the gravity system
was instituted in 1890, is evident to all
who have given the matter any con-
sideration.
No fire protection dependent upon
pumps can. however, equal the gravity
system, and when our local water com.
pany established capacious reservoir
on Ayers hill, which afforded 100.
pound pressure at the lower grade on
the principal streets, both engines
were relegated to the rear, notwith-
standing they might have been profit
ably stationed at points not reached
by the gravity flow on the surround
ing hillsides. This was. overlooked,
however, and about six years ago, the
cold Reliable" Columbia, notwith-
standing its heroic services and mem.
orable history, was traded to A. G.
Long, OF Portland, dealer in fire ap.
paratus, for a hose cart, valued at
about $3.50 and was taken away-no.
body knows where or what became of
her. The Silsby after sitting in soil.
tude and ruthlessly rusting many
years, was removed from her elegant
running-gear and set over in the junk
corner OF the engine-house, while her
wheels were hired out to perform the
plebeian duty of carrying about the
water-tank OF the street.sprinkler,
when $40 set of truck-wheels would
hrve served the purpose equally as
we'll!
1t seems, however, that hand OF the
iconoelast has now been stayed, so far.
as the Silsby is concerned, and she
is undergoing repairs which-may posi-
bly, restore some of her lost power, but
never her original strength and beauty.
Another thing to be regretted is
that the records OF both companies ap-
pear to have been lost or destroyed.
Books deposited in vaults for safe.
keeping have disappeared, and We
have found it much easier to write the
ancient than the modern history OF
the department. It seems that, in
place OF the company service. we now
have. as substitute paid department
composed OF an Electrician at SIS per
month, Driver of the hose wagon at
SIS per month. five Sleepers at IS per
month, aggregating $500. besides for
age for team and incidentals, probably
running the annual aggregate for cur
rent expenses, renewal Of hose, repairs,
ETC.. up to say $1,000.
1t is effective. however, and there is
always enough volunteer help when
needed to operate from one to half q
dozen streams in tho lower and thick
ly settled parts Of town. There is
room for expansion Of the service in
the outskirts Of town, aud there is.
still work for the reconstructed Silsby,
and would be for our Columbia, had
she not been ditched by the chez
chawkos, who see nothing to reverence
in what many old timers regard as the
reverently antique.