The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-07-12

men can only protect the adjacent build
ings. With the powerful East Barre pres
sure our iiremen could easily do this.
Hence all fires were put out with little
damage done. During the twelve years
not single destructive Ere occurred
Second fact. Something less than six
years ago the East Barre water was aban-
doned BY the city as FIRE protection and
in its place water from the Bolster reser-
voir has since been used That reservoir
is SO much lower than the head OF the
East Barre water that its pressure is much
less, in fact but little more than half as
much.
With this low pressure our fremen,
though better men for their business can
not be found within the state, find 1t diff
ficnlt to control the fires within the limit
ed time Of from 20 to 80 minutes; hence
the buildings burn down and the fires
prove total loss. Therefore while not
single destructive fire occurred when this
city used the high pressure OF the East
Barre water, think Of the many total loss
es by fire which the city has suffered in
less than half that time, while the city has
since used the low pressure from Bolster
reseryoir-the opera house, Blanchard
block, Quinlin block, the splendid Tilden
residence, Currier block, Shepley block,
Cheever residence on Elm street, the Her
sey two tenement house on Maple Grove
street, the Lyon residence on Highland
avenue and the large Gates house on
Washington street. BY these fires prop
erty has been destroyed to the amount of
several hundred thousand dollars.
Fact thirdly these fires the insur-
ance companies suffered heavy losses.
They open their eyes, Whats the matter
over there in Barre2 Your fire protection
gomez They at once raised the insur-
ance rates from % to 400 per cent higher.
This means that our merchants must pay
$4,000 per year more for insurance,
Fourth fact--At the first city meeting
in the new opera house hall motion was
made to purchase and develop the Orange
brook extention.
This meant the entire loss Of the East
Barre water and cost to the city Of $50,
600 or $4,000 for the new enterprise. A
substitute motion was therefore intro
duced to lay down a double system by
which 10 retain the use Of the East Barre
water for fire paotection, at cost Of
nearly S25. 900, meanwhile to furnish all
kitchens with water from Bolster reser-
voir, and to defer the purchase of the Or
ange brook extension until a larger city
should need it and be able to pay for it.
This was q critical moment The city
stood on the brink of great danger But
the substitute motion was lost aud the
city plunged in. All our great loss by fire,
higher rates OF insurance, and higher tax
es are the result.
Fifth fact. Prevention Of repetition Of
all these woes can be found by yet laying
down the double system and again restoring
to the city use of the high pressure Of East
Barre water. AT some future time this,
we may hope, will be done. Perhaps,
however, not until the city shall be driven
to 1t by contlagration greater than all
previous fires combined. To this the city
Is liable A fire beginning at the north
end, with brisk north wind blowing may
get the start Of the iremen with their
low pressure and sweep both sides Of
Main street to the south end. Or a fire
beginning at the south end with "a brisk
south wind blowing may get the start Of
the firemen and sweep both sides of Main
street to the north end The city then
would slowly rise from its ashes, at once
lay down the double system and again put
itself under the best ire protection in the
state. But how much better to lock the
stable door before the horse is stolen
at the city meeting tonight, therefore,
our citizens may vote to issue bonds for
the purchase of new fire station and
other improved FIRE apparatus; but If
we have no better water pressure, are we
really any better off? While we are about
it, 1t would seem wise to issue enough
more bonds also TO lay down the double
system. Then with powerful water
pressure and up-to-date fire machinery
Barre would have fire protection that
would protect. Water Wheel.