Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-12
LEWISTOWN, MONT, Sept -, 1905.
LEWISTOWN'S NEEDS AS SEEN
BY EIREMEN

While every citizen of Lewstown
saw the firemen at their play, in par
ade, at the smoker. the dance and the
barbecue, and about the streets, only
those who attended the meetings at
the city hall saw the best side of the
city chiefs and assistants and the
volunteer fremen who spent last week
in Lewistown
Some Of those who participated in
this meeting have been serving the
public for over twenty years Start
ing as helpers, by strict attention to
duty and careful training they have
made their way to the top and are
now in command Of the principal fire
departments of the state of Montana
Butte, Helena. Missoula, Great Falls.
Bozeman, Billings and other large
towns of the state.
Not too old to enjoy amusement
still young in their love of good times
when these men gathered in business
session and discussed subjects of vi
tai interest to themselves and to ev-
cry property owner, their views were
intelligently and convincingly express
ed and well worthy of remembrance.
Each one had the experience which
warranted positive expression, yet
each was willing to grant to the 9th
er the right to differ and anxious to
learn why some other way of hand
ling men, hose, chemicals, ladders or
of saving life, was better than the one
he was following.
Three of the papers presented and
discussed at this meeting are printed
in today's issue, but perhaps the most
valuable information on these sub
jects was brought out in general de
bate and will appear only in the of
fetal record of the proceedings.
The people of Lewistown can wei
give attention to the views expressed
Friday night, when the needs of Lew
istown We're perhaps the most promi
nent feature of the discussion. TIL,
delegates had been in Lewistown fly,
days, they had tested the water pres
sure, noted the supply and the distr
button, had critically examined tn
equipment for fighting fires, had seel
the home company in practice dril
and had become personally acquain
ed with the officers and members
Too, they had looked over the tow
the small frame buildings in conges
ed districts, the business houses, re-
licences and commented upon the wild
area the fire company had to cove
And the visitors, as well as the men
bers of the home company, ha
promptly responded to the fire in II
Bach barn, running the nine blocl
from the opera house to the seer
of the fire, the last four blocks l
hill.
After these experiences they wei
we'll qualified to express themselve
upon the needs of Lewistown and II
opinions of these men should not {
UNDECIDED by the citizens and the CT
officials
In brief. the firemen, chiefs, pa
men and volunteers united in the OPT
ion that Lewistown needs more hos
needs extension OF the fire alarm sy
TEN, but the greatest need is that
a team hose wagon and one paid ma
9 i
be postponed for time if funds a
short, the fire alarm system can
extended at intervals and at small {
pense, but team. hose wagon al
one paid man is an immediate neces
ty.
In their opinion, the time has go
by when for the protection of liv
and property Lewistown should {
tirely depend upon volunteers.
the fire hall should be stationed
trained team wagon of suffice
capacity to carry two thousand fe
of hose and a man whose duty
shall be to keep the apparatus in CT
spond to every alarm of fire. T
fire in the Bach barn might as cas-
have been in the Bach home and h
it been, great loss woul,l have resi-
ed by reason of the delay in bril
ing the apparatus to the scene. H
the hose wagon been at the staff
and responded promptly, firemen fl
on the scene and who were in II
vicinity when the alarm was turn
in, for not all were at the dan
would have laid line of hose a
had the flames under control befc
the men from the hall had reach
the fire and after the long run be
in condition to work; instead the IN
pulled the apparatus those nine c
blocks and when they got there COZ