Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-09-12

throughout the country. What, with
the many improvements made in the
apparatus, the new devices handed us
by ingenuity and careful study and
the constant training and drilling of
men and horses, it would appear there
was but little left to be done in the
way of development at the homes of
the departments.
But in spite of all this, it must not,
for moment, be thought we have
reached. or that we are even approach
ing that degree of efficiency in the
protection of life and property from
flames that must be attained before
we may enjoy sense of satisfaction
in what has been accomplished.
Too much importance cannot be at.
tached to that branch of the depart.
ment known as the fire alarm tele-
graph. This is the foundation, and
unless it is well built we cannot hope
for perfect structure, and there is
vast amount of work ahead in the
regulation of this part of the service.
or course, the department must
know of fire before it can respond
and if there is delay or confusion in
getting the proper word to the prop
er place, the small blaze that could
have been SO easily handled in the
beginning has caused loss of valu
able property, perhaps of life, before
the fighters arrive at the scene. What
do the seconds, carefully gained by
the department, after hard and per
sistent work in training, amount to,
If minutes have already been lost in
giving the alarm? An alarm box out
of order, its distance from the fire,
or the invariable unsatisfactory use
of a telephone. is enough to allow
the flames to gain Roadway beyond
human control
The impression is too prevalent that
outside of towns of some magnitude,
the fire alarm telegraph is wholly I'M
| necessary, and that the bucket bri-
| gade" affords sufficient protection
from the ravages of flames. Here lies
the ground for some of our most i'm
portant work. People interested in
the growth and care Of the smaller
towns must be awakened to the fact
that the efforts of the volunteer de-
partment will avail little if there has
not been inaugurated a reliable sys-
TEN of alarm. While someone is at
tempting to arouse the department
with cry of Fire" or to reach a
bell or whistle for the sounding of a
general alarm, and the department,
in the excitement succeeds in learn
ing the location of the blaze, sufficient
time has probably elapsed to allow
for most serious damage, that in
the beginning seemed impossible. In
no locality is the need of speedy
alarm systems more urgent than IN
small towns, where the majority of
the buildings are light, infiammable
structures, quickly reduced to ashes
when once started.
Another important work is in the
cities, where the telegraphic system
. is the alarm already established
Here we must strive for improvements
and above all, the education of the
public in the importance and use o
the fire boxes. The telephone habit
, is resorted to in giving such a large
, number of alarms, that many citizens
are even inclined toward the belief tina
the fire alarm telegraph is a needles.
expense to the municipality, and cal
, conveniently be done away with.
remains for the fire department L
teach them of the impracticability o
, the use of the telephone in giving fir,
alarms, the absolute necessity of ;
+ thoroughly equipped telegraphic sys
, TEN, and the small expense incurred
IN maintaining the same, when ono,
+ installed.
v In the foregoing | have attempte,
i to touch, in brief manner, upon
, few OF the steps necessary in tn
q evolution of the fire alarm telegraph
T system. We must not wait for dir
necessity to compel the public min
n to recognize the conditions outlined
n but must insist upon it's immediat
!. attention to the requisite means fo
n a proper protection from fire.
v Fire Escapes on Public Buildings.
q The last of the three papers is O
v Fire Escapes on Public Buildings.
+ and was presented by the Walkervill
fire department.:
p 1t seems rather ironcal to assig
v this subject to Walkerville, for will
# in our limits, we have very few {
q that class of buildings, but as the ma
n ter will probably be the subject {
some interesting and intelligent di
8 cussion before the convention, we wi
!. try and lay the foundation for tn
= same.
# In this class we can safely plao
o school houses, assembly halls ,the
j tiers and churches.
t. School houses we will treat frs
a. because in those places, there al
is more helpless and dependent lives a
d. sembled daily than in any other pu
e lie structure.
e The first necessary step on part
teachers, should be to instill con
r dence in the minds of their pupils
T. that point being reached, then exa,
e. implicit obedience. These are ia
'e tors we consider strictly necessary
lie ever obtain success in life saving
1t this field.
y To illustrate more thoroughly, "
u will recite some of our experience
~ making emergency tests at a scho
IL in our midst.
We made an unexpected call at Il
school; asked the principal to tul
&c in fire alarm 90 on the school gon
-, and then proceeded to empty the bull
70 ing of its inmates. II was done
We desired, and in less than two mi
q utes, over 600 lives-pupils and teac
- ers-had vacated the building TT
order and discipline maintained !
all included was certainly most edit
,s ing. Each room was dismissed
IN regular order, and with rapidity tn
- was marvellous. No excitement
-, disturbance attended the dismissal
-. the school, although all were ava
~ that the fire alarm caused it. Bool