The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-04-20

Up at fire headquarters the Doys
have just put up a motto on the wall
Of the Office which says, "God Bless
Our Home" but the boys seem to
think that is the only source from
which blessing will come.
Chickasha has a FIRE department
that for efficiency is the equal if not
the superior Of any town Of the size
in the southwest and the apparatus
used is the latest and best, but the
accommodations provided for the fire
fighters are not the beat in the world,
in fact they are very poor and un--
sanitary. In the building occupied
the Office is in the middle with the en-
gines, hose wagons and teams on
either side. In The rear Of the Office
and only separated from the public by
curtains are the sleeping rooms, #
they may be called by that name.
There are six members Of the depart
ment who are forced to sleep in a
little crowded room in hunks, two
deckers they call them. The beds
are only separated from the horses
by wooden partitions. In either sum-
mer or winter it is unhealthy. In sum
mer it is impossible to sleep for the
flies and in the winter time it is too
cold to permit of any ventilation. The
building is wooden affair and hard
to beat. The boys are not given to
complaining though and they are q
jolly lot and busy most Of the time.
The apparatus Of the company is kept
in the bst Of condition, the teams are
trained to the minute and everything
is in apple pie order. A fine new
phonograph just bought serves to
pass away many lonesome hours and
dominoes and checkers for another
pasttime.
Under Chief Guthridge, who since
November 1905 has been at the head
Of the department many improve
ments have been made and the en-
tire department strengthened in ev-
cry way and with such apparatus anC
efficiency the ERE department Should
be housed in better quarters.
The city owns several lots at th'
corner of 9TH and Choctaw on which
it is thought that a city hall and cen
trail fire station would be built some
time in the future, but it is needles
now just about as bad as it ever vii
be needed. The city should lose n
time in providing the boys with com
Portable and healthful quarters.
Just now the department is littl
Handicapped by having only one team
Buck the faithful old fire horse bein
without a mate. His companion wa
sold some time ago on account Of be
ing unsound and as the boys say
crazy. The gray team, Dick and NeC
are two Of the best fire horses in tn
country and do splendid work. TIL
boys take lots Of interest in ther
and have them under fine control.
Thanks to the city's efficient dt
partment, outside Of the cotton CON
press fire Of April 11th the city ha
suffered no considerable loss froi
fire during the past three years.
A record of the department sine
January 1st, 1905 when the compan
went into their present quartres 0
South Fifth street win be interesting
1905
Jan. 4, 10 a. m. Brown room
ing house gasoline stove. s 15.O
Jan. 20 A a. m. Globe rest,
range stove .... ...,... 5.U
Jan. "a, $3.50 p. m. 10th and
Chickasha, gasoline stove. SO
Feb. 21, 9:1O p. m. Laughlin,
4th and Colorado, tramp in
barn ....,......-.s ..... 6.t
March 3. $40 p. m. Mobley,
9Th and Iowa, tramp in
barn.. .. 10.(
March 4, 4;15 a. m. Caldwell
cottage, burglar set fire. 50O.l
March 5, 7:15 a. m. wholesale
grocery, unknown, iO,OOO.I
March 1S, 12 m res. 18th and
Texas, fiue. -. ........ 81
March %, S.45 a. m. 10th and
Washington, false alarm.
March %, 12 m. wholesale i
grocery, spontaneous comb.
March 26. 2:3O p. m. res. 2nd
and Minnesota, cook stove
March 27, 2:4O p. m. Wholesale
grocery, spontaneous comb
April Is, SIP. m. ath and
Pennsylvania, barn, cigar
cites ...... ..- s....t.. o.
April IS, a. m. End and
Chickasha, Mobley, unlnown2, ,5OOl
April 20, 11.S0 a. m. 7th and
Dakota, barn, unknown. .... /.
May 8, $3.50 p. m. 9Th and Illi-
nois, Smiths store, matches 20.
June 3, 1880 p. N. cotton