Connecticut western news., 1907-12-12
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 1s, 1907
FIRE PROTECTION CANAAN

has referred to the need of better fire.
fighting facilities in Canaan, and again
we desire to call attention to this very
serious omission on the part of the vii
lage or fire district.
Canaan has a superior water supply,
it has hose, it has a hose cart and it has
citizens who, at any hour of day or
night, would readily respond to an
alarm and put forth the most earnest
endeavor to prevent the destruction OF
property but the number of hydrants is
decidedly insufficient, the supply of
hose is very limited and there are other
conditions which reduce the freight
ing possibilities to a minimum. With
all due respect to, and appreciation of,
the many who would lend willing
hands, the fire-fghting force is also in
efficient because of lack Of training
and organization
Should q fire break out in certain por-
tions of Canaan to-day, the only means
of combating it would be the bucket
brigade and the other primitive methods.
Gradually the old, ramshackle build
ings in Canaan have been replaced by
modern structures, not only admirably
adapted to the purposes for which they
are used but decidedly ornamental to the
village and there is not a person in Can
aan but would most deeply deplore their
destruction.
Thanks to merciful Providence.
Canaan has not, in the recent past, been
visited by a disastrous confagration but
the future is a closed book and it is not
given to anyone to know when such a
,onflagration will occur; but it is pos
sibility constantly to be reckoned with
md Che proper course to pursue is to be
iorearmed as far as possible. What
Canaan needs is more water mains,
more hydrants, more hose and an organ
lied company. All these will cost mon
ey and they are worth it. They would
provide protection which is much need
cd andwhich should have been provided
ed long ago, and with them will come
feeling of security and safety which not
one Canaan property owner now exper-
fences.
In this respect, and in this respect
only, Canaan lacks considerable of be-
ing abreast of other villages in this Sec
tion Of Litchfield county. In making
those "rapid strides toward metropoli-
tanism" which the Hartford Post attrib-
utes to Canaan, the providing of means
for fighting fire should no longer be de-
layed.
Loyal and progressive men have in
vested their funds in Canaan and have
erected handsome, commodious and con-
venient business buildings or cosy and
comfortable houses and each of these
structures has contributed toward q
larger, better Canaan. Nearly every
street in the village has been the scene,
recently, of more or less building activ-
as well as the occupants, are entitled to
property protection which does not now
exist.
The proposition to arrange with the
water company for certain number of
hydrants and to provide quarters and
equipment for hose company would,
no doubt, meet with opposition in some
quarters on the plea Of increased taxa
tion should the district vote to add fire
protection to the purposes for which 1t
was organized. That the hydrant rental
would increase taxes is a fact but il
would be all increase which no man can
reasonably offer an objection because il
would be the means of providing an
absolute necessity.
The insurance rate in Canaan is high
much higher than in villages where
there are means Of fighting fire, and we
venture the assertion that the reduction
in insurance which would result from
the installation Of such protective appa.
ratus would 90 long way toward pay
ing the increase in taxes.
Regardless of what action may here
after be taken by the fire district, by
local OTpdAlZdtlOuS VI ny luulVluudlb, q
dozen loyal Canaanites are soon to pre-
sent play, the proceeds Of which are tc
be turned over to the Board of Trade
committee with the understanding thai
the money shall be used for the pur
chase of fire hose. How much hose
will thus be placed at Canaan's dispose
is, of coarse, not known but it will, al
least, form nucleus and, furthermore
it will not cost the fire district one penny
At Saturday evenings Board of
Trade meeting, report of which ap
pears in another column, the fire pro
lection project was given an impetus
aud the committee appointed will MAKE
q faithful endeavor to obtain funds will
which to purchase the absolute neoessi
ties.
We bespeak for them liberal respons'
to whatever appeal they may make.