Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-05-17

munlueS ana the reSultlng increase
OF their responsible ities. This applies |
directly to our own city. For an ex-
ample, on or about twenty years ago
there was employed sby the city two
full paid men and the city owned
fine team. for the hauling OF the fire
apparatus to the fires, and the taxes
were not as great as now and our fire
department has become almost wiped
out for the need OF financial aid Thus
two may be avoided sif q clear and pres
else declaration of the needs of a de-
partment can be formulated which
takes into consid Iteration such general
conditions as the extent Of the fire
area the water supply, the pressure,
the climate, and the character of con-
struction Of the buildings which de
mand protection. This declaration
would from this source Of information
appear to be the peculiar need OF vol
unteer chiefs in a city the size Of
this. There are undoubtedly many
other conditions which i might refer
to which directly affect the organiza-
ton and operation OF small fire de-
partments. To meet these or even
enumerate them would be impossible.
Nor should any plan for increasing fire
protection in small communities at
tempt to cover all these. It should
be general in statement with an avoid
ance Of details not uniformly appli-
cable, and should be drafted with Pc
culiar reference to clearness and
brevity. That such d definite plan,
based upon practical knowledge could
be issued by a committee Of this coun-.
ell cannot be denied Z
| Furthermore, such committee CIV
ing their attention to this particular
subject would form bureau of In.
formation which could be adyantag
eously consulted in regard to special
needs or unusual condi tions, and their
lopinioR and advice would carry a.
special weight, as that Of men COM.
petent to Judge as to be best, the
cheapest and the most satisfactory
method of fire protection.
j In the early portion Of this paper:
i / called attention to the fact Of the
Importance Of this subject to the fut-
lure in continuance Of a volunteer sys-
tenn far beyond the time when it
should give place to a paid or partial
paid department is the chief evil. It
may require the Hand OF Providence
|laid heavily upon a community and
the loss Of hundreds OF thousands of
4 dollars to awaken it from its lethagy
] and to an appreciation Of the peril
i from fire, which has surrounded it for
wears. IN fact-I believe that in this
city the need Of quick service, a SUI
Il fcient water pressure, and an up to
81 date equipment win not be realized
q until q great onaagration has swept
4 away property of q value which for 4
/. time will PROSTATE business and ..re-
!. tard prosperity, and the awakekning
q comes too late, and the flames have ac-
lcomplished the destruction, which
H foresight and knowledge and a judi
4 cious expenditure Of public moneys
n might have prevented. But. however
4. true my suggestion may be, believe
4. that the principal one is for the tax
payers Of this city to be ignorant OF
the danger, and the absence Of a well
formulated and rational system Of i'm
n provement in fire service. There is
bound TO come in the history Of q
. growing city like this, a period OF
81 transition from the old method to
y the new, from the entire volunteer
I, service to the part paid service. i
/. may come slowly, that is the proper
]. way, or 1t may come suddenly, which
is the improper way, and also the ex,
/, pensive way. 1t seems to me that q
/ committe or bureau such as / have
q suggested would be what this city now
uSGuS duA WuCEc tAS Sn1u6CS soAAO04A
begin is matter Of careful considera.
ton. But my own views are that II
should start at the head. The Chief
i Of the FIRE department should be q
Il man whose inclinations are pointed in
that direction. and who should be paid
I for devoting ashare Of his time to the
II equipment, and well being Of the fire
|. department Of this city, such q man
/ Lean carry out some definite plan, 70
8 regards to the equipment and hous
i Ing the apparatus and enlisting the
very hest material in the membership
4 Of the department. Further consider
B alton Of the details Of the idea which
Ihave endeayored to present as brief
Ilysas possible to you will not here per
!, I nit, nor do I feel competent to carry
Z them to the limit. But any plan
/ that will reorganize the once magni