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

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Of their esponsibili ties. This applies
directly to our own city. For an ex-
ample, on or about twenty years aga
there was employed ny the city two
full paid men and the city owned q
! fine team, for the hauling Of the ERE
apparatus to the fires, and the taxes
were not as great as now and our Are
department mas become almost wiped
out for The need Of financial aid. Thus
two may be avoided IL a clear and pres
| else declaration Of the needs of de-
Ipartment can be formulated Il which 4
takes into consid eratfon such general
conditions as the extent Of the fire
area, the water supply, the pressure,
the climate, and the character OF con-
tstruction Of the buildings which de
Imand 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 / might refer
| to which directly affect the organiza-
ton and operation Of small fire de-
partments. To meet these or even
|senumerate them would be impossible.
Nor should any plan for increasing fire
protection In small communities at
tempt to cover all these. 1t 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 a definite plan,
based upon practical knowledge could
besissued by a committee Of this coun-
Ecil cannot be denied.
Furthermore, such a committee Civ
ling their attention to this particular
subject would form a bureau Of In.
formation which could be advantag
eously consulted in regard to special
i needs or unusual condi tions. and their
opinion and advice would carry "a
special weight, ais that of men COM.
4 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:
4 / called attention to the fact of the
il Importance Of this subject to the fut-
Il ure in continuance Of volunteer sys-
4 tenn far beyond the time when it
Il should give place to paid or partial
q paid department is the chief evil. It
Il may require the Hand of Providence
Laid heavily upon a community and
4 the loss Of hundreds Of thousands Of
q dollars to awaken it from Its lethagy
n and to an appreciation Of the peril
Il from fire, which has surrounded it for
4 years. In fact believe that in this
city the need Of quick service, a SUI
& fcient water pressure, and an up to
J, date equipment will not be realized
Isuntil a great confagration has swept
I away property Of a value which for q
]. time will PROSTATE business and re-
! ltard prosperity, and the awakening
comes too late, and the flames have ac.
n complished the destruction, which
j, foresight and knowledge and judi
!, cious expenditure of public moneys
might have prevented. But, however
4 true my suggestion may be, believe
q that the principal one is for the tax
J, payers Of this city to be ignorant OF
Il the danger, and the absence OF a well
formulated and rational system OF i'm
i provement in fire service. There is
! bound to come in the history of q
J. growing city like this, q period OF
i transition from the old method to
!, the new. from the entire volunteer
+ service to the part paid service. Il
! may come slowly, that Is the proper
!. way, or it may come suddenly. which
a is the improper way, and also the ex
pensive way 1t seems to me that q
1 committee or bureau such as have
suggested would be what this city now
I needs and where the changes should
i begin is matter OF careful considera.
/ ton But my own views are that II
: should start at the head The Chief
j of the fire department should be 9
3 man whose inclinations are pointed il
/ that direction. and who should be paid
! for devoting q share Of his time to the
) equipment, and well being Of the fire
i department Of this city, such mar
i lean carry out some definite plan, y
4 regards to the equipment and hous
j, ing the apparatus and enlisting the
i very best material In the membership
i of the department.. Further consider
! alton 81 the details Of the idea. which
l Ihave endeayored to present as brief
lysas possible to you viii not here per
s NIT, nor do feel competent to carry
4 them to- the limit. But any plan
s fho4 MILL rnnrua nizn tl,as once mapni