Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1907-11-07
City Protection From Fire.

It's day OF progress IN providing
for the protection of property
from the ravages of fire.
The first of our efforts to Sc
cure such protection was made
at an early day when the buck
ct brigade was organized, but
when the great fire of 1872 Wis.
tied our town, destroying every
house on the north side of Erie
street from 3rd to 18th street, in
which we had, in a few min
utes, our entire means, the en-
tire effort of a lifetime, swept
away, leaving us in the winter
of 1872, without means, kbusi-
ness, or prospects for the future
the fire occurring Nov. ID, 1872.
This sad experience convinced
the citizens of our town that a
b ct te means of protection
against fire was absolutely ne
cessary, and the people, through
the City Council, proceeded to
purchase a hand e giae, and
secured water from wells dug
at the different corners of the
streets from which an abund-
ant supply of water was secured,
but as the population increased
and the limits Of the town ex-
tended, and as the building. as
usual in new towns, was largely
wooden structures, this hand
engine and wellsystem was very
soon found inadequate to meet
the demands of the growing
town, the city council proceeded
to take legal steps to provide a
more ample protection for the
porperty of the town; then was
established the present magnifi-
cent water supply system by
reservoir and through mains,
and hydrants, pumping station
on lower Erie street and bv a
powerful engine pumps water
from deep wells to the reservoir
on the hill PIP feet above the
town, from which this pure and
sparkling water is carried in
pipes to every part of the city.
Then comes the hose team
and fully organized body of
most excellent firemen who are
ever ready at the call of alarm.
and under the command of the
efficient Fire Chief, VIM. Neu-
find, and the hoseteam, and the
fire boys, it is almost impossible
to suffer heavy loss by fire in
Mo. Valley.
We have been intimately iden-
titled with this work from the
early history of the town, and
as Editor, Mayor, City Clerk,
and citizen, we have a pretty
thorough knowledge Of the i'm
provements through which we
have passed during the history
of the town from 1868 up to
this time, and can now say that
Missouri Valley has one of the
best systems of water protec-
tions against fire, and water
supply to the people of any city
of 5000 inhabitants in the state
of Iowa. Many of US do not
stop to think of the obligation
we are under to the "fire boys"
who are ever ready to come, or
rather go to the point of danger
to protect our property, and
while we sleep in safety, they
may be fighting the fire king,
and exposing their lives and
hea u fpr our protection.
The establishment of our pres
ent Water Supply System is a
standing monument to the hon
or of the men who constituted
the City Council who secured
this most importent public inn
provement for the city, and ev-
cry time we hear the tap of the
fire bell, we should feel thank
full to that body of men who are
ever ready to respond to the
call of danger to save our home
and property from fire.
Our reservoir is located on
the hill north of the city, and
water supplied from deep wells
located on west Erie street that
are inexhaustable in quantity,
and the city and people are
supplied by mains extending
from the reservoir along the
streets, with hydrants at the
street corners so that water is
convenient in case of fire, and
every family, if desired, can be
supplied with water.
The city has also provided a
nice club room for the fremen
with every convenience for the
comfort of the boys when not