Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-07-14
BETTER FIRE PROTECTION.
Mayor j. f. Lamont Makes Timely
Suggestions to Council.


At meeting of the city council held
last Tuesday evening, Mayor J. T. La
mont in message called attention to q
few pertinent facts regarding the fire
protection afforded the manufacturing
plants of this city. AS all citizens
know, the wa-er mains extending into
the outlying districts are small and OF
little value when fires break out. Even
some sections not far from the heart of
the city-notably Grand Aye.-is
supplied with mains so small that there
is practically but little protection in
case of a large fire.
Mayor Lamont quoted message OF
his predecessor in Office, Mayor Nj. H.
Duncan, who stated practically what
we have just mentioned, and the former
added, THAT the mayor was exactly
right in his statement as was shown at
the fires at the Wausau Box company
plant and at the Columbia hall some
time afterward"
Mr.. Lamont called attention to an
investigation and a report. made two
years ago by j. I. Tanning. an engineer
called here during Mayor rZimmerman's
administration, to give advice as to a
practical way to help us out of the
water difficulty. He recommended the
drive well system, the reservoir on East
hill and extension of a fourteen inch
main from the pumping station to the
reservoir, all of which will be completed
within few weeks. He further rec
commended that twelve inch main be
extended through the eastern part OF
the city to South street and west across
the river to connect with the mains of
the west side, thus giving more pressure
and a larger flow of water.
We should not be surprised if at any
time a large fire breaks out in the
factory districts, says Mr.. Lamont in
substance, and sooner or later there
will be great loss of property because
of our carelessness. The efficiency of
the fire department should be increased
by engaging more men and providing
better apparatus, but this course is use
less unless we can give the department
an ample supply of water to fight fire
with. Our water system was originally
planned for city of 5000 people and
though the city has since doubled in
population the only provision we have
made has been to lay about fifteen miles
of mains, most of them too small to be
of any practical use in case of large
fire. To get cheaper insurance rates
and additional factories and keep the
institutions we now have; to induce
manufacturers to come in here and
utilize our cheap water power, we
must give them fire protection.
The price of material is cheaper now
than it has been for years, says Mr..
Lamont, and now is good time to buy
in order that Mr.. Fanning's recon-
mendations may be carried to COM
pletion. There are at present or may
be before fall, many idle men in the city
who will be glad to get any kind of
work and the city would have no
trouble in getting the necessary help 10
carry out the work. The city's finances
are at ebb tide and no money can be
taken out of the treasury TO carry on
the work of further water improve
ments, andif the work is done at all it
must be paid for through bond issue.
In conclusion Mr.. Lamont says:
Finally, gentlemen, after careful in
vestigation and after consulting with a
large number of the taxpayers and
property owners of the city, / would
recommend:
81. The appropriation of sum
sufficient to extend the large water
main from McClellen street to Grand
Ave. and from there to the west side
as far as expert engineers think best.
III. That the funds for this work be
provided through bond issue.
"lII. That this whole matter be re-
ferred to the committee on water works
with Instructions to make an early re-
port"
The message was referred to the
committee on water works and the
committee will report its recommen-
datioDs at special meeting of the
conncil tn he held ,Julv 20