The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-18
A WEST SIDE HOSE HOUSE.

A WEST SIDE HOSE HOUSE.
There Is crying need in this town
for better fire protection. It is a
question which affects everyone. 1t
should interest both tenant and land
lord, merchant and manufacturer,
whether they carry fire insurance or
not. There has been agitation within
the last year over the rates which are
charged in this town by the insurance
companies-and the answer came back
you can't expect better rates until
/ you have better fire protection
II this were the only reason we
/ would be for better fire protection.
/ Fire protection means that every part
OF the city shall be so well supplied
with hose houses that it shall be pos
sible for the fire department to get to
the scene of action without delay and
to be there SO quickly that there will
be no need of there being a fire large
enough to force the municipality to-
send out of town for aid.
The time to put out a fire is in the
beginning, and not when it has gone
beyond control. The fact that Rich
mond has been singularly free from
widespread fires, does not argue that
we shall not have them. 1t means
that We haven't had our big fires yet.
1t has been due to fate and fortune,
quite as much as the gallant work OF
our too small fire force that the town
has not suffered grievously. A chang
ed wind-you know the rest.
To have adequate fire protection we
should have every part within the cor
porate limits we'll supplied with fire
facilities.
Have we?
Take the city Of Richmond and con-
slider that a large section of the
town in which are not only many resi-
dences. but many factories is not GOV.
cred.
That is West Richmond
Added to this, is the fact that this is
. growing part of the town. Think
OF West Richmond a few years
ago. There were then some houses
and small number of factories. But
so there today and you will find tina,
this is no inconsiderable part of the
whole residence district of Richmond
you will find houses going up, ant
/. many already built You know that il
Is good place for factories and facto
ries mean more residences, more resi-
dences mean more people. More PEG
pie mean growing town. More
houses and factories will be built will
proper fire protection.
Think it over. Here is the most dis
tant part Of the city from the fire cen
ter, with never a hose house.
Take your knowledge of West Rich
AAAOnu Win ITO 6ieol cApduSc-SpIcdt
out waiting for a fire and then think o
the east side of the river with FOUE
hose houses. AS simple propositio,
OF justice to those who pay taxes OF
the West Side and who live in the cor
poration of Richmond. we ask is i
fair:'
You know it is not fair You know
that every other part of Richmond ha
fire protection. The West Side ha
been paying in money to the city treas
ury quite long enough without gettinl
what ii ought to have had long ago
What is the use Of living inside
corporation and paying corporation
taxes II people are not allowed tn
same things that the other citizens ar
allowed:
What is the use paying in money t
this corporation for fire protection
without receiving that fire protection
What is the use paying high fire insul
ance rates when those rates can be low
cred by having fire protection? Tn
!, fire protection is paid for already an
has been paid for, for years. Why nc
demand the delivery OF the goods.
But you say: Il am in favor OF tn
proposition. know the West Sid
needs 1t. know they ought to hav
had It long ago. know that 1t is
matter Of justice. But
Have We the money to spend:"
'tsaycnst we spent lots Of money lat,