The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1910-01-19
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Just criticism often assists in To-
eating weak points and finally results
in betterment of conditions. Some
times just criticism is taken for a
personal thrust; this. however. only
by those whose view is limited by ov-
erscnSitivcncSs, or by the imputing
of motives that do not exist. 1t is ev-
idcnce OF strength that Il man can
bear just criticism.
I.aurens has fire department com
posed OF fifteen men; it has regularly
elected officers. The members respond
AZ the alarm of fire; they meet the hose
wagon at the scene of the fire. AS
exempted from street tax small pay;
I'm fact, pay not at all commensurate
with the work or responsibility. The
company has not had meeting re-
Gently; they have not practiced in a
long while. The city has provided
no quarters for hremen: it merely
keeps the horses. hose wagon, and
their Keeper
Any city the size of Laurens should
have a we'll organized departnl mt
and quarters for the tNemen; indt e.
meMts should be offered by the city:
the company, by constant practices
should be we'll trained The small
towns OF Union and Greenwood have
excellent departments and even in
Newberry whc"c they are not suppos-
ed 10 know very much about modern
methods, there is a we'll organized
company. ii our information is cor
rect the fire insurance rates i'm Green
wood have been very much reduced
since the organization of their depart
ment.
The fire department OF Laurens ma"
have been all right for two years ago.
but times change and the city is grow
ing. If we hold on to the methods of
yesterday we make no progress But
II seems that we have rather gone
backward. Some two years ago the
company here had regular practices
and drills; they devoted some work
to learning the art of fire fighting
This has been abandoned in spite of
the growth of the city and the conse-
puent demand for more efficient com
pany. Any one who knows anything
at all about the work of fire depart
ment knows that practices and drills
are necessary to keep the company
in good order and training.
NOW tho nnint 10 /; 81, o;,
gone to the expense of providing and
keeping an outfit. horses, wagon and
hose, why not go a little further and
assist the department in making it
self ii more effective organization =?
Why not provide quarters near the
place where the hose wagon is kept.
for at least four firemen to sleep.
where they may be on hand when the
alarm is given. There should be at
least four men on the wagon when il
leaves headquarters, who when the
fire is reached can manipulate the
hose, noz2les etc. If they are not
there, excited citizens grab" right and
left at everything in sight and pande-
monium reigns Trained fremen, who
have practced, are not excited, and if
let alone by the citizens. can do more
work than thousand unframed men
There is something in the art OF
hghting fire. Ask the trained fireman.
IL takes time and work to become a
fire fighter. Some people are altogeth-
er unfit to be firemen; they are con
sututionally unfit; a good chief soon
learns the men in his charge and
knows who are capable of the work
A church building burned up in this
city last year. The fire occurred in
broad daylight. The company respond
ed faithfully but after reaching the
grounds was almost helpless and Ger.
tainly very ineffective. Rotten hose
was partly blamable for the confusion
lack of strong organization played
a part
Sooner or later Laurens will have
q department that works under strict
orders that practices at regular inter
walls, that is equipped to cope with an,
situation and that Is paid somethinI
for its work, 1t may be that this viii
not come until thousands of dollar!
worth OF property has gone up In
flames, but 1t will come some time
The wise course is to provide before
hand and prevent calamity TIL,
men who compose the company neeC