Graham guardian., 1910-03-11
RATES OF LEGAL ADVERTISING
MARCH IL, 1910.
LESSON TAUGHT BY FIRE

LCsoSNN IAONI1l DI TIM
The Commercial Hotel fire shoult
prove good lesson to the citizen
of Stafford and awaken an interes
in the great need of fire protection
for the homes and business places il
the town.
Fortunately for the owners of ad
joining property, there was practi
cally no wind, otherwise, the fire
with a strong wind blowing, woulc
have wiped out two business block!
and maybe more, and caused serious
damage and ruin to many people.
That the flames were confined tt
the burning building was due to the
hard work of the firemen and the
volunteers who prevented the
spreading of the flames by tearing
down the sheds and other infiamma
BILE buildings near the burning build
ing, and these efforts would have
proved futile and could not have
been accomplished if a strong vino
had been blowing.
1t was demonstrated beyond doubt
that the Stafford fire department is
not equipped to successfully fight 8
big fire. The fire extinguishers
might prove to be all that would be
needed in a small fire, but in fire
like that which completely burned
up the Commercial Hotel, there is
something else needed besides men
to fight the flames.
AS a result of the fire consider
able discussion of plans for securing
a good water service has been in
dulged in by many of our business
men and property owners, and the
consensus of opinion is that the
time is ripe for granting franchise
to outside or local capital to install
a water works and lay pipes through
the town.
That water can be secured in the
Graham mountains or the Artesian
belt, has been known for years. A
franchise should be granted by the
people of Stafford to responsible
company that will start into work
at once to put in a water system in
the town that would provide a large
storage of water by a stand pipe
and number hydrants in different
places in the town that could be
used in time of fire.
A sufficient pressure of water can
be secured that would be able to
throw water over the highest build
ings in the town, and there would
be no need for equipping the town
fire department with a steamer or
other apparatus, except the neces-
sary hose to throw water, to put out
fires in buildings of any kind.
The water works system could be
extended to all the towns in the
valley, water supply being easy to
secure and store that would give all
the water needed for domestic pur-
poses, for many years to come.
A proposition to grant franchise
to a company to install water
works and electric lighting plant
was brought before the meeting of
the town council Wednesday night.
The proposition was agreed to by
the town council and special cleo
ton was ordered for the purpose of
giving the electors the right to vote
for such franchise according to law.
There is no doubt but that the
installation of water works and
electric lighting system will be a
great improvement to the town,
and would, more than anything else,
attract people of means to the val
ley, who would stake up their resi-
dence here in Stafford and other
towns where the improved condi-
tions brought about by good water
supply and electric lighting prevail.
Aside from improved sanitary
conditions in the towns of the valley