Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-07-15

y
hottest day of the present week when
three dwelling houses were destroyed
by fire and four others partially
burned. The fires were in the same
street and at the same time and in
mid afternoon. The fire department
was not due to any inefficiency on the
part of the fremen or the fire ap-
paratus, but wholly to the lack of suf-
ficient water pressure in the locality.
The lack of water for fire purposes is
explained by the superintendent of the
water works. who declares that the
main that has always existed is be-
ing replaced by larger main and
when that ist completed the pressure
will be increased. Ii is we'll to know
where the key of the barn can be
found after the horses have got be-
yond police recapture.
There is lack of water pressure in
other sections of the city as we'll as
in Lincoln avenue, where the fires have
occurred, and the fact has several
times been called to the attention of
the superintendent of water works in
this correspondence. On one occasion
he contradicted some of the points
raised as to the location of hydrants
and the water pressure with special
reference to lower Ocean avenue and
Montauk avenue, but the facts remain
just the same and no remedy has been
cism was based upon reliable informa-
ton gained by experience of firemen in
that locality but the superintendent
took different viewpoint. He ought
to know the exact condition from
theory, but what the firemen know
fighting fire in that locality has been
gained by actual experience.
The superintendent and the fire de-
partment officers never did agree on
some matters concerning the water
works in connection with fires and the
superintendent has the faculty of hav-
Ing an apparent reasonable explanation
in every instance. But explanations
after fires do not tend to lessen the
damage by fires and if lack of water
supply is the cause it would seem to
be up to the superintendent, in part,
to lay the matter before the water
commissioners and see to it that adj
equate fire protection, so far as goes
water, is given to every part of the
city. There's way to do it, and no
doubt the experienced superintendent
knows the way. 1t is much more sat
isfying to the public to remedy these
wrongs and cut out the explanation
business after the damage is done.
Somebody wrote in the long ago some
thing about certain small amount of
prevention being of considerable value
and it certainly applies in matters per
tanning to fires.
AS already stated the fires were on
the hottest afternoon of the present
hot week and with the heat from the
fires added. and no water of conse-
quence to aid the fire fighters, the heat
was uncomfortable and several of the
iremen were Frustrated. And has been
frequently related in this correspond
ence the need of physicians in connec7
h Freo =. .ar-tI
plainly demonstrated. Fortunately
four physicians happened to go to the
fire perhaps through curiosity, or some
other cause, but certainly not for pro-
fessiona1 purposes. 1t was we'll that
the doctors We're there, and ready ana
willing to serve the suffering firemen,,
and by their prompt service probably
prevented serious result to the brave
fellows that rush at the first toot of
the fire whistle and voluntarily risk
their lives 10 save the lives and prop
erty of others.
These doctors would not have been
at that fire had it occurred between
midnight and morn, or at any other
fire during those hours and the
chances are that ten to eighty a doctor
at a fire in the night season is a
rarity. Cases have been cited before
where firemen were in imminent
danger reason of suffocation or
work and no doctor at hand to
even render the first aid. Therefore
it is about time that something be
done to improve the existing condi-
tons in that respect. There should be
at least one physician whose duty it
should be to respond to all alarms of
fires and be prepared to aid the in
jured. If such can not be had as a
volunteer, perhaps a better way would
be to have a volunteer physician in
On ri ord vt-11r 10 fro
alarms in his home ward. If these
professional gentlemen do not care to
volunteer their service, the city Off
Gals should make arrangements for
compensation. The firemen volunteer
their services, and the least a city of
the progressive spirit manifested in
New london, should see to it that in
the event of f1remen being injured
while doing fire duty they should re-
ceive prompt medical attention.
The Second regiment of infantry,
Connecticut National guard, has been
encamped at Mantle this week and ac-
cording to the newspapers down New
Haven way where the greater part of
the regiment belongs, it is a camp of
all work and no play, with the regular
army restrictions rigidly enforced
cipline and all that goes with it.
Things may look that way to the war
correspondents representing the New
Haven newspapers, but some fellow
once said that looks are occasionally
deceiving and they evidently are in
this particular matter. There is of
course more or less discipline in the
camp of instruction, for there always
was and there probably always Will be
as it is a chief essential of military
life. But when it is put up to the
public that the encampment of the
Second regiment IS far and beyond the
best encampment known to the mill
tary of the state, held at Mantle, it
proves beyond doubt of the elasticity
of truth.
True, there is no governors day nor
is the public given opportunity to wit
ness the work of the citizen soldiery
to ascertain whether their money is
spent to the best advantage in that
respect, for perhaps that might inter
fere with the general discipline of this
working camp. according to the ex-
perienced war correspondents. If there
is the strictest kind of discipline at
Camp Baldwin, it must end with the
son in the afternoon and social SEES
sion and cI7mbake at $50 p. m. on
their return to the hall in Bridgeport.
MANY of the slotableS of the order Will