The Forrest City times., 1911-12-08
\ MOVE FOR BETTER FIRE PRO
 FICTION.

At a meeting Of the city council held Tuesday night. the question of better ire protection came up, and after some discussion, Chief McDan- iel stated that f some better and more adequate methods of reaching tEe scene 0f 8 fire vas not arranged f3r and there was not more interest taken in the department he would be forced to tender lis resignation, step which everyone concerned, would very mach regret
 Nr Mcdaniel stated that the chief need of the company now was horse t0 be kept at the engine house, to draw the hose wagon now owned by the city. and a man hired 10 look after equipment and have charge of him. The horse and harness could be purchased at cost Of about s30o. The council agreed to hire man, and pay him $50 a month and also pay for the keep Of the horse. if the money could be raised by popular subscription to buy the horse and harness. MT Mcdaniel also stated regarding the question Of purchasing more hose, that the present supply of hose was in fair condition, and would last for some time to come, and in addition to these ad- vantages, the wagon could carry more and better equipment, hose, ladders, etc.
 We think this suggestion good one. A small contribution from each one Of the property owners Of the city would purchase the horse and harness, and the cost to each would hardly be felt. And in all likelihood, the whole cost Of the animal would be saved at the first incipient blaze to which the department was called. The city is financially in DO condition to incur further expense. but there is very vital and crying need for better fire protection and irefghting facilities than are now provided. For rest City is no longer village where is is only necessary 10 pull reel of hose one or two blocks to reach the scene of a confagration. The city has grown, until now it is not right to expect that the volunteers who are always ready and willing 10 do valiant duty to pull heavy reel of hose, probably for half mile or so To fire, and al great loss of time
 This is ease, We think. where our people are proving themselves penny wise and pound foolish We are sitting supinely id.e, blaming lhe ire department f1r hot responding in larger number, 10 the alarms of ire. and yet u9 inditidaa is bestirring himself in an effort 10 lave He con ditions bettered. The Ere 8ghtiug proposition i9 serious business. \ trained ire ag. ter k d valuable man. such a man given inadequate equip meht and a scauty ar dissatisfied force, i, a. Handicapped as general would be when Le faced decisive battle with n-tinou, rce.
 The men #H9 give tieir time aud labor to its needs are as deserving al praise and honor as any hero Wao las @on gi9f} oH tLe heldof b4tte Then lives are risaed 1T almost every fire. and this i~i4ue willingly.
 X few dollars saen' uew in f5rufSf- ing the edepaftmeHt with a horse. a set otAaruesS. and paving tHe few dollars that would 6e needed for its keep and t6e hIre 5f it, driver. in all probability would save our property owners many times the sum ILey pay out. in=lesseited insurance rates
 The proposition Is worth thinking over Let committee be appointed to get aat among our people and see what the business men thinkiabout Il. And when yoa are thinking. re member that minute er two saved Tn getting ta a ire may mean the saving of 1hoe sands of dollars T. k an old adage among the city fireb3ys that bucket Of water when the ire
 irst starts E worth many gallon al, Eter Ithas gained F. or 2u minutes l.adv+t-