The Semi-weekly leader., 1912-01-03
OUR FIRE De. rNT.

In compensation with q prominent
Brookhaven business man yester-
day. the question of the city fire
department was broached. and
suggestions made tending toward
a better and more efficient fire
service for Brookhaven.
The city now has the best fire.
fighting apparatus in its history
and more ready and competent lot
of fire boys" could not be found
anywhere; but in view of recent
developments. in some particulars
at least. new measures seem in
demand.
To start with, the company needs
new members. For various reasons,
removals, etc the membership has
fallen off. Then, it has become a
matter of current report that some
few of the present membership do
not respond promptly, if at all, to
the alarms; and, this. of course,
makes crippled, unsatisfactory
and inefficient service.
i
Only last week, the alarm had
to be turned in repeatedly to get
out enough men to properly fight
the flames ON Jos. Heuck's resi-.
dence. Magnificent work was done
when the men got at it
Several times the fire wagon
driver. Dan Mccarthy, has had to
wait for sufficient men to man the
wagon after he was ready to start,
as nozzlemen, hosemen and others
are absolutely necessary at a fire.
fight.
The Brookhaven public trusts en-
tirely to the department and has
the right to expect from the pres.
ent organization the same service
it has given through years of
splendid history.
Brookhaven has never had what
could be called a holocaust and it
is to be devoutly hoped that it
never will; but the time to lock
the door is when the horse is in
the barn.
Every dollar spent toward a
better fire fighting equipment
is well spent. and Brookhaven
hasn't been niggardIy in this re-
spect. 1t has shown appreciation
for the daring service and personal
sacrifice. which through a quarter
of century has characterized our
volunteer Fire Department as our
Fire House effectively demon
strates. and as do also the para
phernalia and equipment of the
whole machinery" of the concern.
The direct reductino in insurance
premiums, and the preservation of
property has been and is matter
of most serious consideration and
is one vital to our interests and
calls forth this article from a
watchman on the tower.
The work of the membership of
the existent department. of course,
from Chief Chas. Heuck down, is
purely gratuitous. with the minor
exception that the street tax of
$500 per year is paid by each
property owner.
A. suggestion that the Board of
Aldermen offer a bonus of from 81
to $5 for each member of the de-
partment that turns out to and
helps fight fire, may be a good
one for the present and is in keep
ing with modern methods, such as
Carnegie's medal for heroism in
the saving of human life
But it is obvious that Brookhaven
will have to take a more advanced
step than the one suggested also
in keeping with modern methods
to conserve the interests covered by
a regular Fire Department.
Meantime, all citizens irrespec-
tive of membership in the Fire De-
partment may continue to feel at
liberty IN the coldest night and at
the slightest alarm from the small
est 'nigger house." to turn out
and fight fire to conserve Brook
haven property interests and to
uphold and commend the admirable
spirit still among US, that promoted
the organization of our Volunteer
Fire Department.
DR.. and Mrs. Julius Crisler. of
Jackson, made the little carrier
boys of the Clarion-Ledger happy
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