Mountain advocate., 1921-02-18
CITY WATER WORKS
ARE DESTROYED

Fire destroyed the Barbourville
Water Company's plant on Thurs
day morning about lao. II is sup
posed the fire originated in a room
where several barrels OF oil we're
kept.
John l.. Stanhll, Reedy and Ray
mond Miller and another young man
we're at the hose house within
five minutes at most. Mr.. Stanfill
used his automobile and the hose
cart with the hose coiled on it was
carried along as a trailer. Mr.. STAN
I'll made two more quick trips for
hose as the first coil was not enough
Not knowing where the hydrants
were the boys attached the hose at
the hydrant near Murf Cannon's
house whereas there is a nearer hy-
drant back of the Faulkner building
When Mr.. Stanfll got back with the
third load he found that the hose
had parted being in bad condition.
There was also trouble with the
threads, it is stated, as these do not
match.
Before the hose could be gotten
into play the roof Of the boiler room
had fallen in and the rest OF the
brick building was too far gone to
save it. SO intense was the heat
that the big steel girders which sup
ported the roof we're twisted and
fell.
The wall of the boiler room to the
front is so badly cracked that 1t will
probably have to he rebuilt. The
whole of the roof went up in smoke.
The probable damage will be from
$4,000 to $4,000.
II will be some days before the
water can be pumped into the tank
and the people are urged to 60 as
easy as possible with the water they
use as we shall undoubtedly he with
out before the machinery can be got
ton into shape 70 use again. Should
another fire break out we shall be
up against a serious proposition.
II is hoped that the engine can be
rebabbited tho whether II will work
or not remains to be seen.
The pump Is twenty feet down be-
low the surface and has probably es-
capped injury tho it also will have to
be tried out. The boiler is intact as
it was full of water at the time.
1t Is time that Barbourville had
o real fire station with the hose on
an automobile, in good condition,
an alarm at the fire station and
man to handle the hose stationed
al the fire station Two would be
bettSr. Rooms could be provided
for them free of charge and a small
salary attached to the duties.
Poor hose and fire system with
out a responsible head is like trying
to run a factory with rotten belts
and no manager.
| If the money is not at hand it
should be borrowed. AS it is, one Of
our most enterprising citizens is sub
jected to a heavy loss thru the fact
that the city possesses an inefficient
fire fighting department.
The origin of the fire is not known
The engine had not been running
| since four o'clock Tuesday afternoon
The Barbourville Electric Light CO.
plant turned in the alarm.
Another method suggested is
that the City Council call an cleo
ton for a bond issue to build the
hall suggested above. II the citizens
think this should be done, let's ask
the Council to do this. AS it is true
that what is everybody's business is
lnobody's business, the Council
might take the initiative and put the
question to the business people of
the town. There is no doubt that
the rest of the citizens would see
the matter in the same light as
would the business men.