, 1922-04-06

having the laws enforced in a much
larger way. 1t Is due principally to
the untiring efforts Of Mayor Kell
that both the state and federal of
ficers have been brought into the
city and wholesale arrests made. As
the result of arrests made a few
months since by state law enforce
ment officers v e $4,000 in fines
were paid direct into the county
treasury.
Mayor Kell desired these cases to
be tried in the District Court instead
of the Police Court, owing to the fact
that the penalties In the former court
would be much higher than in the
city.
There is not a voter in Rawlins
who can conscientiously say that
Mayor kell has not done his utmost
to see that every law has been en-
forced honestly and impartially.
Fire Department
During the past year no other de-
partment of the city government has
shown a more marked improvement
than the fire department., which for
the first time in many years has re-
ceived the unqualified moral and
financial support Of the mayor and
city council. Although no expense
~burdensome to the taxpayers has
been incurred by the administration.
everything needed for more efficient
service has been cheerfully supplied
and the>result will soon be noted in
a substantial reduction of insurance
rates, this matter now being investi-
gated by the underwriters associa-
ton. hu
According to Chief Tom Reid, who
has been fire chief of the Rawlins
Fire Department since 1873, this is
n Of the best volunteer depart
ments in the entire west. to which
should b added the further state
ment that more progress has been
made by this capable f~ire-fighting
organization in the past four months
than in the entire previous period
covered by his remarks.
The one outstanding forward
movement was the employment by
Mayor Kell and the council, OF a reg
ular paid driver for the truck. This
one item has resulted in a saving to
the taxpayers since the first of De-
cember. of enough to pay the salary
of this man for several years, due
entirely to the fact that he was right
on the job and had the fire truck at
the scene of the fire before the
whistle had ceased to blow, so that
not a second was lost.
Reference is here made to the Ma
sonic Temple fire. which is n OF
two since the date mentioned when
water was used, the other being
storage sheds. In the case Of the
Temple. the building would nave IN
doubtedly been a total loss. except
the bare walls, had 1t not been for the
fact that the fire apparatus was on
the ground. with a stream of water
ready, when the volunteer crew ar
rived.
Fire Chief Reid is emphatic in his
endorsement OF the action taken by
the Mayor and council in employing
a regular truck driver for the fire
department. which action. he states.
Is amply vindicated by the fact that
out of eight alarms to which the de-
partment has responded since this
mar was put on. it has been neces
sary to use water in but the two in
stances herein mentioned. The 9TH
or six were promptly extinguished by
the use Of chemicals, without loss by
either fire or water.
StffActS ana Alleys
Owing to financial conditions
which have prevailed everywhere
and to which Rawlins has been no ex-
ception. Mayor Kell has not attempt
ed to initiate a permanent street
paving or improvement program,
preferring to wait until the taxpayers
were in better shape financially.
There has, Notwithstanding this.
been q decided betterment in street
conditions and the past year has 9
more real, effective street work
done than ever before. The pur-
chase OF a light.tractor. with drag
attached, at a cost Of only $500. has
resulted in better streets and at less
expense than formerly. This spring
1t has not been found necessary to
take up and open ~cufverts, while the
cutters have been kept open also,
with the result that the streets have
been smooth and dry.
The mayor Is as anxious a. any
citizen can be to see the downtown
streets paved with the best quality
OF material procurable, but this will
not be forced upon the city until such
time a. financial conditions warrant.
preferably, also, after all water
mains, sewers and gas pipes have
been permanently laid. so that 1t will
not bs necessary TO tear up the paw
Ing for the installation of these i'm