Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1922-01-27

L Il
You have all heard the old story Of
"all for the want of horseshoe
nail ?n /.
Walter Wright's house burned on
Monday of this week for the need Of
one extension ladder and pail of
water or couple Of quarts Of chefni-
cal water.
That's the condition existing in
Keytesville to day-can you beat it I?
And we're supposed to be pro-
gressive, up-to-the minute commun-
lity. We hate to advertise this fact
Ito over 2500 readers located all over
the United States, but nevertheless,
| it is concrete fact.
There may be men in the city
that own an extension ladder or
two, and there may be a couple Of
bottles Of fire extinguishers located
somewhere, but, good lord, who knows
wnere they're "at?"
Isn't this a fine state Of affairs =?
Aren't you, Mr.. Buiness man, Mr..
Home Owner proud of your little
City?
There are so many things to say
in regard to this Wright fire that
one hardly knows where to begin.
What are the conditions of which
time has made history,
At some prehistoric time an cleo
tion was held in Keytesville in regard
to putting in waterworks here. The
election carried, but the water works
were not installed for the reason
that it appeared that the valuation
was not sufficient to go through with
the improvement.
How about now, Is the valuation
sufficient at this time? Yes, reader,
the valuation is sufficient in Keytes-
vile to put in water works and have
a bit of protection.
For the sake of argument let's say
the valuation is not sufficient Is
that any reason why we should sit
down and die of dry rot, while each
business man in Keytesville stands
the righ rates of fire insurance, ard
also runs the risks of his own as
well as the fire risks of every man
located within the same business
block.
Is there nothing else to do after
the valuation has been proven to be
insufficient?
Yes, there are several things that
can be done.
1t is possible to organize fire
fighting bunch of live ones, and it is
also possible to have a ladder wagon
fitted up with ladders Of all sorts,
kinds and descriptions, so that ac-
cess to the highest building in town
can be had.
It is possible, at nominal cost, to
install q truck with high pressure
chemical tank thereon with so to 100
feet of hose and a nozzle that would
shoot chemical water on an incipient
blaze into any rooom or onto the
roof Of any building in Keytesville.
Do | hear some doubtful tightwad
exclaim that q chemical is no
agood ?"
Listenl If they are no good why
do the large cities maintain ''fly-
ing squad as an auxiliary to their
great fire departments? Do the rec
ords show that these chemical out
fits put out more fires than the de-
partment's great steamers, water
tower, etc7 Yes, Mr.. Doubtful
Thomas, they do, and cost that is
considerably less both to the man
whose place is on FIRE as well as to
the city itself.
The city departments maintain
these flying squads for the purpose
I
Of speed. They have a siren that
can be heard for miles above the din
and roar of the city's activities.
When one of these speedwagons is
summoned and they state every man,
woman and child becomes safety
committee Of one. All traffic stops
in the locality in which the speed wa
gon speeds. They want to get to the
FIRE in 30 seconds fat, because they
know that 60 seconds late may mean
fire in which thousands of dollars
may be lost and fremen with the
greater apparatus may lose their
lives.
If there had been speed wagon in
existence the great Chicago fire
would not be matter of history.
If, on the 2srd day Of january,
1872, there had been an auto chemical
truck in Keytesville. Walter Wright
would not be just livin' around and