The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-12-06
VOTE AGAIN ON BONDS FOR
FIRE STATION.

Twice this year a special election
has been held at which the question
of bonding the city to build new
fire station was submitted, and twice
the proposition hes been rejected by
small margin. Under the law only
taxpayers are eligible to vote in such
elections and two thirds of the votes
must be in the affirmative to author
ize the bonds. This is a heavy handi-
cap for supporters of the bond issue
10 overcome, but in spite of the de-
plorable apathy on the part of people
most concerned in the question, there
was in each election large majority
in favor Of the bonds and in the last
election a change of five votes would
have put them oyer.
As the matter now stands, the city
administration is confronted with the
necessity Of spending several thousand
dollars in repairing the old station in
order to make it habitable, and when
that is done the city will have no
better protection for its expensive
fire equipment than it has today
That is to say, we will continue to
house modern fire fighting equipment
valued at $4,000 in an antequated
building which is in itself serious
fire hazard.
BY having this complete fire fight
ing equipment and maintaining an
efficient organization of hremen, this
city enjoys most favorable fire in
surance rates Suppose that fire
should destroy the present inflamable /
building and with it much or all of
the fire fighting equipment, what po-
sition would property owners be in
then? They would Immediately be
subjected to the maximum insurance
rates until the city had provided ade-
luate fire protection This would
mean the construction Of a new fire
station and the purchase of new
equipment. represented by a bond
ssue conservatively estimated that
would not be less than double the
amount proposed in the recent cleo
ion.
This is no farfetched possibility.
nd regardless of results of previous
lections. the question is still pres
ing: Are the taxpayers of Wallace
ctually willing to continue carrying
his risk? Do they really prefer to d
pend more money in perpetuating
his hazard, rather than remove it by n
small bonded debt which a
hey can pay without feeling it? d
The Miner has too much faith in a
le business sagacity and public il
oirit Of the people of this city to "
elieve that they win accept the re- o.
ut of the bond election as final To al
, so would be an admission that the M
and progressive spirit
iat built the city is dead or dying, l<i
I'd that civic pride is no longer the II
characteristic OF the m
.ople OF
The time is RAPIDLY approaching le
hen the mayor and city council must b'
Ike action. Having gone into the sub pc
ct thoroughly, they are unanimous in m
e conclusion that from every point ha
view the city should have new OF
e proof fire station, but they are Wi
werless to provide it without the la
notion of two thirds of the tax ley
yers. Having failed TO get that me
~ must proceed to repair the old che
ucture at a cost of probably $4,000.
ich when done will not contribute 81
the least to the protection of the toll
y from fire diff
NE time has arrived for business con
u and home owners to interest tina
mselves in this matter Of provid- wild
adequate fire protection. Let us tain
re the bond question again sub Tm
ed to the qualified voters Let us the
zeal TO the old Wallace spirit, the the
rit that has overcome all obstacles this
the past that stood in the way of law
gress, and there viii be a response A
t will insure victory for the bonds. less