The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-01-23
The Forum


From time to time letters writ.
ten by our readers regarding topics
of public interest are published il
this column. They may agree with
or be directly contrary to the senti-
ments of the papers management
Scurrilous articles or attacks on in
dividual persons cannot be puo-
lished: nor will any letter appear
which is not signed, the signer's
name to appear in print with the
ietter-The Editor.
To the Editor:
There is a problem before this
community which can stand some
discussion. This may not be the
way to accomplish anything but
neither can this community expect
to grow and prosper until it has
more to offer its prospective cltl-
TIE late o. o. Mcintyre once
SAID. Behind every argument Is
somebody's ignorance" | will not
hesitate to take credit for the ignor-
ance involved in the question Cf
the Libby Fire Department over
stepping the incorporated boun-
daries of the City of Libby if /
can present an argument from the
ether side of the fence My argu-
n.ent is not directed at the LIVED.
which is a fine organization made
uu of a crew of regular guys.
First / should state that l am
one of the minority or foreigners
who lives just outside the great wall
ard one who contributes nothing
to the support of the Fire Dept.
nor to the support of the city
I have lived il and n EAR Libby f1r
the past Is years and during that
tine have been on my own, the
dollars and pennies that l have bar
-ercd with have never been re-
fused within the city limits. Yet
through certain channels | have
teen informed that we on the Ous-
size contribute nothing to the sup
pcTt of the city. Perhaps in the
same sense that the city contributes
NJ thing to the county and the county
nothing to the state. However, l
guess its the almighty tax dollar
that is at stake so that argument
IS weak.
During the past 8 or 9 years !
there were 8 or 9 Firemen Balls
held and l did contribute or 9
dollars and to be more specific at
ttnced exactly three Balls. When |
tl.at is multiplied l Or 2 hundred |
tunes it isn't such a paltry sum.
surely none begrudges the invest
ent they made in fire protection ,
L. the past.
Ir the future should my home !
catch fire l could only rely on the
he lping hands of the neighbors and
lie irritated by the usual army Of
CIRCUS onlOolers, some of whom
Right be nearC to remark. Hot |
Gnwg, just look at the swell ire,
isn't it a dandy"
Inclosed is a clipping from the
Great Falls Tribune of January l6 /
which explains how a progressive
and democratic community contem-
plates tackling the problem here
involved. It's lust possible that the
Fire Dept. in that city is on pay
roll and the expenses incurred IN
making a fire call would be far
greater than here in Libby.
Now, if someone could just per-
suade our city fathers to forget |
the slap in the face they took from !
a certain outlying district in de-
clining incorporation and turn the |
other cheek to the county commits
siouers perhaps some working plan
could be arranged to protect a few
ether u S. citizens.-Jim EnderS.
The following is the article men
toned above taken from the Great
Falls Tribune:
"Reimbursements for expenditures
incurred in answering fire calls
from outside the corporate limits
of Great Falls will be sought by
the city, it has been indicated oy
the council.
Fire Chief Charles E. Lane re-
ported 10 calls of this nature were
answered during the last year, and
movement of the equipment and
use of chemicals and other prop
critics cost the city a substantial
sum.
II was pointed out that costs ii
maintaining the fire department are
paid only by persons residing with
IN the corporate limits, and that as
matter of equity it is only just
that the city be Feimbured- in some
manner.
On motion of Aldermen Joseph
Bauer, the matter was referred to
the fire committee with instruction
to meet with the county commits
sioners and determine whether
some method cannot be devised to
cover the costs"