Year: 1859

AuTHORlTf.-AbtO NC OdiiIOrhia OpaT-


1t ofAe Times, which is good author
ity on the subjects of which it treats


thus speaks of the communication


over the signature Of ian old Fires
man." which appeared in the Nevada


Democrat some weeks since. We
| hope the remarks of the SPIRIT will
set the hook and ladder suggestion


by some of our citizens, at rest for
ever -


"Tbe communication is signed by
AN Old Fireman" and from the ri
| diculous positions taken by him in re.
gard to the matter he discusses. we
we should think he is not only an old
fireman, but one who has attained
green old age. Every position taken
by cold fireman" is untenable. as we
shall show before we finish this ar
ticle.


The fearful aniunnt of loss Of life
and property which has taken place
during the last summer in this State.
by FIRE should awaken the people of
the interior to the absolute necessity
of organizing and establishing Depart
ments on firm basis for their pro-
lection. Well built and we'll filled
cisterns. with good engines to propel
the water with proper force through
the best leather hose, are required
The idea of being able to control
fire with the force obtained from the
water works prevalent throughout the
mines is preposterous.and never should
be entertained for moment A fire
engine is as good in city like Neva-
da. where the streets are not level.
as in the cities of Sacramento, Marys-
vile, or Stockton. where they are as
level as barn floors. This city has
heavier hills to pull up. in the event
Of fire. than any in the city of Ne
vada. and yet fires occur, the alarm
is given. the fremen respond.the work
is done, aud half charred building.
in the midst of densely populated
wooden neighborhood. gives ample
proof of their efficiency. There have
instances occurred in this city, during
the summer season, when the winds
blow with their greatest force. where
an alarm of fire has been given III a
frame building, and the engine near
est to the scene has had it under SUBJ
lection before the remainder Of the
Department reached the scene. The
twaddle indulged in by an "old fire.
man." in regard to the time nccessa-
ry TO reach fire and get to work, is
hardly worth notice, and we allude
to it only to show how absolutely un-
untrue it is. We believe that Nevada
has been destroyed by fire several
times, but we do not believe in any
instance, that one-half of it has been
consumed in from three to eight min
u.es, as that would be- the time con-
sumed by an active fire company in
rolling from their house and getting
to work. The proposition that Hook
and Ladder Company, whose labor
could be brought to bear with the least
possible delay is all that is required,
is laughable, and Hook and Ladder
men will agree with us, that tan old
fireman" is not up in fire duty as it is
fulfilled by the present generation, or
he would not make such an assertion.
A Hook and Ladder Company with-
out an engine company and cice rersa
is like the tragedy of Hamlet with the
character of the Prince omitted an
engine company can always get to
work with more dispatch than truck
company, and every fireman is well
aware of it +; ard it carries with it no
re 9ectinn on members of Hook and
Ladder Companies.


The great difficulty in all the towns
in the interior, when fire has occurr.
ed. has arisen from the fact. that no
fire organization existed whereby a
concentration of assistance could be
had. When a fire occurs in a town
where there is no Department. the
principle (for such it is whether right
or wrong) If .every man for himself
and the devil take the hindermost"
is Immediately put in full force
whereas, in feeling and impulse, at
the first alarm they would iush to the
engine house. and while the timid and
affrigbted would be considering what
to do, the sound of the brakes, MANN
ed by fearless hearts, and the kissing
water as it met its foe, would be heard
above all other sounds. We were in
Nevada at one tine when an alarm Of
fire was given, and in mcmont all
was CONSERVATION. Every man ran
for his abode, and those that were at
home commenced to close up their es-
tablishments. with seeming DISPOSE
t,on to await the arrival OF the flames.
Fortunately there were few men
who had presence of mind sufficient
to ascend the roof of the burning build
ing. and with buckets of water extin-
guish the fire and save the city. Had
there been FIRE company. actuated
by the proper spirit which should em-
ulate ali fremen. they would have
been on hand and ready for duty in
less time than il takes 70 write this.
Ifthe ladies of Nevada are about