Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1883 — Falr Notice. [ARTICLE]

Falr Notice.

Editor Republican . —Upon all sSjes comes the reports of large fires, and serious loss to property, it will be oar tarn Boon and what means have we to fight the coming destroyer? It is not time that onr city fathers were looking to the safety of the property? Would it not lie well to have two or three large cisterns built upon Washington street, and have the water from the buildings, that now goes into the gutters, conducted into, them, so that in case of a fire, we might have something to fight it with? Would it not be more paofitable for some of our young, men to organize a Hook and Ladder x company, to help save our property, should a fire occur, than to organize base ball clubs, and get broken noses and banged up fingers? We know that the north side of Washington street is an immense fire-trap from Front St. to Van Rensselaer, and should a fire come any where upon that side the whole block would inevitably go. Only a few days ago Monticello just saved her beatiful school building, because they had an organized fire company. It would be very distressing to ns to see our town laid in ashes, or even a portion of it, nor can we 1 afford to lose the property, on the north side of Washington street, though some of, the buildings are not architectural beauties, they will, and do, serVe the purpose of doing, business in, and we cannot afford to dri ;e any business away. Now let the Common Conn-' cil put down two or three large cisterns, enact an ordinance to have the water from the roofs of of the buildings along the street conducted thereto, and for fear of a long dry season let the waste from the wind pump be conveyed, by pipes, into the said cisterns. Then let our yonng men organize n fire company, and let the citizens club and procure a fire engine, and hose, and it will be the means of bringing a sense of saffcy to the community, lower the rate of fire insurance, and be a blessing and benefit to the town. Ergo, sleep on in the fancied sense of security, tintfl the fire fiend sweeps away a goodly portion of our town, and then quote. “For as all sad words of tonjjne or pen’ Tlio saddest are these: ‘lt might have been’’ Therefore let us be up and doing, and not behind onr sister towns, but let us have an organized fire company, a Hook and ladder company, or something that 1 looks at heal security, and no longer rest in fancied security. Excelsior.

Those indebted to Campbell k Farden, must settle their accounts by cash dr note as their books must be closed. M. L. Campbell.