Show iB FIRE DEPAUTHEHT I IT is apparent that Salt Lake City must do more than it is doing in the way of providing means or rather for employing the means already provided for extinguishing fires There is a fair supply of apparatus the mains cover the more thickly occupied quarters of the city and there is a convenient arrangement of hydrants now what we need is the force to utilize these things Yesterdays little blaze illustrated what we mean When the bell rang thefiremen within the sound of its tones quit their variou employments employ-ments and hastened to the engine house some of them running a mile or so before reaching the hall and then having another half mile before be-fore them to the fire Meantime such force as could be immediatel improvised was struggling along toward the blaze with the apparatus People on the street jeered the poor fellows for tardiness as if the latter were to blame for not being on hand when the blaze started This street chaffing is wholly uncalled for and cruel for the reason there is i no cause for complaint against the boys in red shirts It should be 1 borne in mind that the firemen are not paid for staying at the engine house There services are practically practic-ally a freewill offering for the public good The men have to labor hard for a living and their work takes them to various parts of the city where their ears are ever open to catch the first sound of the bell when they drop their tools and speed on their errand to save Under the circumstances 1 it is out of the question that they can reach the fire promptly and and it is ungenerous to say the least to chide them for tardiness The question now is hasnt the city i reached a period in its progress I when it can afford to maintain something of a paid fireservice A large number of men and horses is not necessary but there should beat be-at the hall night and day sufficient force to run a hose carriage and if necrssary an engine or hook and ladder truck Three or four men and span of horses ought to be able to manage affairs until the arrival of volunteers The first few minutes at a fire are worth more than any other and every moments delay make tho wurk of extinguishing more difficult As matters now stand it is hardly probable that apparatus ap-paratus can betaken to a fire half a mile from the hall and gotten into operation in time toe any property pro-perty where a fire is likely to occur off East Temple Street whereas if men and horses were ready at the engine house to dash away with reel and engine or whatever might be required at the first stroke of the bell any ordinary fire could be held in check until enough firemen arrived ar-rived to extinguish it The matter is one that demands the consideration considera-tion of the City Council especially as the loss from a comparatively inexpensive in-expensive fire would equal the cost of maintaining a large enough paid force for a year |