Water Mains, Fire Engine
All readers of the News last week might have read what one would suppose an article that would stir our committee to action, but who has heard of any member of this committee taking the first step toward a solution of the problem since our last issue? Now we all know that to have mains through our streets with all their accompanying conveniences costs money. When you speak of money you are pointed at once to the comparative small cost of the Warwick
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can any of the strongest advocates of the water system of Warwick point to a single comparison as to level, or natural advantages? Surely Warwick is finely located in this respect. It is not our purpose to disparage any movement looking toward a practicable solution of the question.
We have, however, understood through a reliable channel that the cost for pipe alone to be from $3,000 to $5000 per mile, this amount alone but places the pipe on cars at point of shipment. Presuming the water is to be conducted two miles you have at once incurred an expense, equal to all a village the size of Chester would stand as compared to Warwick, and we are informed their expense reaches a total of nearly $30.000.
Now can anyone figure out a probable success for this plan? So far as indications go, the most enthusiastic advocates of the water system are parties whose abilities to take stock in such a company are not commensurate with their enthusiasm for the project. The apparent disinterestedness of the most important committee to the idea is of itself pretty good proof of its impracticability.
On the other hand there is a strong feeling that we ought at once to provide some means to protect our property, in Chester of another outbreak, especially do the citizens of the upper
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and a momentous fact it would be to many of them should a fire occur there. Previous to the agitation or the idea of bringing water into the village, one of their citizens drew up subscription list to procure an engine, and we believe the amount raised was $300. Fifty dollars of this amount was subscribed by a resident living in the lower village who, is a property holder in the upper village, this occurred the day following the burning of the Roe building, the amount was raised in short order. This apparent energy upon the part of the up-town people to accomplish something; . immediately filled the minds of some of the other residents of our small, but well scattered village with the grand but top-heavy idea of water mains.
The people of the upper village glad to cooperate for some real and permanent protection time, retried from the front, and ever since have been covering the rear of a forlorn advance. Now. it is very doubtful if they, feel it incumbent upon the to once more assume the initiative if any efficient means of protection against fire are ever to be realized? While they feel the importance of some action in the matter, they are willing, and it may be said
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neighbors of all the villages to take measures to procure an engine with all the paraphernalia attending the same, or that goes to make a complete Fire Company. With the building of a few large cisterns we would be able to cope with almost any fire that could arise, As it is fire no sooner breaks out than we telephone, telegraph and use all means at hand to send for the Goshen Fire Co., to assist us, and they have in each instance rendered valuable assistance in subduing the flames, thereby disposing of the paradoxical statement that engines are of no use because we have no water.
