FIRE AND WATER
WEST DULUTH, Minn., would appear to be a needy town. According to The Duluth Tribune it needs, among other things, “ a fire department which will go to fires, a system of water-works for the supply of good, wholesome water, and a system of sewerage consistent with the needs of a growing town.” Three rather important requisites these for the prosperity of any place.
CHIEF OSBORNE of the fire department of Southington, Conn., calls attention to a practice which, it is to be regretted, prevails in some other manufacturing towns, that of deducting from the pay of employees who are members of the fire department for time spent at fires. This is without question a custom both niggardly and impolitic. The volunteer fireman gives valuable services to a whole community, without any compensation; and for one of those directly benefited to virtually compel him to pay for the privilege of doing so, is, to say the least, a small piece of business. The practice, too, cannot but have a bad effect upon the efficiency of the department, by lessening the attendance at fires
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