The urgent need for local citizens to wake up and take the necessary
auction to instal a more powerful fire alarm was never more clearly demonstrated than during Saturday's fire at the Barracks.
It was an ideal day to test the siren, the temperature being 20 below
zero, the weather clear and bright and no wind prevailing. It was established beyond doubt that the siren could not be heard at the shipyards, nor could it be heard beyond the Catholic Church.
For the people of Whitehorse to expect the government to expend further
funds on fire equipment is ridiculous when one takes into consideration the revenue accruing from the town. They are taxed less than any similar town in Canada today.
Often we hear of the many advantages the Dawson residents have over
us, but it is not generally known that they pay much more in local taxes.
How many residents know that the government pays more in fire protection for Whitehorse than it receives in Land Taxes and Licenses combined. In 1934 the total expenditure on the Fire Dept. was $3,363.10 and the revenue obtained from Land Taxes and
Licenses netted $2,227.50. Other expenditures were the Hospital Grant $4,250.00; Street Lights $1,000.00; Streets and Sidewalks $266.47; School $8,357.35 and Library $450.00; against the small revenue derived from the Fur, Poll, Game Taxes, etc.
It is time we realized that residents in other towns pay much higher taxes to take care of adequate fire protection, as also do the merchants in business licenses and property taxes.
Residents should have some civic pride and not ask the government to
provide something which is to our own interests and safety to provide for ourselves.
Let us start a Fire Alarm Fund and subscribe the amount needed for adequate protection. Surely, in lieu of paying more taxes we can at least do this and obtain that sense of security derived from a proper alarm system.
In order to get this Fund under way the Star is giving $10.00, and has a
promise of a similar amount from Councillor C. T. Atherton. Donations may be left at the Star Office, where a list of all donations will be kept.
Let's all get behind the Fund and put it over with a bang.
