**rtln J. Slattery - - Manager Optical Organ of Cameron County —_______ Consolidated In 1893 with the Dally Cosmopolitan, which was publish ed in Brownsville for l« years Terra* of Subacription Dally — Published every morning except Sunday, by mall postpaid to any point in the United flutes, Mex. ico or Cuba, or delivered by carrier to any part of the city, West Brownsville, Texaa, or Matamoros, Mexico. One copy, one year.$6 00 One copy, alx months.... 3 00 Entered at the Poatofflce at Browns ville, Texas, as Second Class Mail Matter. j 1 FRIDAY* ‘f’EHRUARY 2- 1812 ..--. -jy —i ■ .. DO WE NEED FIRE PROTECTION ? Judging by the blessed immunity from disaster which Providence has granted' to Brownsville up to the present time, one might almost be tempted to think that the town is in no particular need of protection from fire. But the truth came home to our people Wednesday night when they »*w the fierce, red flames leaping gleefully into the air as they de voured the Garcia property on 12th street. In cold fear they watched, j feallilng that the puny efforts of . ur makn-iU lieve Hr* fignting depart ment would be absolutely urelesa if the wind should suddenly h.* whip ped into a gale. They knew the. all that part of the town lying to the northwest of the Garcia brilding probs*.y w. old be wiped out b\ tne flames if fanned by even a moderate 9 III t God was good to the tov it «|tKe more. The threatening disas ter dig got. happen, it seemed airiest mtaaeukm* that the flames were confined to so small an area, when hardly unythinit could be done, be yond penring a few buckets of water on Jfh*' j^djoinlng building, o pre vent ldieir spreading, "however, real ire that /itch miracles cannot be depended J upon to happen every time. They / dread the great fire disaster which ' the town *• actually inviting by its almost total unpreparedness to fight fire. Something must be doae for pro tection of the town, and it» people from the fire fiend. The citizens are aroused. They are determined that something shall be done. Naturally, tbe city government is I >oked to to provide such equipment as is needed and also to see that such service as it is in a position to guar antee shall be provided for fire fight ing. In the matter of equipment,perhaps thy city government has done all it can under its present condition. In this respect, the situation is not so bad. With the fine luok and ladder truck, chemical extinguisher and feet of fire hose which we i * * -have, we are perhaps as well off as r many other towns of this size. If two teams of good horses or mules were provided to haul the fire wa gons at the first note of alarm, a fire marshal and perhaps two train ed firemen employed, the situation would be comparatively safe. Tbe mayor is entirely correc- in urging that these be provided for. They are absolutely essential, in order to af ford proper protection. The decrease in fire insurance premiums which would result If the city were so protected would probably cover the Increased tax necessary on account of it. The method of conducting our fire department, however, might he very greatly Improved upon, even with the equipment which we possess al ready. We have a chemical engine.! guaranteed to extinguish almost any fire at\an early stage, but up to date* this explosive piece of machinery has served only as an ornament In a, I •p ^ ^ ^^ ^ m w—[ 'i parade or two. tfld, ao far as The Herald knows, at not been Instru mental In putting out a single fire, although we hWve bad a number of opportunities to use it. Wednesday night th,. machine formed a very ef fective ornament of the fire envi ronment, it Is true, but was not put to any use whatever. Again, the low pressure of (be wter Wednesday night rendered the efforts of the hose men absolutely useless. With only 40 pounds pressure, the hose fatled to throw a stream that would reach anywhere near the fire. It would seem that* greater .pressure should Ik* maintained at night. In any event, some quicker means of se curing an increased pressure should he put into effect immediately. Wed nesday night, the city water and light plant received n> order to in crease the pressure until some time after the fire alarm was given. If thp telephone service is responsible for the delay, the city should see that the company gives us belter service. If the officials at the city plant were to blame, they should be required to better hereafter. The clumsy management of the entire business Wednesday night. which might have resulted in a disastrous conflagration has disgusted nir citi zens. besides causing them to fee! seriously alarmed at the situation it is apparent that some remedial steps might be taken, so that we could use such faiclities as we have at command now to much better ad * vantage than at present. In the absence of a paid fire de partment, we should build up a vol unteer service which will be effec tive, but whatever Is done should be done at once. Thp imminent dan ger of losses by fire should arouse our citizens to prompt and vigorous action. NOW FOR THE TOURIST HOTEL. Now that the poll tax fever is over, let Brownsville get to work in dead earnest on the hotel proposi tion Of course, it is bound to be a success, but we must not allow it to lag. Xj town could afford to ap pear indifferent even for a moment to such a magnificent proposition as that made by B. F Yoakum. With $100,000 assured by him, the mo ment Brownsville raises an oqual amount, our citizens should take hold of the project with the greatest enthusiasm. Today being ground hog day. the “Whether Man" will have an oppor tunity to learn what kind of atmos pheric conditions to predict for the next six weeks—that is, of course, if he can get in touch with the ground hog. .J" .J-J -y1 More trouble for President Made-, ro. Verily, the wav of the new re-1 gim(, in our sitser republic has been rough and stormy so far. —_________ ****44+4*44*44* GUY NEWS *************** The train ‘I11** to arrive here at 12:30 p. m. did not get here until 2:10 yesterday at'ternom. There was an unusually long train out of Houston, comprising several empty Wells Fargo express cars. which caused the delay. Self I up lire Club. The regular meeting of the Self Culture Club was held Jan. 21th. at 1 the home of Mra. M. C. Craig. Act III. scenes III and IV of the i Merchant of Venice was read and dis- | fused bv the members of the club, j It was derided that the club should ! meet every Wednesday afternoon at J study of the year and the next to studp of the year and the next to transacting any business of the club which will be preceded by a social half hour during which the hostess will serve tea and cake. On January Slat, the business meeting of the club was held with 11 Mm Craig, after the transacting of , business, a parliamentary drill was given and Mrs Crat* gave a short talk on psychology. _ < I'XDKII BOXI) OX CHARGE OF FORGERY. j J. M. Ripley, who was arrested Saturday by P. D. Haley on a charge of fongery. was brought before Jus tice of the Peace Gavito yesterday, j and. upon waiving examination, was , placed under two bonds, one for $2*i0 I and one for 1200. As the accused was unable to give bond, he was re-1 uanded to the county jail. M is charged that Riley forged the name >f A. J. Roetzel, bookkeeper at the San Benito sugar milt to two checks one for 125 and the other for |35. After Riiey had been arrested he made a signed confession of his guilt, which is in the hands of Mr. Haley. I XTBRRgTIXU i.U TtKKS AT Pi'BUC M H(N)L The pupils in the high school and in the seventh and eigth grades ; Wednesday morning listened to two j very interesting lectures. The first of these lectures was ■ that of the Rev. Percy Silver, who , addressed the school for a f mweun j addressed the srhoo! for a few min utes on ‘’General Principle*.” The second was an account of! some very Interesting ei;*erienees In Alaska told by Miss Killdaur of ('hi rago. who is visiting Miss Knowles Miss K llldatir accompanied a botan ical expedition int o Alaska a few years ago. 1 iJITY PURCHASES 200 WATER METERS. Consumers Hereafter Will Have X? Will Hav* to Pay For Amount of Water Which They Use. The city yesterday cl .sod a eon ract for water meters, which will be installed in the near future. The Standard Water Meter Company of Brooklyn. N. J., Is the vendor. Its representative, G. K Garrison, who is in the city, closed the contract wi ll the city. Mayor Kowalski. Superintendent Stobart of the wafer and light plant, ami the member* of the water and light committee represented the city In the transac tion The co*t of the meters and meter boxes will be about 92,f$0. They are to be shipped at once, and installed a* quickly as possible This mov will probably put a atop to the present great ware of water by consumers, who will have to pay for just what they use when the meters are installed. HERE ON IMPORTANT MISSION Rev. Father Salas Formerly of Mata moros- Now of Du'ango. Rev. Father Vine nte Salas. for merly pastor 'f the Catholic church of Mat amor s, but now located at Durango, is in Brownsville on a short visit. He is accompanied by Angel la Torre, a p.*o,nJiien|. ciDt-Mt of Durango. Fatfer Salas and Mr. de la Torre are engaged in the impor tant work of establishing a great college at Durango, to l*e known as the Saleehino College, and their vis it here is for the purpose of effecting plans wh • eby the enterprise may bo financed. To a Herald reporter yesterday. Father Salas said that the Saleeiann Colley is to e necessary. If they are not de ayed on account of delay in get ling material on the grounds, the rompa iy figure* on cmipleting the Job in ibout ninety days. S. A. Robertson, who owns the It reel err franchise, ha* stated that »e i* ready also to resume work as toon as the paving work in in such a •onditinn that the iwj enterprise* will not conflict. The city expects to b,» ready for lie paving Just a* soon as the new sater main* are laid. This work the rantractor. Mr, DcBrtiln, expert* to ?ush as uuickly as possible in the town-town district, in order to eavp the coast clear for the paving, ind it is expected that this will b# nside of a very short time. COMPLIMENTARY LEAP YEA» DANCE fiu Saunder* Honor Gn'its at TWo Elegant Entertainments. Mias Francis Saunders, the much eted guest of the Miss Celaya. was tgaiu honored Wednesdaynight by (('ontinued on page 5) l #*erf»it/r* a htti'glav urn fire In#* nof voiirliome, foil If flier m/ioii/iI, flier irciiil«l «**ef n// • • ol" vour money ami enfiiofilcM* Ho mil lie one of rlioM- win* /oelw I lie f*fol*le iil’ftT fl*e l*or*«e !■* ••one, hut put yon** money w/iort' /iiv/mnilions Imre lieen inmfe for/wofeef Injf If, nut only from I’Iix* nn«l huaglnvy, hut from vonr oirn i*xfri»v ntfiinec*. If \t 11/ Ik* S.11*15 in onr hunk. lit* 1 Of.’ff hanking with I.S. U\* /my f /K*f*eenf lnfc*re*f on Brownsville Bank & Trust Co. " ...— 4 ** 4 4 4 4 4 4 if 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 -ft 4 4 4 * illerHotel * % * * ■* The Largest and Most Modern Hotel J * in South-West Texas *. 4 t ON TO TIIH. OOLF t _!■■-■ »= + 1 + Headquarters -f 4 4 Brownsville, Texas 4 •r 4 4 4 4 4 f 4 !• 4 v v v ♦> 4 v % -I: 4 S 4 4 4 4 4 4 v 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 I \V AI If N YC M J V! S IT It R' I VV-\ * VII jfK ' STOP t>4T » : THE HOTEL HOYT : , On A lains Street near 12th Street. liuropean Plan < Fifty Outside Rooms | All Thoroughly Renovated and Absolutely Clean. AsNear j , Modern as Any Hotel in the City. Rates Per Day 50c, 75c and $1.00 f 4 rf ;f 4- v v v + *1- -!* 4* 4f rJ* C- -5- !- -3- r -r •!• -i* + -!• •!* *3 -r + + « 4 * The Pharr Hotel • 4: * +r 4 f c^Wine Host-Mr. Linesetter + * THE BEST 0I: SERVICE * : r l PHARR, TEXAS * _JL_ * * *************** +< *i* •;* T *:■ *:• * * + + -t~ * *:• ■ — 1 " ... BRICK-BRICK! When contcmpdlating to build your Residence, Duaineus or Rani Building, specify o»r brick. Our plant Is up to date. Da'ly capacity twenty thousand, located three miles north of Brownsville on the main line of th«* t> Jnt lamf* Brownsville £ Mexico railroad. Our facilities for landing from our private spurs insures prompt shipments. Samples of brick will be sent pre paid upon request. Office Suite 14 New Combe Bldg. Telephone loo. Brownsville, Texas , OFFICE J. E. JOHNSON LUMBER COMPANY Gulf Coast Brick and Tile ompan) MANUFACTURERS OF BRICK E F. JOHNSON. Manager BEAMS. CHANNELS. _ ANQLCS.TC.ES. elates* martweiX IRON wouks STEEL &C4ST LI.Nfi.ti, nttK! Wtu. irv STEEL ^ CAST COLUMNS, HOUSTON, TE\AS, TRUSS CS. QIK9E KS.ECT. _2 PROHPT StllPMtMS. -- Il % I Devde Paint .*.■■... .. .. ..■ ■—.—.. ■ "" THE FIRST NATIONAL SI < > of Brownsville, Texas :: United States Depository :: Capital $100,000.00 SURPLUS AND UNDIVIDED PROITTS $115,000,000 I i < * MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK BROWNSVILLE. TEXAS Capital and Surplus. 5209,000.00 LOMBER, SHINGLES NATIONAL LUMBER UTH. CEMENT. UK AND POORS ANDWIHDDWS CRE0S0TIH6 CO, E. F. Johnson Lumber Co ill. Cnarlea and Halt Lina Railroad Pbooa Connection* If your home, fence, or outbuildings need a few pieces of LUWtiER for repairs telephone us. you will find that how* ever small your order may be you w ill get prompt delivery and lowest market price for good material. We wish to impress on the public that No Order is to Small for Our Best Attention and Appreciation. Fire Insurance Joyce R. Wood Fhone 100 Combe Hutiuftig, Over Mowsc fttruilure lompiti) —— i 1500 . 1500 SEATS SEATS 15C 15C COMING MONDAY FEB. 5th GRAND! STOCK CO. Featuring LILLIAN LEIGH_ Opening Play “Slaves of Russia” 4 Act Comedy Drama All new plays. Vaudeville Artists. Enlarged Show Accounts tor Increase in Admission. Big, New, Waterproof Tent. This Show will open in BROWNSVILLE lAT the old stano Don’t forget the Band Concert at 4 o’clock. 150 1500 SEATS SEATS 15C 15C Kingsville, Tex Jan. 29, 1911. To Whom It May Concern: We beg to say that the (irandi Stock Company has been in our city playing a two weeks* stand and the performances we have seen have boss • f a high order and the company la altogetihcr clemn and worthy of patronage. They carry one of the beat bands carried by any travel ing organisation in the state and the public baa greatly en joyed their dally street concerts, as well as the music furnish ed by their orchestra. Yours truly, UBN. T. LAW, Mayor, Kingsville, Texas. ii .a #