Fulton Journal: Jan. 28, 1887
The only appliance that the city has for fighting fire, an old hook and ladder cart and outfit, has been standing out in the snow for several weeks. We do not believe that there is another town of the size of Fulton in the U.S. that would be as completely helpless in case of a fire as it would. If there should be a fire in any of the business blocks all that could be done would be to get out what goods there was time to save and let the property burn. If the wind should carry a fire into the lumber yard and mills all would be lapped up. And in that case the people here might as well move away and go west and start again. Located as advantageously as Fulton is, it looks as if something ought to be done towards a system of water works. A reservoir on the hill, a system of pipes along the streets with a dozen or so hydrants and a few hundred feet of hose and a suitable pump would be the principal items of expense. Arrangements could undoubtedly be made with the L. & H. Lumber Co. to use the engine for pumping the supply of water from the river into the reservoir. However, it is not to be expected that anything will be done until a destructive fire wipes out half of the business part of town. It would increase the taxes, you know.
