Local news: THE EQUITY had a call last Friday from Mr. Fred W. Schwartz, “the Maple Syrup King” of Pontiac, who was just home from managing one of Gillies Bros’ camps on the Coulonge. Fred stated it has been a splendid winter for operations in the woods—the snow-fall being light up to the first of the month. Asked what he thought were the prospects for syrup-making this spring, Mr. Schwartz said he thought the season would be short but fairly good while it lasted. He expects to have three plants in operation with 6,500 trees on tap, and a staff of twelve men to handle the output.

An early morning fire at Ft. Coulonge on Monday, destroyed Holstein’s store, Carlson’s tailor shop and a private dwelling belonging to Mr. Romain.

Don’t reject the bylaw: As this paper goes to the mail, the very vital question of water-works is on the eve of being decided by the votes of the ratepayers, upon whose verdict will depend whether or not we shall take chances in remaining in our present insecure position. Every citizen must admit that the want of an adequate system of fire protection has cost the village the loss of many thousands of dollars, that otherwise could have been saved.

Today we have a proposition before us which means that we can have the much-needed facilities for fighting fire without adding one cent to the present assessment of the corporation. Could anything more favorable be devised for achieving a most desirable and important end? Undoubtedly not, and it would be a very grave mistake indeed to reject it.

The domestic end of the proposed service is of secondary importance compared with the main feature of fire protection. Ratepayers will not be compelled to use the water if they do not want it, therefore they will be under no additional obligation nor expense.

Don’t, however, take the selfish stand, that because you do not want a water-tap in your home, others who are willing to pay for it shall be deprived of that privilege. If our community life is to amount to anything worth-while, co-operation should be the key-note of our endeavors.

Waterworks is our next logical step in economic development. If we hesitate to take it, it will be an evidence of weakness—that we are not equal to grasping our opportunities. Don’t put a stumbling-block in our march forward along the lines of progress by opposing the By-law. This may be our last chance to procure our most essential requirement and to turn it down would be a serious mistake.