Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-01-13
SENSIBLE GROUND.
WILL NOT CRIPPLE TIE SERVICE.

No Actual lssentsea 81 Csrtailss9 TIE E0-
cseocy Of the Departnent-Evsntuaa
An the Conpanies, lnciadlng the Hook
and Ladder. Wui bc Retained.
Il think the public has gained an
incorrect idea As to the ultimate in
tention of the fire and light commit
tees rs to the increase of the fire de-
partment. said Aid. Mauckcr yes
terday. while the present plan.
and that reported to the council. is
to simply equip the two additional
companies provided for by the coun-
ellis resolution. and to purchase but
one team, transferring the present
hook and ladder team to one of the
new companies, it is not, so far as I
understand the purpose of the COM
mittcc, the intention to abolish the
hook and ladder team. Our ultimate
aim has been to retain the hook and
ladder truck in readiness for use, rs
now. So that really the plan an
nounced to the council of putting in
the two companies and leaving the
truck without regular team, was
merely preliminary. We realize that
before we get our two hose wagons on
the ground in readiness for use, an
other municipal year will have been
entered upon, and then funds will DC
available to equip the department as
it really should be. Our intention is
to keep the truck from running to
fires in the extreme cast or west por-
tions Of the city, by equipping the
new wagons with larger ladders than
are usually carried by hose appar-
atus, and unless in the case of GER
tain designated boxes, such rs would
indicate fire at or in close proximity
to the factories down town or up
town. or the school houses, the truck
would respond on first alarm only to
the business center, and be in readi-
ness to respond to q second call in
the outlying districts. l deem it an
excellent plan where fire alarm is
sounded for all hose companies to be
at once in motion in the direction of
the locality from whence the alarm
comes. For instance, If an up town
box is turned in, the east end COM
pany responds, as does the Central,
while the west end company moves
up to the Central engine house, to be
in readiness to protect either the
business portion or its own district.
and also to have the advantage of be-
ing half way to the fire in case a Sec
Ond alarm is sent in, which would
call il and the hook and ladder truck
out, and concentrating the entire de-
partment n: the scene of the fire."
Now is the real idea Of the commit.
tee that by the time the two new
companies are fully equipped. there
will he funds available from next
years appropriation to provide a
team for the hook and ladder truck,
and have it manned and in constant
readiness to respond as now?" asked
the newspaper representative.
That is my impression. You see
we will need n heavier team for the
truck than the present grcys. al
though they will answer all the pur-
poses of either of the new comPanie.
to be established"
The Only Proper Course.
The course outlined by Aid. Mauck.
or is the only one that can I've proper.
ly pursued as regards the truck. IL
: practically abolish this apparatus
or to in anyway curtail its useful
ness. or to handicap it in responding
to fires in the business community
with all promptness possible and on
the very first alarm, would he an eX'
ceedingly risky proceeding. if not in
deed piece Of negligence that ths
city council would surely be called
upon to regret sooner or later. To
adop: any course that would involve
the least delay ON the part of tho
; hook and ladder truck in responding
to fire alarms, would be of the nature
of retrograde movement. and THt
ARGUS is rejoiced to know that such
is not the ultimate intention of the
. fire and light committee.
Busiuess Changes.