The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-27
IT IS SHORT HANDED
Mr.. Schatzlein FavOrS an Addition 70
the Fire Department.
A NEW CHEMICAL is NEEDED
The Alderman VIII Bring the Mat
ter Up in the Committee Meet
ing This Afternoon-Some
Valuable Suggestions.
A NEW CHEMICAL is NEEDED

The fire committee will hold a meet
ing this evening from which some i'm
portant results are looked for. During
the 10 days that Alderman Schatzlein.
who is chairman of the fire committee.
| was acting as fire chief he gained a
better insight into the needs of the
| department than he could ever have
secured from the outside, and he has
several plans for the enlargement of
the department and the Improvement
of its efficiency which he will endeavor
to have put into practice at once. His
active experience at the head of the
department gives him the advantage of
knowing exactly what he is talking
about and he hopes to be able to con-
vince the other members of the com
mlttee that he has the right ideas
Mr.. Schatzlein Is now convinced that
the department, as IL now stands. Is
short handed to an extent that is very
dangerous to property and he will
make an earnest effort to have this diff
hculty removed by the addition of one
man to the chemical crew, one to the
hook and ladder truck and possibly
one to the hose wagon, which would
give the department a full compile
ment of men. AS II is now when the
men are all on duty there are five men
with the hose. three with the hook and
ladder truck and three with the chem.
ical, including the drivers. The fire
men, however, take 12-hour lay-offs in
their regular turns, so that during
the day there are really only 10 men on
duty, although the man who is off duty
is supposed to answer an alarm IL he
hears 1t. During the meal hour there
are only five at the Central station and
the meal time takes up three hours.
a &c hot
orally goes out with only four men and
the hook and ladder truck with only
two, including the drivers. The ladders
are consequently practically useless un-
less there is assistance from the spec
tators or volunteers. Mr.. Schatzlein
believes that at least two men should
be added to the department at once
He viii also urge the purchase OF a
new chemical engine to take the place /
Of the old machine at the Quartz street I
station. The chemical now used weighs I
$500 pounds with the men on, and be- |
sides being entirely too heavy Ii is .
so badly used up as to be almost use
less and ii Is only question of a very
short time until il gives out entirely
Mr.. Schatzlein will urge the purchase
OF a $500 or 1000 pound chemical which
can be bought for about $500, or $500
less than the old engine. The chemical
now in use has two 50-gallon tanks,
while one such as has been figured on
would have only 25-gallon tanks. The
two 50-gallon tanks. however, are
never used and Captain Fred Dugdale.
who has been with the chemical en-
CINE almost constantly, states that il |
a fire cannot be eXtinguished with 50 |
gallons of the chemical fluid, 200 gal
Ions would be of no service. In order
10 be effective Ii must get to a fire
before IT secures much Roadway and
then II Is immensely superior to water.
Annual reports which have lust reach
ID the Butte department show that
shemical engines are given more prom
nent positions than ever in eastern cit
es. In Boston 80 per cent. of the fires
asst year were eXtinguished by the
chemical engines.
The chemical now in use here IS so
leaVy that 1t has gradually racked it
elf to pieces. 1t was repaired at con-
siderable expense a few months ago,
tut the joints are all leaking again
md Will have to be thrown aside in a
hort time. Mr.. Schatzlein also be-
ieves that a station should be estab-
ished in South Butte or around the
abroad depots for protection to that
art OF the city and he viii bring this
natter before the committee to-day. |
lie regards 1t as necessary that either
new station be established or that 10
r 12-minute men be employed at a |
alary OF $40 or SIS a month and that |
hey sleep a the stations and answer
ii alarms. He believes that three or
our regular paid men would do better
York than a dozen minute men, and |
or this reason he favors a new sta
ion.
Mr.. Schatzlein believes that more |
money should be spent on the depart-
1ent and that IL should be made with
he increased size of the city demands.
lie does not believe that the good luck |
'hich has attended Butte will remain
nth the city permanently. and should
wo fires occur at the same time the
apartment, as IL now stands. he saws
Tould be in a bad fix. Mr. Schatzlein
now preparing an ordinance which | I
e will introduce at an early meeting
the council In which IL is provided
hat the fire chief cannot be removed
kept for cause or incompetency. He
ANTS TO see the fire department. taken
atirely out of politics and his ordi-
aice VIII have that object in view.
kegi>tered at {. Hot IL.