The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-23
The CHEMICAL ENGINE BIDS.
COMMITTEES WILL REPORT TO
TRUSTEES TONIGHT.
What Chief Engineer Guthrie Says
Of the Statements That Have
Been Made.

The City Trustees will tonight listen
TO the report of the Fire Committee
In relation to the bids of the various
companies that manufacture chemical
engines, with a view to procuring one
for the city.
1t is understood that the committee
has decided in favor of the Champion
double eighty-gallon engine which was
exhibited at the State Fair last fall
and has since been housed in this city,
IN anticipation of the city's purchase OF
q chemical engine, so that a test of its
capacity could be made at any time
that was desired.
statement having been made that
the machine had disadvantages, and
was not in favor in Eastern cities, a
Record Union" reporter interviewed
Chief Engineer Guthrie last night in
reference to it,
When 1 attended the Convention of
Chief Engineers of all the fire depart
ments in the country" said Chief
Guthrie. Il talked with over 800. of the
chiefs on the subject of chemical en-
gines. They have been one of my
main studies for the past ten years.
and for several years I have been try
~-NS
for the city. :. took special pains to
talk with the Chief Engineers of large
cities where they have several en-
gines of the different makes in use and
ample opportunity to make COMPARE
sons. never heard any one say a
word against the Champion l have
also, before and since that time been
IN communication with the various
chiefs keeping pace with the matter,
and have large number of commune
cations from them, and they are all
loud In praise of the Champion Chi
cago has twenty-five Champion chem
1cal engines, and all its hose carts are
also fitted up with tanks. One Cham
plon' engine has put out Al fires and
all of them together have put out Alps
fires in the last year.
have talked with many who had
both Champions and other machines.
and they all recommend the Champion
because 1t is less complicated and cas-
Ter to handle. San Francisco has a
double SO-gallon and a double 1OO-gal-
Ion Champion and the department
has no difficulty in going anywhere it
wants to on the streets of that citv
with them. Why should this one be
TOO heavy here? And San Francisco
has not an improved engine like the one
mere; they have neither the roller
bearing axles nor the agitator. Chief
sullivan told me when 1 was down
there, talking with him, that they put
out 40 per cent of the fires with them.
The city of Los Angeles recently pur-
chased four Champions There are
eighteen of them in use in New York.
and they have given better satisfaction
than any other make 1 have been in
communication with the large Eastern
cities. and they all recommend the
Champion and 1 have never received
letter expressing dissatisfaction with
1t. l could not afford to recommend
anything but the best procurable en-
CINE. as I have the best interests of
the taxpayers of Sacramento at heart.
AS for the statement that the engine
could be procured for $3.50, that is
the price Of the older style. without
roiler-bearing axles and agitator and
the freight on a double eighty-gallon
engine to this coast is 5000; SO I would
ike TO see he offer