The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-24
CHAMPION CHEMICAL ENGINE.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES CON-
TRACT TO PURCHASE 1T.
License Of the Golden Gate Saloon
Revoked, but Trustees May
Reconsider.

The Board of City Trustees met in
regular weekly session last night, Trus-
tees Mckay, Tebbets, Douglas, PAINE
Dolan, Kent, Brown and Devine being
present, the latter being late.
Trustee Dolan, for the Fire Commit
tee, reported that the committee met
with other members of the board. ana
considered the bids for chemical en-
CINE. He would report in favor OF the
Champion" engine, on the recommen-
dation of the Chief Engineer. Trustee
Devine was not present, and trustee
Paine, he thought, might want to make
minority report.
Trustee Paine thought the engine
should have a test before making
contract He moved that action De
deferred and test made.
Trustee Dolan moved that action be
taken now. He had a number OF let
ters to Chief Guthrie from Fire Chiefs
of other cities, all recommending the
Champion and he would submit them
to the board, if necessary. These were
the basis of his recommendation.
Trustee Kent thought an engine
weighing 5000 pounds was too heavy
for two horses to haul. He would not
vote for the engine unless the board
could make test of the engine for two
months, as had been offered
Trustee Dolan said the engine weighs
only $500. He was willing to accept
Kent's amendment, however.
The report of Engineer Guthrie was
read, as follows:
Sacramento Cal, Jan. II, 1899.
To the Honorable Chairman and
Members Committee on Fire Depart
ment, Board of City Trustees, Sacra-
mento-Gentlemen: In regards to the
bids submitted to this city for furnish
ing chemical engine, respectfully
recommend the acceptance of the Fire
Extinguisher Manufacturing Com
pany's bid to furnish double SO-gal-
lon compound champion engine.
As you are aware I have for several
years past asked for a chemical engine,
and believe the sooner we get one in
service the better for the interests of
the property owners.
When you consider that an ordinary
steam fire engine pumps over two tons
Of water per minute into a building,
you viii realize the saving in water
loss that can be accomplished by chem
icals in large number of fires which
can be extinguished in their incipiency.
In the last report of Chief Sweenie
of Chicago he says the total number
of fires for the year was 1926, of these
2,S11 were put out by the aid of cherni-
Gals. 1 consider double SO-gallon en-
CINE the most suita bic. We cannot be
guided altogether by what other towns
may use. Our streets here are, as far
as l can learn, the best in the State.
We have no heavy uphill work, and as
roller bearing axles reduce the draft
from 40 to 80 per cent we can use a
double SO-gallon when, perhaps. in San
Francisco. for instance, where the
down town streets are paved with COO
Bile stones or basalt blocks, and the
other districts have heavy grades, they
might find a double CO. gallon engine
preferable. They are using there both
60 and S0-gallon engines, and have one
double 100. All of these engines have
plain axles, so that the double 60 there
must pull heavier than a double so,
with roller bearing axles, here.
Another reason in favor of large
engine is that we will have to rely in
some cases on the chemical doing the
work, which in San Francisco would
be done by the aid of one or more
steamers.
When we have a heavy fire we can
not very we'll spare one of our engines
to respond to an alarm from some other
point. and l, therefore, want to have
the chemical engine of great capacity
as is consistent with good service.
Stockton has used a double 100 en-
CINE for over twenty-five years with an
excellent record, but think double 81
is a medium.
AS our city has had no chemical en-
CINE, and we would have to be guided
by experience of others, 1 have given
this matter my best attention for years
past.
At the convention of chief engineers
of the United States, held at Salt Lake
in 1896. inquired closely into the mer-
its of various makes Of engines, and
consulted with chief engineers from
towns in the East
When the appropriation was made
last September for purchase of engine
/ wrote a letter to several chiefs of
departments in the East, and submit
herewith these replies, also copy of my
letter to them. You will please notice
that some of these replies refer to the
matter of repairs, which we ought to
consider, as first cost of fire apparatus
Is not the only point to be considered
You will also note that in no case is
the compressed air system recommends
ed. AS these letters are to a certain
extent to be considered confidential, ]
do not care to go more fully into their
contents. but ask you to give a careful
perusal of them. Yours respectfully,
HENRY A. GUTHRIE,
Chief Engineer Fire Department.
j. S. Perry, for the Racine Company
said he thought he was not receAine
fair treatment. He had come here and
gone to considerable expense, and made
a bid 81 600 less than the Champions
bid. His engine was nearly identical
with the other, having practically the
same improvements If bidders were
to be treated in this way they would
soon come no longer. He had certi-
fed check. and would give a bond fol
all he claimed, and the city could lose
nothing by taking his engine, and he
did not see why the taxpayers should
have to pay for the higher priced ma
chine. If the Champions" is accepted