Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-05-15
the FIRST PRACTICE.
The Practice Shows a Much Needed
improvement in Fire Apparatus.

interview with the chief OF the fire
department, Nelson d. Phelps yes
terday afternoon; and pointed out to
him the necessity of having a new
ladder truck as the ladders now on the
the present truck are not long enough
to reach the highest buildings.
The chief knowing that three of
the companies were to have practice
meeting last night quickly formed the
idea of having the whole department
out and test the ladders on one of our
tall buildings. The Miles new block
was the one selected for the test and
arrangements were soon made to have
the ladders run up there. The chief
then informed the reporter that he
would ring an alarm from box II cor
ner Depot Square at 6.45 and bring
out the whole department for their
first practice.
At exactly $40 p. M, the alarm
was rung in and the boys responded
quickly, in fact Hook and Ladder Co.,
No. l, was at the building just 2!
minutes after the first alarm was
sounded closely followed by Hose Co.,
No. 3, who had their hose hitched
on to the hydrant in three minutes,
and Hose Co., No. l, one half minute
later. The Co., from North Barre
Hose No. 2, were just nine minutes
coming up and these nine minutes
included the coupling OF the hose at
the corner of Depot Square and get.
ting to the front of Miles building
with the nozzle ready for the fire.
This is remarkably fast time and
for any ordinary fire would do, but
if the fire happened to be in the top
part of the building they would not
be to blame for not putting it out for
the first ladder they put up was one
of the old ones and the cord broke
letting the slide ladder down quickly,
almost cutting the fingers of the fire.
men at the bottom.
The second ladder they raised just
reached the second story and certainly
would not be of any use If the fire
was in the third story. Not satisfied
with this eight or ten firemen were
sent up to the hose house to bring
down the longest ladder Barre posses
ses and after a wait of ten long min
utes they arrived and placed it in po-
sition when it was found it would
only reach the third story. Not only
this, but when it was run up it was
noticeable that only one man could
stand on the side ladder as it was SO
narrow and it even looked as if three
men got on the ladder it would surely
collapse.
NJ" with the above explanation
did not see the practice,
nc Importance of the
N. " lOf The TELEGRAM,
Louisvi. Il Nelson d. Phelps,
Manila, ...1ef, who is not only
-, II the lives of those under
his Command, but also after the citi-
zens of Barre and those citizens who
represent the money of the city by
the large buildings they put up.
What is needed now is IA new hook
and ladder truck of modern build,
equipped with first class ladders, of
sufficient length to reach our highest
buildings: chemical engine to put
out any small fires: and a new fire
station centrally located where these
new apparatus could be kept.
The aldermen at one of their meet
ings last month had the fact brought
before them that it was necessary to
get some more horses to do the work
of the city. Let them get them, but
build the new station and have the
horses stabbed there and used on the
street in daytime, placed back in
their stables at night and be ready
for any fires which may occur.
1t will be necessary to build a new
fire station as the ones they now
have are not long enough for a new
modern ladder truck, SO that if
new one is built let it be placed on
the same basis as the stations in
large cities, with sleeping room up
stairs for the two or more men neces-
sary to remain on duty both night
and day and every other convenience
known to facilitate the quick and cf-
fectual working of first class up to
date fire department.
Mayor Hersey was present and no
tlced the wants of the department and
he stated that it was an absolute ne
cessity that something should be done
towards improvement.
These much needed improvements
will not only assist in getting at fire
more quickly but will also have a ten
dancy to decrease the insurance rates
considerably, in fact insurance men
say that this city is paying very
high rate of insurance considering the
good quality of buildings it has.
Chief Nelson D. Phelps said, when
interviewed: "You can see what good
time the boys made in getting to the
fire and you can also see the delay
that would be occasioned on account
of the ladders"
"The longest ladder, which only
reached to thebottom of the third story
window poc m IN tho Station, nod IL