Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-16


1t would be a black eye to his company
to put out a machine which would not
work in accordance with specifications.
The company did not expect to make
any money on the truck, II 1t secured
the contract, but desired to have one In
operation at some point convenient TO
Columbus in order that 1t might bring
fire chiefs and others to this city to
exhibit 1t. He was prepared 10 enter into
a bond in the sum Of $4,000 to guaran-
tee that the truck would work as prom
ised. His contract did not bind the
city to accept 1t unless 1t did the work
as provided in the specifications. He
was willing to take the committee TO
Columbus In order to let them see the
truck in operation and compare 1t with
the other aerial trucks In use in the
Columbus department. Mr.. Johnson
appeared to thoroughly understand his
| business and he made an excellent I'M
| preston upon the committee.
Capt. Mitchell next appeared before
| the committee and dweft with consid-
| eral stress Upon the reputation OF his
| house for keeping not only abreast. but
| ahead of the times in the construction
| Of Are fighting apparatus. He told
| something about the history OF aerial
| trucks. and declared that the Foe Ex-
tinguisher Company's truck Is the most
| perfect In the world.
It was about eleven o'clock when the
| bids were opened. The Seagraves bid
was $4,000: the La France Company
50. 500. The Fire Extinguisher Com
pany presented three bids, for 50 500,
1875 and $4.t50 respectively. Capt,
| Mitchell was called in for IN explana-
ton of his bids, all being for SIS foot
trucks as asked flor by the committee,
He stated that the more expensive
trucks contained patented devices upon
which the company was paying royal
| ties.
, Fire Chief Cline stated that he had
examined the Hayes and Babcock
trucks in use in Pittsburg, and was OF
| opinion that the latter was best adapted
to Wheeling's needs. The Babcock Is
the Chicago and the Hayes the Elmira
truck.
Some members OF the committee were
becoming tired, and Mr.. Zwicker
thought enough time had been consum-
ed and moved TO take a ballot for
choice.
The fact developed in the discussion
that several members were inclined to
accept the Columbus truck, but were
skeptical concerning it. II forced to
vote last night they would have been
compelled to vote to accept the Bah
cock truck. Several were favorable to
accepting the invitation OF Mr.. Johnson
to go to Columbus. Mr.. Beckett and
Capt. Otto said they could not 90 to
Columbus. Capt. Otto said the commit
teemen ought to go at their own ex-
pense.
Mr.. Wefdner amended Mr.. Zwickers
motion to defer action in the matter
until some future time. The committee
divided. Messrs. Weidner, Otto. Myers,
Ackermann and Brown voting to defer,
and Messrs. Zwicker, Beckett and Kali
bitter voting against the amendment.
The committee will probably decide
to go to Columbus to inspect The Sea-
graves truck. Mr.. johnson says he Is
ready to submit to any fair comparison
or test, as the company is very anxious
to place a truck in Wheeling. The Sea-
graves model truck at the factory Is
but 10 feet long. while the Wheeling
truck is to have ladders Sc feet from
tho Orottnd Wbau avtondod