The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-01-06

The first step toward eQuipping
the city fire department with a COM
plete fire fighting apparatus was TAX
en- by the council, when it was de-
cided to purchase a combination
chemical and hose wagon for the use
OF the department.. at a cost of $2,25O,
including the harness for the team.
of the fire hall and the keeping of
two paid firemen constantly on duty.
The hall will be remodeled so as to
make sleeping rooms up stairs and
stable room for the fire team down
stairs. The Improvements are esti-
mated to cost about $4,000, and it
will cost $500 a year to run the
department The work of remodel
ing the structure will commence at
once.
The chemical that has been pur
chased is of the most modern design
and is the same as used in all the
principal cities of the United States.
The chemical is stored in tanks un-
derneath the drivers seat. There is
also room for $50 feet of chemical
hose and about 1900 feet of ordinary
fire hose. 1t is intended that in case
OF a fire the driver and his helper on
duty at the station will dash to the
fire as quickly as possible, and when
passing the nearest fire plug the
helper will pay out the fire hose, so
that when the fire is reached the
hose will be in readiness, and while
the other firemen are looking after
that the driver will be using the
chemical. In this way much time
will be saved, and in ordinary cases,
where the fire is reached quickly, the
chemical is sufficient to subdue it
without the aid of the water, which
does in many instances more damage
than the fire. The apparatus was
purchased from the BabcOck COM
pany. who will send an expert to this
city with it. The expert will train
the horses ana explain to the firemen
how it is done. and will remain here
until the city council is satisfied that
the department understands the nee
essary fine points.
The full number of councilmen
We're present when the meeting was
called to order by Mayor Logan last
night. and there was the usual long
delay before any business was done.
The report of Chairman Listle of the
committee on fire protection was
about the first business done after
the reading of the minutes, yet it
ton was taken. No one seemed to
care to take the responsibility Of rec
ommending the purchase of the eX-
pensiye fire wagon, etc, until Alder
man Webster made the necessary mo-
ton, being seconded by Alderman
carried unanimously. 1t is probable
that as a result of the purchase a
new hose company will be organized
with headquarters on the west side.
One of the hose carts can be dis
pensed with when the new wagon ar
rives. and a station will then be built
somewhere on the west side. Fires
in that vicinity can be quickly
reached if company is organized
there, and the move will be a benefit
to that section in case of fire
the members of the west side COM
pany can secure their apparatus
much quicker than running to the
central station.
The purchase of the fire apparatus
being done, the council settled down
to business and disposed of other
questions with more rapidity.
The reports of the chief of police,
police magistrate We're adopted, and,
as is customary, the city treasurer's
report was referred to the auditing
committee.
| There has been some feeling among