Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-09
new WAGONS FOR POLICE
Department Stands in Immediate Need Of
Better Equipment.
HURRY BUGGIES" HIVE BOTH WORN OUT
NO. 1 stands Useless In stable and
No. 2 is Almost Ready to Fall to
Pieces ms IL RattIea Along
Streets.
HURRY BUeGIEs" HIVE BOTH WORN on

A rumor reached the police station last
night to the effect that an influence was
to be brought to bear on the Board of Fire
and Police Commissioners against the pur-
chase of two new patrol wagons. This
called forth a general discussion of the
needs in that direction. The drivers and
patrol conductors and in fact all the OFF,
Gals agreed that to continue using the old
wagons is a very serious matter. The fol-
lowing statements are quoted from the re-
marks of all:
unlike wagons used for any other pur-
pose, it will not do to let these run until
they break down. If a dray or an eX-
press wagon breaks down, it is seldom
likely that there will be any serious con-
sequences; but il is another matter when
a wheel collapses on the police patrol
wagon. These breaks always occur under
a strain while making a hurry call. Dur
ing the heavy storm last summer, when
word was received that the casket factory
had collapsed, a record-breaking run was
made by a patrol wagon carrying twelve
officers. Do you know what the result
, would have been if anything had suddenly
failed? Half of that number would have
been killed or disabled.
These hurry calls cannot be avoided, in
fact they occur daily and often many times
Il
twenty blocks from the police station must
be attended by patrol. And the patrol
must make the speed required by the fire
department No one will deny that we
must have good wagons or that the best
of wagons will wear out. Patrol wagon
No. l has been in use for fully twenty
years. 1t was bought, as the records will
show in 1885. For the last six months 1t
has been out OF commission
/ Covered Wagon of No Service.
This wagon is the only covered wagon
we have It was covered ten years ago in
response to a sentiment of decency which
demanded that drunken and dissolute men
and women should not be hauled through
the public streets in an open wagon to the
disgust of every one who might see them.
We have been unable to use this wagon
at all this year. The spokes have worn
| through the felloes of the wheels and the
tires are slack enough to allow a person
to look through between them and the
felloes The body is shaky and the only
thing that holds II together is the iron
plating on the corners. The joints OF the
woodwork have worn and dry-rotted away.
Patrol wagon No 2 has been in service
fifteen years and 1t shows unmistakable
traces of wear There is a much more
play than safety will admit between the
spindles and skeins in every wheel This
causes the wagon to sway and rock when
ever high speed is required. Repairs
have been made several times within tbs
last three years at an expense of nearl!
$500. Some day there will be a great dis
aster and people will wonder how it hap
pened. There will be no surprises here.
Used as Ambulance.
"Often il is necessary to carry peop
long distances in the patrol wagon. PEG
pie who are sick or injured must often b.
sent to the hospitals eW know of case
where the ambulance has been out on sucl
an errand, and another summons left u
with only the open patrol with which 4
respond. This occurrence Is by no mean
rare. Less than week ago we were Il
just such a difficulty. This was the cas-
of Edward Larsen, who had his limb
crushed on the Missouri Pacific tracks a
Eighteenth and Nicholas streets, last Mon
day night
What we need is two new wagons, on
covered and one open. They should be of
more modern pattern and have rubber tire
Rubber tires are most advantageous in re
ieving the strain on the vehicle. We ca
buy them at once, according to the las
reports Of the city treasurer"
In March of the present year Commits
sioner Broatch and DR.. Miller composed
committee TO make an inspection of thes
wagons and they condemned both.