The Washington herald., 1907-02-15
FIGHT WIDE TIRES
Many People Complain Be
fore the Commissioners.
FIRE CHIEF BELT OBJECTS
Declares Cost to City for Equip
ping Departments Vehicles VIII
Amount to s35, 7SI.25-WouId Make
Wagons Heavy and Retard Speed
In Answering Fire Alarms.

At a hearing before the Commissioners
yesterday general opposition was ex-
pressed to the proposed bill providing that
all vehicles in the District. weighing.
when loaded. more than 1900 pounds. be
equipped with 4-ineh tires. According 10
estimates submitted, the proposed change
will require an expenditure of from one
and half to two million dollars. the cost
to the fire department, as stated by Chief
W. T. Belt, amounting TO S95, 7S125
Il am of the opinion" said the chief.
that the installation Of these heavy
wheels and axies would so increase the
total weight Of our apparatus that they
would not be able TO respond to fires with
the same promptness as they do now. A
total Of S72 wheels will have to be pur-
chased, in addition TO which the tracks
in the various fire alarm houses viii have
10 be replaced by those of sufficient size
to properly accommodate the new wheels
The installation Of the broad tires would
be an impeachment to this department,
rather than an aid
Opposition to the measure was voiced
by representatives Of the Business Mems
Association, the Jobbers and Shippers
Association. the Board Of Trade. various
citizens associations, and several wagon
and carriage manufacturing concerns
Charles ]. Bell, president Of the Jobbers
and Shippers Association. urged the
Commissioners 10 strike out Of the bin
that provision relating to broad tires and
substitute one providing for an increase
IN no ria
and repairs of public highways The
broadening Of tires, he stated. would form
but a small factor in the protection of the
streets. I would suggest" he said. that
you ask an additional appropriation for
that purpose
Conrad Syme. attorney for the Business
Mems Association. presented strong ar
gument in protest against the passage Of
the bill. He said the proposed legislation
was viewed by the conservative business
men who would be affected by its opera
tons as unnecessary. uncaIed for and Vi
cious in its nature. He further said that
a conservative estimate showed that the
proposed change would cost from 81 800, 600
to 100000
The sentiments of Mr.. Syme were in
dorsed by Capt. James F. Oyster. who
stated that his association had opposed
the adoption Of the bill by a unanimous
vote.
p. J. brennan. president Of the Dren-
nan Construction Company, and Percy
Crawford, vice president and general
manager Of the Crawford Paving Com
pany. opposed the measure that the broad
tires would not prove beneficial to the
asphalt streets Experience has shown"
said Mr.. Brennan, that varying width
Of tires are better than a uniform width.
Mr. Crawford also stated that four-inch
tires viii prove more damaging 10 the
streets than narrow ones the former be
ing only an advantage in hauling over
heavy, country roads.
The Commissioners were informed that
the standard width of tires throughout
the United States is g15 inches.
Among those who spoke were w T.
Knox, f. S. Alvord. John L. Newbold.
Arthur c. Moses, D. L. Grove. William
s. Knox, E. D. Clapp. ". s. Hoag. F.
W. BOlgianO. L. p Marsden. Charles
Heitmuller. Z. P. Thomas. 5. NJ Frazier.
Warner Stutler, and T. /. Jackson.