The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-08-07
MORE FIRE MONEY
IRvINGTONVOLU UNTEERSG GET
$500 MORE.
Complain Of old "Pickle Barrel and
Stones in Hose, and $4,000 Appro-
priation Is Raised.

With rickety apparatus that has been
condemned as being too dangerous to be
continued in use. aud with volleys of small
stones that issue from the hydrants when
the hose is turned on, the lives of at least
somet of the volunteer flremen in Iryington
are apparently in danger while they are
on duty.
This was the tenor of statements made
before the Town. Council of that town last
night by Assistant Fire Chief William S.
tVliet, and he was backed up by letter
from Nthe Firemen's Relief Association TO
Hose Company No. 4 III which the mem
bers were notified that until the company
teeurcs snfer appliances, including the APP
paratus, the association would Withdraw
MI benefits that would ordinarily he given
The letter was directed particularly against
the ancient two-wheeled reel that has done
duty in the town for years and has come
to be known as the pickle barrel" When
the people of the town are not ridieuling
the machine they are condemning it, and
The decision OF the Relief Association TO
withdraw Its benefits comes as sequel to
the action of the firenen themselves in de-
caring the apparatus to be a menace to
the members and useless as II fire-hghting
device
There Is not way even to hang helmets
on the machine, and SO the men are FREE
Quenty obliged to 90 without even that
much protection" Mr. Vlet said.
mater thought 81 s5ns @"I mmediate teeu steps cps
should be taken TO provide protection. On
the other hand, Councilman Boerger urged
the members to wait until the new fire
ordinance becomes q law.
"And what are the men To Go in the
meaRtime?' asked the assistant chief. rs
this Council going to wait until some volun-
teer is hurt before 1t takes steps 10 protect
the members from needless accid6hts2
The members decldeds finally to increase
the appropriation provided for fire pur-
poses in the tax budget from $500 to $1,000
which, with the balance on hand, will pro.
vide ample funds for the necessary
changes.
destroyed and u firemen was struck In tbs
chest by stones coming from hydrants anc
being hurled into the hose, either cloggn9
1t or bursting II, Mr. Welt stated. II
is because the water company still fails tC
flush its hydrants frequently. as 1t is sup
ppsed to do, that the men are obliged tC
. put up with this new menace, he declared
The trouble has occurred at every fire o
recent date. the assistant chief stated, anC
yet the water company has done nothing
TO protect the men, and continues to refuse
to give the town or the bremen the rlgh
TO flush the Mains The stones are pre-
sumnbly those which fall into the main,
when the pipes are laid or where eonnec
The Council finally left the matter will
the fire committee.
The increase in the police department
protected sections for years was finally de
cided upon, and the present force of 81,
patrolmen will be augmented by two NOR,
men. The names of Christopher Hughes
Edward Keingarth, Harry Caulp anC
Joseph Moser were given as applicants
and the police committee was asked Z
make recommendations AZ the next meet
ing.
The tax ordinance, providing for thu
raising of $75,27S50, was passed on frs
reading. The items are as follows Light
ing streets, $500, police, $1,000, fire de
partment $4,000; schools. $4,000; interest
SSS97 paying off Indebtedness a,3S1 80
Town Hall $500; incidental $1,000
An ordinance was ordered drawn for
cement sidewalk in Lyon avenue fron
Union avenue to Stuyvesant avenue. Tn
hearings on the Norwood avenue am
Twenty-frst street gradings Were con
timed, while that of the Smith stree
opening was referred TO the assessors an
the hearing continued. The Madison ave
nue. opening was referred back to the as
SCISSORS, and, as in the other cases. tn
hearings were continued.