Middletown transcript., 1908-10-31
GIVE US FAIR PLAY

J w
=, umns to correct some erroneous impre
y, slons caused by the comments of The Ne
Era aud others in regard to the fire
Thursday morning, October 22d. One
the articles in The NeW Era refers to th
frantic efforts of the firemen" and tn
bursting of hose, making the impressio
that the buildings were lost through tn
tault of the fremen. The facts are a
follows: l was present when the line O
hose was run to the fire. At that time i
=, was an utter impossibility for anv on
company to save the property, and W,
were promptly on the spot, water was pu
on to be ready in case the wind shuulC
change, to protect the dwelling. As tt
the frantic Efforts of our men tha
I statement is absolutely false. If there
were any frantic individuals there they
were not members of the Hose Company
As ls usually the case, there were persons
present who volunteered their advice as
to what to do. l usually politely listen
to them-if have time-but do what ia
my Judgment deem best
i Now, as to the bursting of hose-hose
Is bought under certain guarantee; it is
guaranteed to stand a pressure of 300
pounds, and for period of three years
only, that is the best guarantee obtainable
from any reputable manufacturer. When
found that one of the sections had
bursted, and as there was no immediate
danger from the fire, | decided to test all
the hose we had there, as we had an ex.
cellent pressure at the time, and it was
better to have any faulty hose burst then
and there, than to have it burst at a
critical moment at fire in the centre
OF the town, and quite number of sec
tions did burst. Ali of the bursted hose
had been in service for about twelve
years, possibly one or two of them not
more than five years; it is hard to iden-
/ tify each section as to age.
II there is any blame attached to the
testing of the hose at the time, l will
cheerfully take the blame because | did
it as a precautionary measure, and, as
| still believe, for the safety of our town.
1t has been rather loudly proclaimed that
the new cutoff nozzle caused the hose to
| burst, by being shut off and throwing the
full water pressure on the hose. That is
not true, the nozzle was not shut off dur
ing any of the test of the hose. l have
| competent witnesses to testify to the
truth of this fact. The shut off nozzle was
open during all the time the hose was
brusting, and was not shut off until all the
hose was tested and then by my order.
III the editorial comment of The New
Era the word Firemen is mentioned with
a question mark in parenthesis, (?) and
speaks in manner that would imply
that we were incapable of attending to
oar own business matters, that some
body should interest themselves in get
ting more hose for u.s." That is an un-
called for slur on our men. We have
in our membership some of the best bust
ness men Of our town, capable in every
way to transact any business which may
come before US. The comment alluded
to is dangerous in its entirety, it goes
broadcast and cannot fail to produce an
impression upon the readers of the paper,
that our Hose Company is of no account.
1t is also likely to attract the attention of
insurance companies and possibly result
in increase of insurance; hence, l say,
the editorial is dangerous and the i'm
preston created is false. The Hose Com
pany has been organized and has been
in continuous service for more than
twenty one years. In all that time not |
one fire has gotten away from us; that is,
it has always been confined to the place
on fire. That is a record we are proud of,
and our citizens should be thankful for
rnd the Hose Company's efforts more
highly appreciated.
have been in service with this Com
pany more than nineteen years I do not
ask for any praise, know when I have
done my duty, but l am jealous of the
good name OF the Department have the
honor to command. They are good men
and true, and it i'll becomes men of no
practical knowledge of fre-fghting or
hose or apparatus, to find fault
with the brave boys who make sacrifices
to serve their fellow men. The very per-
sons loudest in their criticisms are incom-
petent to take their places; in fact, if there
are any persons who think they can do
better than we do, would be pleased to
receive their applications for membership
N our Hose Company. We want them,
because We want the best, l will divide
ny salary as chief of the department
with them. My salary is ".00," per an
num, and all our men receive the same,
Now, seriously reader, just think mo-
nent, we must be ready at any moment
If the day or night, in the heat or cold,
sunshine or storm, drop everything and
20 when the alarm is sounded. If any
nan is injured he must grin and bear it,
f he becomes i'll through exposure he
must also suffer and bear the loss of time
md money. II he should have on his
oest suit of clothing and it is ruined he
must bear the loss, and for all this he does
lot get one cent! L sincerely believe that
'ur efforts are appreciated by the thought
nj citizens of our town, but idle talk by
persons can work great in
ury to our Department as we'll as to the
interests of our Tewn. Men do not care
o belong to the Fire Department if they
,et nothing but kicks and fault-find-
ng. 1t is strictly volunteer organiza-
ion, and if not encouraged it is only a
question OF time when the town will have
o pay men to perform fire duty. Ser
ices as rendered by paid departments in {
he cities cannot be expected of volun-
eers.
Very truly yours, Ii
JOSEPH A.. SUYDAM.