The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-30
 REMARKABLE NEW
 kUT0-CHEMICAL
Run by Electricity, Motor On Each Wheel, and
 Weighs 13,0O0 Pounds.

Waterbury, Dec. Springfield S new electrically-dr.ve comb nation chemical and hose wagon, the first piece of battery driven fire apparatus on every wheel. and the fastest piece of fire apparatus for its weight in the world, was finished and came out of the shop yesterday. It weighs 13, $40 pounds, the length of the wheel base being 12 feet and the body 21 feet and T 1-2 inches over all.
 The running gear or chassis of the wagon was built by the Couple Gear Ere ght Wheel company of Grand Rapids. Mich., which makes special ty of motor trucks. It occurred to the fire officials in this city. who were the first in the country to ex- pertinent with motor-driven appara- be the most suitable for the use in modern fire fighting facilities. The chass's was built according to speci- 6cations furnished by the fire com missioners and Chief Daggett. It in cludes a large storage battery and a separate motor for every wheel.
 The body of the wagon and the ed by P. B. Cleary & Co.,. of th,s city who also furnished the equipment and set up the machine. It is capable of making more than 30 miles an hour and with a motor on every wheel car easily turn in less than it's own length. The chasss s arrived from the manufacturers six weeks ago and work has since been in progress on the body of the vehicle. which was de- signed by Chief Daggett. Tn its com plete state the wagon is one of the handsomest pieces of apparatus ever constructed for fire serv ce. The body Is finished in ultramarine blue, the ok ;x, fCI1 . ;c striped with gold in raised scrolls with Gree an corners. The truck will not be put into service immediately. but will be stationed in the new Mar garet street fire station as soon as that structure s ready for occupancy.
 The body of the truck is divided into two parts, the rear half provid- Ing for 1.500 feet of large hose, also lockers for the clothes of the firemen. so that they can dress while on the way to a fire and be prepared for work when they arrive. There are also seats in the rear half. The front part of the body is much lower than the rear, being designed for carrying the tools and eau 'pment. The entire mum, plates so that 1t cannot crack or warp. The dasher s of sheet steel gracefully curved. There is rum ming board on either side, so that the flremen can go from one side to the other without alighting. Rolls are rapid handling of the large hose.
 The chemical tanks, directly back of the drivers seat. which is large enough for two men, have a capacity of 40 gallons and are of the latest inn proved style. Next to the tank is placed the chem cal reel. which car ries 200 feet of chemical hose. the reel In Rnn nj nf a1, ism. The chemical fluid passes from the tank directly through the center of the reel into the hose, any portion or all of which may be reeled off at once. the fluid passing through while the reel is unwinding, th's being ac- complshed by specially designed stuf- fing boxes between the reel and the tank.
 The machine Is much larger than any horse-drawn or gasolene- dr' ven machines now in use and affords ann pie room for more men and tanks than comprise the equipment of any other combination wagon. The ma ty as we'll as service. Directly back of the reel there is turret pipe. to which three lines of hose of the regu- lar hydrant size may be attached, giv- ing streams of great volume.
 The new aerial ladder truck of the local fire department which has been on the road from Columbus, O., since Dec, 17, and Is expected to arr've now at any time, Is equipped with chas- sis of the same make and construc- ton of that under the new hose wag- on.
 Battery driven apparatus is an ex- pertinent In which the Springfield commissioners and officials have great hope for the success of the plan. h. dications are that this type s to rev. olut onize the theory of motor-driven fire trucks,