The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1911-06-06
AUTO FIRE TRUCK
PURCHASE HELD UP
Board of Aldermen Cannot Find
Necessary Funds to Buy.

After being warned by Town Coun-
sci Charlton A. Reed that to make
an expenditure for the fire depart
ment in excess of the appropriation
would be misdemeanor and punish
able by fine and a Jail term the
members of the board of aldermen
Friday evening laid over the PROPOSE
tion to buy an automobile fire truck
for Resolute Hook and Ladder COM
pany until another meeting.
The purchase was recommended by
Chief Frederick A. Trowbridge and
Alderman Bart w. Clifford moved
that a contract be entered into with
the Mack Brothers, of Allentown, Pa,
for the apparatus not to exceed in
cost $4,000. Alderman Joseph Hinch
man. of the finance committee, said
that the appropriations were all low
and that those for sewer maintenance
and shade trees We're about exhausted
with only half the year gone.
Alderman Conkling asserted that
the same proposition was before the
board when the automobile chemical
, engine was purchased, after hearing
: Mr.. Reeds advice about exceeding
J the appropriations. Alderman Stnr-
| gis retorted that conditions We're not
7 quito the same, the Independent Hose
company financing the purchase.
t Alderman Hinchman asserted that
e the year the auto chemical was pur-
n chased the appropriation was not ex-
J. ceeded and the town carried over
d s4,500. He thought nothing would be
Il carried over this year and asserted
that if the new, truck was bought the
d fire department would not be able to-
e pay its bills for the rest of the yea
,r Chief Trowbridge addressed the
S, aldermen, telling them that it was a
s, matter of the company holding 10
S. gether. The members were spending
IN every cent of their duek in paving
,e for fire protection. 1t was a mystery
lg to him, the chief said, why men would
lg risk their lives as firemen while the
I'd company is running behind from $35
II to $40 per month in its expenses.
Is The company was considering tie
en- question of dispensing with the horses
I'd and driver and if this would be done
it would greatly cripple the depart
g. ment because of the necessity of nav
mt ing ladders at the fires SO that the
er hose streams can be worked tt, ad
he vantage as well as the saving of hu.
of man life. The members of the com,
h. pany, Chief Trowbridge asserted
rs were all earnest workers and he ron
mt sidered it a shame to let anything
ne lessen their interest in the depart
to ment, the company having always
he neia the reputation of being one of
RS the most efficient in the department
as Alderman Clifford explained thai
ID the truck company would donate ST.
200 towards the new machine. the
le IRE committee could spare $4,000
is and That balance of $4,000 would
of De needed, as the truck could be
is bought, he thought, for $1,000.
III response to question: regarding
the disposition of the present truck
NJ Chief Trowbridge said it was the in
tentlon to keep the machine as an
4 auxiliary for second alarms and for
use at big fires, where it would be
- worth as much as a new truck
. though the old machine could not he.
4 sofa ior 5000. The old machine
4 would be housed in the space between
;. the present truck house and the build.
ing occupied by Roth & Co.. the auto-
noplle truck in the present house of
= th~ stlll alarm wagon and the Hu-
names moved over to the present
truck house, giving the latter COM
pany accommodations for its team
: The still alarm wagon would be dis
pensed with.
After discussion between the com
mlttee chairmen as to where the nee
essary $1,000 could be located, dur
: ing which Alderman Conkling said
> that If the money collected by the
police justices was paid over to the
police committee instead of the fl
nance committee he could help the
scheme along with a big lift. the
matter was referred back to the fire
committee to report at another meet
ing