New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
AUTOS FOR FIRE Fighting
Powerful Chemical Engines In
Garden Show.
MANY TYPES IN SERVICE
bility and Speed in Action
Find Favor with Fire
Departments.

The Pope Manufacturing Company, a
Hartford. Conn. have on exhibition dur.ns
the week AT the Madison Square Garden a
TYNE OF motor fire wagon that has met an
the requirements OF the FIRE authorities and
has proved highly efficient IN every way.
The Pope company have been building aa.
,onobile chemicals in different styles 10,
the last two years and have placed can
in many different cities throughout ths
country. without exception, they havs
passed through the rigid tests Of continu.
ous service in the different fire depart.
ments and shown to good advantage
The car on exhibition Is combinaHoa
chemical and hose wagon, equipped with
forty-gallon chemical tank. The car has
n 12s-Inch wheel base. four-cyiinder en-.
gine developing 30 horsepower. for.
speed selectiye transmission and ful
floating rear axle. The tires are 81 By 81
inches in front and 80 by 9 inches In the
rear. The body proper provides carrying
space for 100 feet Of 2]z-inch water hose.
Included in the standard equipment there q
a metal hose basket with go feet Of Y.
inch chemical hose, hand extinguishers 90
/ the running boards. an extra Jar Of cheni-
calls for the large tank, four fremens
lanterns, axes, crowbars, etc. Along the
sides OF the body, hung In metal brackets,
there are two ladders, one 4-foot exten.
sion ladder and the other a l2-foot roof
| ladder
This is only one style Of fire wagon made
by the Pope company. The same wagon
may be equipped with two large chemical
tanks at an additional expense OF $50 This
will decrease the hose carrying capacity
Of the body 10 800 feet Wagons entirely
devoted 10 carrying hose or equipped with
extra large chemical tanks are also made
while a combination chemical and flying
squadron often proves the best outfit FOR
certain conditions. The body, in the case os
the last named wagon. is fitted with seats
running lengthwise OF the car, taking the
place OF the body devoted 10 the vate,
hose and providing room for eight men.
This, with the two in front, gives a total
/. seating capacity OF ten men.
To-day almost every fire chief in ths
.
municipality and town are giving seriou.
consideration to the use Of motor fire
, wagons either as an auxiliary 10 their pres
ent equipment or TO replace horse-drawr
apparatus. Hundreds OF fire Department.
{ already have one or more pieces OF moto.
( apparatus In satisfactory service. and as
many more are on the point OF securing
5 this latest and best fire equipment.
The day when the motor fire wagon NIGH
l be considered an experiment. In pracucs
! fire lighting has long since passed. Th'
mechanical reliability OF such wagons, wher
made by high grade concerns who hsy'
I made a study of the requirements. is nov
g an accepted fact The advantages owe
= horse-drawn apparatus are almost equslt
well understood by the fire chiefs, and
t many communities II is only a question o
; selecting the wagons best suited 10 the 10
,, cal reuuirements or a matter OF securin
=, an appropriation.
Those whose connection with fire depart
ments and insurance make them familia
with the conditions are aware that abou
90 per cent Of all fires are discovered
!. their Incipiency, and that the great major
n ity OF them could he put out with incor
I senuentIal loss II the means were AZ han
for extinguishing them. There is scarcel
person who has not knowledge OF on
' or more instances where house or pror
erty could have been saved or the los
3 greatly reduced had the apparatus bee
on hand earlier.
THE great point, therefore, is TO reaf
o the fire as quickly after its discovery
possible. The motor fire wagon Will q
: this quicker than any horse-drawn waso'
: and the longer the distance the greater U
+ saving in time. There are, then. two w
e portant facts that can be accepted witnot
e discussion, namely, the absolute rehaoin'
?, Of such wagons for practical service an
e the great advantage OF reaching nres nu'
:, more quickly than is possible Win hors'
drawn wagons.