The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-11-18
CITY COUNCIL EMPOWERS FIRE
DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE
TO PURCHASE TWO HOSE
WAGONS AND OTHER
NECESSARY FIRE
APPARATUS.
Lengthy Session and Much Discus
sion before Decision is Arrived at
Mayor Casts Deciding Vote In
Favor of the Horse Drawn Appa..
ratus - Committee Recommend,
Purchase Of La France Auto Pump
er.

The CITY Fathers" Tuesday night
decided upon the purchase of two
new hose wagons and three new
horses and other needed apparatus
for the fire department after a
lengthy discussion which was Joined
In by Aldermen Glenn. McKeiver,
McLaurin. Cuttino and the Mayor.
The motion was made by Mr.. Wright.
The action Of Council in ordering
tho purchase OF the horse drawn ap-
paratus was in effect reconsiderati ton
of the resolution to purchase a COM
hination auto pumper and hose wag-
on which was passed at the last
meeting Of Council when the purchase
of fire apparatus was up for discus
sion and came after the fire depart
ment committee had made their re-
port recommending that the la
France machine be purchased.
The decision OF Council was not
reached In a few minutes. for It was
we'll on towards midnight when coun-
Gil adjourned and the greater part OF
the evening was spent in the dis
cussion Of what fire apparatus It was
best to purchase for the city. Mr.. Nc
Keiver told Of his trip to Norfolk
where he had seen both the Webb
and the La France machines tried
out and had decided that the La
France machine was the better of
, the two. He had later been to the
La France factory at Elmira, New
York. and there seen the machine
put together and tested and he had
been impressed with its practicability
as a fire fighting apparatus
The discussion commenced when
Mr.. Glenn Tor the fire department
committee made his report. At this
time Council went into executive ses-
sion Of the representatives Of the var
ious companies which were trying to
sell auto apparatus to ,he city were
asked to retire. Mr.. McKelver told OF
his trip and the tests which had been
made OF the two machines. His
report was similar to that which he
had already made to the fire de-
partment committee and was strong
II IN favor Of the La France machine.
The pressure from this machine was
greater at all times than that from
the standpipe here and was more than
that obtained from the Webb ma
chine.
At the close OF Mr.. McKeiver's re.
marks Mr.. McIaurin stated that he
thought that Mr.. McKeiver was due
the thanks Of Council for the way In
which ne had conducted his investi-
cations and he had no doubt but
that all Of the members Of Council
were impressed with Mr.. McKeiver's
, report. However. ne thought that
i Council ought TO go slow in the en-
! penditure OF so, much Of the city's
money. especially as this was not
anything like the building of streets,
which would be here years from now
! TO show for themselves how the mon
ey had bee Gpent. He thought that
II would be a bad day for Sumter
when the pumper was purchased as
1t might give out at any time and the
/ city would then be wholly without
hre apparatus. He made very
impressive talk along this lire and
stated that he had been to the fire.
men. or at least one of them, and
/ asked what the fremen wanted. This
fireman had told him that the fire.
men were In favor OF horse drawn
apparatus. He then produced state
A., ments from the chief OF the fire de-
partment where comparison was
made. showing that the horse drawn
apparatus would cost something like
$4,000 or more less than the auto
apparatus and could i'm the opinion
/ OF the cnief, be run for less.
] Mr. McKeiver stated that ne
thought that thei, ought To be n
reorganization Of tre Ore da2art,nen,.
The department Vas now managed
by the old Monaghan company and
neither the fire department. commit
tee nor the fire chief were actually
In charge OF II. HS gave out a state
ment as to who wee members OF the
fire department. showing that there
were several Of these who did not go
to fires and were not Interested i'm
the workings OF the department. lie
also made a statement as to who
went to fires and worked at them.
several OF whom were not members OF