The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-09-14

AosAAS udU y great Time curing IuesS
stay in that city. The people Of
Billings were untiring in their eff
forts to show the delegates from the
other towns of the state a good
time and there were no dull mo-
ments during the three days they
were guests of Billings. Interspersed
with the social sessions were busi-
ness meetings at which the differ
emit problems Of fighting fire in the
different localities we're discussed
and were very instructive to all
present. Looking forward to having
certain laws passed by the next legis-
lature for the benefit of the fire.
men. fund was started for the pur
pose of paying man to look at
ter the interests of the fire depart
ments when the legislature convenes
again at its next session year from
next winter.
Mr.. Robinson states that while
they were not able to land the con-
vention for Whitefish next year, he
was promised that if Whitefish wants
it N 1913 the delegates from the
majority of the cities pledged their
support. The next meeting of the
association will be held in Great
Falls in September 1912.
The following paper on 1.-THE Care
of Fire Hose" was read at the con-
vention by H. S. Robinson and he
fully explained how this fire depart
ment had with small means access
able, been able to fix up very COM
Portable quarters, and build a dis
tinctive drying rack, which is as
handy and efficient a rig as can be
found any place for drying the hose.
This Of course, while not of great
interest to the delegates of the
larger cities,was enthusiastically re-
ceived by the representatives of the
small towns.
THE CARE OF FIRE HOSE.
(By H. S. Robinson.)
This being about the shortest
subject to talk about it naturally
should fall to me, as my brain is
about the same length as my sub
ject, and as l was the only one in
the Whitefish fire department that
had such feeble mind, l was dele
gated to this convention to COM
pare with so short subject.
They did not say whether l was
to talk about ladies hose or gentle
mems hose, or fire hose, but as this
is a firemen's convention l suppose
you wish to hear about fire hose.
Hose is one of the most essen
tial parts of the fire fighting appar-
atus, and as it receives the most
abuse its life is very short. It is
expensive and requires more than
ordinary care to keep it in good con
dition.
1t will freeze and crack in cold
weather, dry fast in hot weather,
mildew and rot in wet weather.
Hence it must be housed in dry
place OF moderate temperature.
After hose has been used it shoul
first be-cleaned off by washing and
then stretched out at full length on
an incline at an angle of not less
than 20 degrees to allow all water
to drain out of it, and then become
entirely dry before being reeled
back on the carts again. After it
is dry it should be coupled very
tightly together and carefully reeled
up on the carts ready for use
To take proper care of the hose
has been one OF the hardest prob
lens the Whitefish fire department
has had to handle so far. Hereto
fore we had no place to dry hose
inside. Recently we had an incline
drying rack built directly back OF
our hose carts. which is so feet
long and inclined at an angle Of 20
degrees. When a cart of wet hose
40 Al tnC AAOO0C VIC (0AC q 1OlU vi
one end Of it, drag it to the top of
the incline. and uncouple it. Do the
same with the next one and so on
until we have it all ON the drying
rack. Then they are washed off on
the outside and left to dry, after
which they are again coupled up and
reeled back on the cart. We have
found this method to be a very
easy way to take care of the hose
and 1t requires but little time.
Hanging them up one by one is
q very good way II you have a tower
but In small town likeWhitefish a
fire department II up against q
hard graft to set started and get all
these things, but 1t = growing fast
now and our way b getting smooth
or. We have three hose carts and
. hook and ladder. We have so