Norwich bulletin., 1911-07-29

always the bosom friend in politics of
Bryan F. Mahan, declared to the writer
this week, that the people of New Lon
don and of the state, regardless of
politics, must admire the achievements
of the senator mayor during the pres
ent session of the legislature. He has
fathered more measures OF magnitude,
perhaps, than any other senator that
sat in the cosy senate chamber in the
state capital, and energies with the
cleanest kind of a record. He said he
believed he voiced the sentiment of the
party in saying that Senator Mahan
has SO broadened out in ability and
principle, that now he is not only the
biggest democrat but one of the big
gest citizens in the state of Connecti-
cut.
In conclusion, he said: Now, you've
got my opinion of Bryan F. Mahan,
but not for publication, as it would
not perhaps sound we'll for me to be
praising the qualifications of Mahan,
and some mean cuss might work that
old parallel column newspaper gag on
me to show apparent Inconsistency;
but which as matter of fact is real
conversion that is actually deserved.
Perhaps. however, that the old fellow
who wrote something of the man of
sense changing his mind occasionally
and the fool never, may have had some
fellow of my stripe in mind, for l have
certainly changed my opinion of the
mayor of New London and the sena-
tor who represents the whole state in
the senate as well as the towns of New
London and Groton.
Alderman Eugene T. Kirkland, one
of the oldest residents of the Pequot
colony, but far from being the oldest
person resident in that fashionable
section of the city, is the present fore
man of the Independent Pequot Hose
company, and has held the position
since organization. The company owns
its own quarters and apparatus, but
recently became a part of the regular
department. receiving the same allow
anceS as the other companies of the
department. The company has a hand
drawn hose wagon and hook and lad
der truck and now Foreman Kirkland
has resolved to install a modern au-
tomobile chemical and hose wagon, es-
pecially adapted for fire purposes in
that section. The company has in its
membership about all the men of
wealth in the colony as well as many
others of the working class but all on
an equal footing in the organiza ton.
Foreman Kirkland proposes to pur-
chase the modern fire apparatus by the
contributions of the members of the
company and friends of the same. He
started out with the subscription
paper, Tuesday, submitted it to eleven
men and received pledges for $1,100.
The apparatus will cost between $4,000
and $4,000 and there is no doubt but
that sum will be speedily raised, de-
pendent upon the speed of the man
with the paper.
A project of this kind was success
fully carried to an issue about eight
years ago by the Niagara Engine COM
pany composed wholly of working
men, the main portion working In
shops and not a real monied man in
the bunch. At that time the automo-
bile chemical and hose wagon was not
known in this country, that is none
were in operation although one was in
course of construction by the LaFrance
Engine company in Elmlra. The Nj
agaras raised $1,000 among its mem
bership, purchased the apparatus, and
have the distinction of being the first
fire organization in the United States
to own an automobile chemical and
hose wagon. The machine has been in
operation ever since, and has saved its
cost many times over in saving the
property of citizens of New London.
1t has done and is doing good work,
bu: today there are many lighter and
speedier fire-fighting machines of that
class, which of course are an improve
ment upon the original.
When the Peauots get their new
machine, New London will have the
distinction of having the first and the
latest there is in modern fire-fghting
apparatus of The automobile type. AL
though purchased by the Niagara COM
parry. and maintained fer years at an
expense to the company members, the
apparatus as soon as commissioned
was practically turned over to the city
and subject to the orders of the chief
engineer just the same as any other
apparatus of the department.