Norwich bulletin., 1912-01-16
AUTO SECURED FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
Combination Chemical and Hose Wagon Will be Here March FEst-Commssioners Will Meet Expense Without h. creased Appropriation Efficiency to be Secured at Less Cost.

tires, the rear tires being 39x6 and the front 3Sx5 1-2. Single instead of dual tires were considered much better for the requirements.
 Will Develop 70 Horse Power. It is a four cylinder 50 h. p. car as rated by the A, l.. A. M. formula, but which will develop 70 h. D.; water cooled with a planetic radiator of the Pope Hartford make, there being oil- tight and dust proof aluminium and cases for the mechanical parts. It is shaft driven with dual ignition, and equipped with Bosch magneto. The car is built with sufficient power for all the hills.
 1t is geared so as to give four changes of speed, three ahead and one reverse, the gear ratio being f to 1. The controlling levers are on top of the steering wheel, and all gear changes are made by one lever located near the driver. The radiator has a capacity of five gallons
 Will Carry 1,25o Feet of Hose.
 The body of the car is figured to carry 1000 feet Of hose, having a board running lengthwise of the body, so that the 3 1-2 inch hose will be carried on one side and the ? 1-2 inch hose on the other. There are 250 feet of chem ical hose also.
 There will be room for six men to sit on seats arranged over the mud guards and room on the rear running board for others, it being calculated that it will carry eight to ten men. Chemical and Ladder Equipment. As to the chemical equipment, the auto is equipped with one tank of the Champion style, containing 40 gallons, while extra acid jars and soda bags are carried so that by renewing l20 gall Ions of chemical can be used. There are also three gallon Underwriters 1 tanks on each side of the auto. l The machine will be equipped with l quite a complement of ladders, there | being a IT foot extension ladder, which l will reach 25 feet, while in addition 1 there will be a 12 foot roof ladder and | IA foot baby extension ladder for | inside. work. There will also be the 1 necessary axes, crowbars, pike poles, l door openers and four f1remen's lan- | terms. On the dash will be a. located l a large searchlight of the Rushmore make, with an automatic lighting | equipment.
 Other Accessories.
 The basket back of the drivers seat | will hold the three e-quarter inch hose 1 the brass rail at the back of the bask- ct being for the boots of the men, while 1 there is another rail for their rubber i coats. The bunker boxes at the reaI | of the drivers seat are something new and very convenient, while on each l running board will be a box for light 1 tools. There will be a grip handle or the rear. and projecting from the enc of the center board.
 The chemical tank as seen in tho | picture Is located under the drivers seat. A prestolite tank with necessary | tools, jack with oil and prestolite lamps at front and side. On the front end i! l bumper with springs, while thu 1 equipment also includes a combination sIeedometer and clock. A locomotive l bell will be mounted on the same fix, 1 ture which holds the searchlight There will be chains for the wheels fol | weather similar to the present, anC when the department receives the ma. chine 1t will be equipped to take cart of all fires. whether the hills are icy ol not.
 The machine will be painted a. darl English vermillon, with gold stripe and Norwich Fire Department on tn enuS or the dIlVefS seat.
 Desire to Cut Expenses. In taking this step and replacinl horses by an auto, Norwich is gettinl into line with ather progressive de
 partnents where the desire tn GU down the expense is prevalent, Tn
 cost of maintaining horses with oat
 selling at SL75 to $1.S0 a busheI l against SIPS to $1.50 a year ago, an,
 hay up to $23 to $25 q ton, is heavy a the present time, and drags on appro
 priations, In other cities it is foun,
 that the cost of motor apparatus i
 far less than horses.
 In the reduction of running expense
 of the department, no reduction in tn
 number of men is contemplated, as 1 is considered there are no more me-
 than needed at the present time Tn
 reduction will come from the savin
 made by by the new apparatus, whic is intended purely for business pur
 poses and will be used as such, and a
 the same time there will be more eff
 cheney.
 The location of the auto in the Cen
 tral station will make it possible [ reach any section in a very few min
 utes, and in all kinds of weather,