The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-07-24
AUTO FIRE TRUCKS
IN SPEED TRIALS
American-LaFrance and Webb Machines
Demonstrated for Benefit of Barre
Officials To-day: Also Sent
to Montpelier.

| manufactured by the American La Franc
| Co. of Elmira, n. Y, and the Web
Motor Go. of st. Louis, Mo-, took plac
in this city and Montpelier during th
forenoon and early part of the afternoo
to-day, and when the aldermanic fir
committee and special advisory commit
tee make their report on the respectiy
standing OF the two cars in a scale Q
tests applied to each machine. taxpayer
who are to furnish the $500 appropri
ated by the city council for the purchas
OF an auto fire truck will learn which 0
the two machines, If either, will be ac
ccpted and put into service,
The demonstration attracted a larg
number of people to the streets of Barre
as well as Montpelier. where the car
went on the first test for trials over tn
hills in the capital city. When the tw'
cars left Barre at 10 o'clock, each wa
laden with 1850 pounds Of shot for bal
last, the additional weight serving /,
displace the regulation equipment o
hose, reels, etc. Aboard were member
of the city council. including the fir
committee, the special committee, con
sisting of Z. NJ. Tobin, W. @. Reynolds
of the latter committee. \. ID. Phelps
accompanied James NJ. Boutwell,, who's,
high power Packard touring car was th'
pilot for the expedition. In the tive
cars were Mayor Estee of Montpelier anc
Aldermen Atherton and Howes of tht
Capital city council.
Reaching Montpelier. the East State
street hill, extending from the fire sta
tion to the seminary, was scaled by botf
machines, the American La France cal
reaching the summit in | minute and Il
second to 2 minutes and 81 seconds by
the other. Both cars we're manned by
drivers of experience, who came TO Barre
for the special purpose of demonstrating
the speed. hill climbing ability, etc, o.
their machines. The Webb truck is SAID
to weigh 1870 pounds, while the cal
from Elmira weighs G,990. The former
is rated at so horsepower and the latte,
at TO- In the Montpelier hill test, the
la France carried Is men and the Webt
seven men.
In the speed test between Barre anu
Montpelier, the LaFrance car made the
distance in Ia minutes fiat, while tho
Webb car was timed in 10 minutes and
80 seconds.
After the Montpelier trials, the ma
chimes returned to Barre and began the
hill-climbing tests required in the speci-
fications drawn up by the fire and ad-
visory committees. Each driver handled
his car with the skill OF an expert, and
so far as could be learned. both cars met
the tests successfully. While traversing
steep incline on Franklin street, each
driver was required to bring his machine
to standstill reverse brakes, hold the
load fast, and then resume the trip. II
was learned this noon that this feat was
performed satisfactorily by each driver
and it was to be duplicated when the
machines started to ascend Hooker hill
on the trip TO the Morrison farm this
afternoon.
Shortly after noon, the trucks met
one Of the most rigid tests of the demon
stration, when they started from the city
park, mounted Washington street under
full speed and continued on up to the
top of Trow hill near the Trow farm.
The exact figures as to time were secured
by the committee, but not given out for
publication. When the summit was
reached, the Webb car was steaming,
and the water in the American LaFrance
boiler was bubbling and foaming from
the excessive heat. Each driver resorted
to both the high and low gears in ascend
ing the sharp grade. At | o'clock the
final test up Hooker hill was started,
and with its completion the committees
will compare notes and make out their
reports.
The remainder of the route covered
during the forenoon was as follows: Up
Granite street to Foster and return TO
Main by same route; from Main up Elm
and Franklin to Burns and return; from
Main to Ayers, up West Patterson, down
back to Main street.
The Webb car arrived in the city last
night from Manchester, n. H.. where its
of yesterday is said to
have been highly satisfactory to the
Manchester officials. who watched its
workings The American-LaFrance car
came to Barre directly from the factory
and was unloaded yesterday morning in
the NJ. & w. yards. An informal dem
of its capabilities took place
yesterday afternoon.
A -