The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-05-14
FAvORs AUTOMOBILE TRUCK
Fire Chief Bramble Thinks Auto
Truck Would be Cheaper And
More Effective Than Horses.
Editor The Banner:


nature of "Garcon," concerning the
needs of Cambridge for a better
fire service. l also note that his
article is written in the spirit Of
appreciation of what Rescue Fire
Company is doing in the way of pro
tecting the interests of Cambridge
against fire, and was very much
pleased with the spirit of the ar
ticle. VIII ch clearly showed that the
writer thought that the growth OF
Cambridge, in all directions, was
making the fighting of fire much
harder task than it was few
years ago.
He recommended that the Fire
Company should have a horse, OF
two horses, with which to haul the
bose carts, hook and ladder and en-
CINE to the scene of fires. I agree
with him that there should be some
method of reaching these fires, with
fighting apparatus, more quickly
but / am firmly convinced, after
having given the matter much thou
ght. and having made inquiries of
many of the best authorities of the
country upon the subject, that what
we need Is an automobile truck, con-
sisting OF hose wagon and chemi-
cal engine combined
The greatest expense attached to
such apparatus is the first cost. The
expense attached to horses is con-
tinuous. and would more than pay
the interest upon the cost of such
q truck as we need. The cost OF
supplies, etc., connected with such
a truck is trifling, only few gal
Ions of gasoline, little oil, etc.
Such truck will run at from As
to 60 miles an hour; all the time
required to get under way is to
crank it the same as an automobile,
with the result that within a minute
or two after the alarm is received
efficient fire fighting apparatus is
On the scene, and in almost nine
cases out of ten, such prompt ac-
ton would result in the extinguish-
ment OF the fire, before it had
made sufficient Roadway to- do
much damage. Using our presen.
method. however, the alarm has to
be sounded. members of the Com
pany have to be assembled from
their respective homes or places OF
employment. and much valuable
time IS lost IN getting to the scene
o. the fire. In addition. too. to
this, II the fire is a long distance
from the Engine House-and il
should be borne in mind that Cam
bridge now extends from the Cream
cry to Glenburne avenue, land from
the county road in East Cambridge
to the old race track-it necessari-
ly requires time for few men to
pull even a light hose cart any con-
siderable distance, which means
that the fire is gaining in headway
all the time.
Using the auto truck, within the
time required to hook up the hor-
ses, the truck, with its supply OF
chemicals, lines of hose, etc., would
be on the scene, connected up, and,
as stated before, in almost nine
cases out of ten, would have the
fire extinguished, before the horses
had left the Engine House. AS is
known to everyone, in the case OF
a fire, time Is everything, and con-
sequently, in making an effort to
improve our service, due and proper
thought should be given to the Sc
curing of equipment that will en-
able our men to extinguish fires
promptly and with as little loss as
possible
In conclusion, I want to say of
the. men composing Rescue Fire
Company that l do not believe there
is more willing, prompt and eff
sicient force of volunteer firemen to
be found anywhere, but our alarm
system is very bad, indeed; the bell
Is old and small, and cannot be
heard at any great distance except
under the most favorable circum-
stances, and, unfortunately, fires do
not occur, generally speaking, un-
der such conditions. 1 believe that
some different system of alarms
should be established in order that
our members may be more prompt
~ notified of fires. Also l think ii
might be a good idea to have hose
stations established in different
sections of Cambridge; for instance
in East Cambridge; up town, near
the Cross Roads; West End, and
out in the colored section; then, in
the case of an alarm, the firemen
living nearest the fire, need not run
at break-neck speed to the Engine
House, and then back to the fire
Dul COulu get Jul luS uOSS Gal
nearest the fire and get a stream
to work quickly.
In connection with the fire truck
i would say that such truck as We
need, and should have, would con
s;st of hose wagon and chemica
engine combined; would carry 25(
feet of hose and seven men,at the
rate of about sixty miles an hour
is always ready, and can be started
as quickly as an automobile. As
stated before, in the majority o.
cases, If the firemen could reach
the scene of the fire as quickly a:
such a truck would carry them, the
fires could be put out withou
throwing a drop of water.
I want to ask the business mel
Of Cambridge, men who have larg'
property interests at stake, who's
risk is the greater and whose in
surance is the highest, IL they d.