Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-04
FIRE TRUCK CHEAPER
THAN HORSE POWER
FIGURES or PAST EIGHT MONTHS
FAVOR MOTOR. DRIVEN
VEHICLE.
HAS COST $685. PER
MONTH LESS THAN TEAM
Fire Department. Has Answsrsd ~
Alarms From Jan. I to Dec. 10,
Twenty. Six More Than in Year 1911,
With fetal Loss Of Only 31o,714.3s,
and That We'll Insured.

1
The Marshalltown fire department
has given a most practical demonstra-
ton Of the value Of the automobile as
q department vehicle during the past
eight months. and the report of Chief
l. T. Kirby, covering the period from
April to Dec. I, 1912. contains some
facts and figures Of great interest to
the taxpayers Of the city.
Chief Kirby has made \ careful re-
port Of the expenditures incurred in
maintaining q team Of horses and
truck at the central station. as COM
pared with the cost Of maintenance OF
the automobile truck, and from imam
cial viewpoint the report shows decid-
eddy to the advantage OF the motor
driven truck as against horse power
1.-THE practicability of the auto truck
has not been fully Demonstrated" says
Chief Kirby. "as It has not been in
service long enough to determine its
value in deep SHOWS and mud. The
truck was placed in service April !,
and since that time the department
has not been called upon to combat
decidedly adverse weather conditions,
such as might be expected in winter
and early spring"
Chief Kirby is Of the opinion, how
ever. that the truck will prove as efhci-
ent as the horse drawn vehicle. and
with the great extensions of paved
streets during the past year every Sec
ton Of the city. with the exception of
the far outlying districts, may DO easily
reached on paved streets.
Figures Favor Truck.
Chief Kirby. In his report. shows that
during the period from April to Dec.
1912, there were 50 alarms. Comparing
tho cost Of maintenance during the
eight months Of the previous year,
Chief Kirby presents the following
hgres:
Cost Of maintaining team eight
months, including feed. shoeing. harness
and veterinary service. $331.35.
Cost Of maintaining automobile, eight
months. including gas. oil, Presto ligh.
and repairs. S25.17. +
Cost of maintaining team, per month.
sE.43. nel
Cost Of maintaining automobile. per
month. 500.
Cost Of maintaining team, per fire.
$3.50.
Cost Of maintaining automobile. per
fire, SO cents
Balance in favor Of automobile, per
fire. S4.44.
Balance in favor Of automobile, per
month, 1898.
Balance in favor Of automobile, per
year. $471.e6.
| It will be seen that the cost per fire
for the ,upkeep Of the motor driven
truck IL but SO cents The cost of up
| less than half the average cost for
maintenance Of team per single fire.
| Fire Losses Nominal.
I Chief Kirby has prepared state
ment of fire losses from Jan. I, to
/ Dec 10, 1912. which is of interest, es-
pecially on account of the nominal loss
to buildings and contents considering
/ the number of alarms answered by the
| highly for. the efficiency Of the depart
ment.
During the period covered by the
statement 1877 alarms were answered.
! or twenty six more than during the
| entire year Of 1911. The total loss to
buildings during the period was So
1OS.3O. which was for the mos. part
well insured.
| The heaviest fire loss Of the year was
! to the b. A. Morgan store. on May O..
The damage as reported was $4,000 to
the stock and 5000 to the building.
| The next greatest loss was sustained
BY tho Lennox Furnace Company in
the IRE in their office building on Feb.
10 The loss to the building was but
| 1864 but the loss on stock was ST.
1858.
The nominal losses Of the year are
due to a material extent to the use of
chemicals before the fire has gained
Roadway. Prompt response to alarms
has resulted in quick action by the de-
! partment and saved property owners
OF the city thousands Of dollars during
I the past year.
Kirby Pleased With Results.
By Installing the automobile fire
| truck the zone covered by Company
No. 2 has been greatly reduced. and
has acted to the purpose Of saving
1 horse flesh at the south side station by
1 eliminating many long runs up the
| Third avenue hill The auto truck can
cover a much wider area than the
horses and answer alarms quicker, not
only in saving time on the run but In
leaving the station,
Chief Kirby is greatly pleased with
the results obtained since the truck
was installed and believes there will
be no fault to find with the motor-driv-
en- wagon with the possible exception
! that It may be landscapes on muddy
| rOada IN early spring.
Thus far it has proved money
saver both in cost Of maintenance and
| in making tho department more ef-
dcient. The auto truck evidently has
I come to stay. and il the experience OF
other cities is similar to that of Mar
shalltown during the past eight months
there il little doubt but that the pa
tient horse will soon find himself out
| OF Job as q fire fighter.
NEW TEACHER sEcUREp.