Arizona republican., 1914-04-27
FIRE TRUCK |S
 0h EXHIBITION
Seagrave Machine Brought to Phoenix So That All May See Whether the Company's Claims Are Justified

That the people of Phoenix might have an opportunity to see for them selves just what the Seagrave con- ipany had to offer in the way of mod ern fire fighting apparatus, Fred s. Hlrsch, manager of the Gorham Fire Apparatus company, the Los Angeles representative of the Seagrave trucks. caused to be diverted to Phoenix for two or three days two handsome combination chemical engine and hose wagon auto trucks recently purchased to augment the equipment of the Los Angeles fire department A car con- taining the two big trucks arrived in Phoenix Saturday. One of these trucks was immediately unloaded and Saturday evening and yesterday aft ernoon was on exhibition at the city hall, or was being given demonstra- ton runs by Manager Hirsch for the 1 benefit of the commissioners, the fire men and those citizens interested in the project to equip the city with up-to-date apparatus.
 To the average citizen the sight of one of these massive fire wagons speeding through the downtown streets, while the silver bell changed out a warning to pedestrians or driv-
 CTS of vehicles, was a novel experi-
 ence. Not many had previously seen apparatus of this high grade. It seemed to them that in the big truck, handled so deftly by Hirsch,
 the last word had been said in that of 1o,, I. the dazzling white and gold of the big machine it was easy to see there
 was power, stability and utility. So | impressed were some, there was a yelled threat to mob Hirsch if he i attempted to take the trucks away from Phoenix, despite the fact that they are already the property of the
 cit yOf Los Angeles
 | The machine shown here was | brought here entirely at the expense
 of the Gorham company This was easily arranged, as the trucks were
 on their way to Los Angeles over the Southern Pacific, and it required only
 to route them to Phoenix from Mari
 cOpa. Half an hour after the car had been spotted in the Arizona East
 ern yards, the truck rolled down the ways from the car and started up
 town under its own power.
 | The car is not only of the same
 type as twenty or more now in use
 in Los Angeles, but it is also identi-
 cal with two recently purchased for
 the Douglas fire department. It is
 what is known as a chemical engine
 and hose wagon and is manufactured
 by the Seagrave company at Colum-
 bus, Ohio. It is equipped with a 60-
 gallon chemical tank. besides two small Babcocks. There are facilities for speedy replenishing of the chem
 ical. There are also 25O feet of
 chemical hose
 The hose carrying capacity is at least 1900 feet, enough to furnish not less than five streams at any fire
 that might occur in the city There
 are also three ladders, one a 2O-foot
 extension, another a thirty-foot ex-
 tension and a straight twelve foot
 roof scaling ladders.
 The motor is 54-horsepower and
 equipped with a self starting appa-
 ratus. The lights are electric oper-
 ated from the drivers seat, and in- clude not only the brilliant headlights.
 but powerful searchlight for use at
 night fires. These lights receive their
 power from storage batteries, which
 are replenished by a generating sys-
 tenn, a part of the equipment, thereby
 insuring never-failing supply of
 juice"
 There is a full complement of nec-
 essary tools, besides axes, pinch bars
 and nozzles. Warnings are sounded |, either with a powerful Klaxon horn or large bell hung within easy , reach of the driver of the machine The commissioners, while expressing no decided opinion because of the fact that they will probably be called upon to consider several makes of apparatus before purchases are made seemed visibly impressed with the Seagrave truck. With the excep- tional engine, also the product of the Seagrave plant, all the speed that could possibly be expected is avail able. Fifty miles an hour if nec- essary, would be an easy matter over rough streets. and an even greatei ! speed over the smooth pavements ot