Norwich bulletin., 1914-04-25

of the companies wanted that ma chlne, The old. original aI;.l only machine had outlived its usefulness and the Niagaras made a play for the machine The mayor and court of common council, recognized and ap- preciated the service of the compar1y and gave the new machine to substt- tute for the old. the company succeed company machine of 5000 which was devoted towards the purchase of the present Niagara machine. Naturally with the advent of the up-to- the
 minute machine. the Niagaras, through no fault of their own, became the fayorite in the still alarm me, by reason of known efficiency, and not favoritism, for a man whose house is aflre is not apt to play favor1tes.
 This action on the part people has created deep rooted jealcusies amono some of the other companies, and the several stove gangs have been busted all wintor trying in some way to break down the progressive spirit that perVades the Niagaras. As spring comes every charge conceivable is be- ing sprung in public and private against the Niagara company or some of It's officers, but which are based wholly on spiteful jealousy. Not very iohg ago the N1agaras were convinced that better fire service could be rendered the city if there were a squad wagon to pick up members of the hre department after the appar- atus had responded to call and to bring back firemen from long dis tances on the homeward trip, So A large and powerful touring car, second hand, was purchased and converted into squad wagon, ana au no ex- pense to the city. This tended to in crease the jealousies and added to the expression that the Niagaras ina zine they are the whole depart ment-
 The Niagaras have been accused of being the most favored compsny in the city and received more from inc city than any other company in the. department. In the matter of allow ances for fires that is true as the company responds to more fires It is also true Tn the matter of quarterly allowance as in addition to the motor apparatus the company has the cus- tco. and maintenance and operation or the only steam fire engine in the clty- But aside from these items not SC. The Niagara fire house is Inc oldest and most inconvenient fire house in the city, almost unfit for habitation and not adequate to pub- lc requirements, and it's furnishfnes r'cludlng the sleeping apartments for a crew of ten men. is company prop erty. This company has been in ac- tive existence for sixty-four years and has never been a burden to the city of Ney London. The Niagaras have never asked the city to pay for its drivers and no company in the city or in the United States have had drivers for auto apparatus as long as the Niagaras.
 The Northwest secured their motor driven apparatus upon their own Voiition and should take their Ynedi. cine. inst the organizations. The second fire an paratus of modern type to come to New London was purchased bv inc Pequots direct from the manufac- lures That company responds to ev- en less boxes than does the North vests but that company is not making request that the city to employ couple of men to spend their time in that comfortable fire house. When the third motor fire wagon came to New London and was captured by the Thomas Hose company, that organi- zation which owned it's own fire horses that brought the company daily profit by being worked on the highways, were satisfied to dispose of the horses for the sake of getting the time that company has not asked the city to pay the salary of the drivers The time may com. when the city en- larges, that there will be actuaI need AOi bt ii1OIOI llIS on the Northwest, but until that time does come the Northwest ought to be sat- isfied in receiving the same considera- tion that is gwen the ether companies of the department.
 If the city has any more money to invest in modern fire apparatus the place to invest 1t is the purchase of a. modern truck for the F. l.. Allen Hook and Ladder company. Then with the NCrthwests and the Pequors as sort of first aid to the injured, the Thomas the Konomocs, Niagaras and the Ock- fords. as present equipped will be fire department enough for New Lon- don until the end of the present cen tury.
 In connection with the work of the Municipal Improvement society or rather the Municipal Art society, ref erence is occasionally made to that foreign element" and which is aimed chiefly at the Italians,