Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-05

 the committee appointed to investigate the present conditions in the fire de- partment, and, if possible, to devise ways and means to increase the eft1- ciency of the department, especially in the matter of prompt response to fire alarms The meeting was called to order at o'clock by Moderator Flu gene B. Pendleton and the call was read in the absence of Clerk Lewis Stanton by Edward A. Kingsley, sec retary pro tenn. In the call there was a proposition to ask the general as sembly to increase the debt limit of the district and another proposition authorized the treasurer to borrow money to meet any expense that might be incurred as an outcome of the spe- cial meeting. The special committee submitted a report as follows:
 To the Taxpayers of the Westerly Hire
 District
 In accordance with resolution pass ed at the last annual meeting of the Westerly fire district, the taxpayers of said district have been summoned to this meeting to hear the report upon better methods in transporting the fire fighting apparatus of the district while in service
 Your committee has held number of meetings and conferences; has en- gagged in some correspondence and considered in detail every method which could be employed in handling the ap-
 
 The first and foremost object of the committee has been to determine upon a method which could be main tained at the least annual cost and at the same time ensure strength, read mess and reliability, thus enabling the department to render first aid most promptly after a given alarm in any part of the district and by such action greatly diminish the probability of an | important fire loss.
 The employment of powerful horses in sufficient number to perform the service at all hours has been consid- cred from the standpoint of district ownership as well as upon the rental plan, but in each of these instances the annual expense of maintenance appeared to be too great to warrant further consideration of these methods. After this, much time and thought was employed in studying different phases of motor driven equipment as pro- duced by various manufacturers.
 Primarily, this district owns two most excellent and adequate appar- atus wagons. One of these is equip ped with a chemical outfit, and is the only one sent out on the first alarm to the more remote points in the dis trict- The other wagon is the same in all particulars excepting the chem iical apparatus and is sent out on the second alarm from distant boxes and always on the first alarm in the more compact portion of the district
 Either of these wagons is much handle at running gait on the level to say nothing of the high grades which they are repeatedly called upon to encounter. Therefore your com mittee has considered two plans by which this work may be accomplish ed at low annual cost
 First: One of the present wagons could be disposed of and a motor fire wagon, with a chemical plant and suff1- cient ladder equipment for low service, be installed in its place.
 second: For about the same amount of purchase money two powerful tract ors could be purchased and attached to our present fire wagons, in which event both wagons might be equipped with chemical apparatus and lad ders. By this method each company's outfit would be an exact duplicate of the other and afford d valuable sup port in the event of some accident oc- curing to one machine or through the failure of operation from whatever cause.
 In either instance the upkeep of these machines would be a small mat ter as compared with that of a pleas ure automobile, since the tires are made of solid rubber instead of being pneumatic and the wagons are so sell dom in service as compared with com mercial vehicles, that the wear and tear on the entire machinery would be exceedingly light.
 Therefore if the district deemed it prudent to make such a purchase it might feel secure in the ownership of a most durable equipment It was not within the province of this committee to obtain competitive figures upon any of these machines, neither was 1t in structed to make any recommendations at this meeting, hence it's members respectfully leave the matter in your hands and ask that they may be dis charged
 SAMUEL c. COTTRELL,
 HARRY s. COYLE.
 WILLIAM s. MARTIN.
 FRANCIS G. HASWELL.
 EVERETT BARNS,