Arizona republican., 1915-09-18
Owners of Insurable Prop erty Disapprove Action of City Commission i'll Delaying Proposed Fire Department Improvement
 $,=s, FIRE PUMP IS
 STICKING POINT Word Goes Out of Move ment Within City Com mission to Reject Pump Bids and Not to Adver- tise for New Ones.

With the work of demolishing the Central Fire Station building well un- der way to make room for a new and modern engine house, and with the greater part of the improvements tn the system of water mains completed or about to be, citizens generally are beginning to make inquiries as to what plans if any, the board of fire under writers is making looking to a reduc- tion of the present high insurance rates in this city. It has been understood all along that with an adequate fire alarm system, improved fire equipment in the shape Of motor driven hose and chem icaI wagons properly located, with an increased paid department and chief satisfactory to the underwriters, there would remain only the purchase of an adequate fire pump and the increasing in size and number of the mains serv- ing some of the residence districts to insure a reduction in the rates.
 Had the commission not been morally if not legally, restrained from executing a contract with the Star Electric com pany for fire alarm extensions calcu- lated to take care Gf the needs of the city for some years to come, the install
  ing system would now be well under way. Had not the commission upon one pretext or another deferred the ac- ceptance of bid for fire pump. but had authorized the city manager to contract for the purchase of a 1000 gal lon pump as specified in bids opened and reported to the commission, it is likely such a pump would now be on it's hpra if Hx- in
 Citizens who own insurable property are pointing to the fact that nearly two years ago bond issue of S75,O0O was voted for the improvement of the fire department and the fire alarm system. There is still about s44,O00 of this money unexpended. From this sum is to come the s11.S72, the contract price for the erection of the new fire station. That would still leave a sufficient sum in the fire improvement and extension fund to purchase a pump at a figure of about $10,OOO and install the proposed fire alarm extension. There would be then enough on hand to buy all the hose required and to acquire such other small equipment as might be needed. The question of the purchase of a. fire pump was supposed to have been
 
 selection of the type to be installed. Bids for such a pump have been in the hands of the city manager and the commission for three or four months without definite action being taken. Now the word has been sent broadcast of a movement within the commission looking to the rejection of all bids and the suspension of further action in the m 1T1ti l,ac Jn termined whether the proposition of bringing water from the Verde river is feasible. It is even being suggested by some Of the commissioners that if the Verde water system is installed there will be no need of a fire pump.
 Engineers engaged in making a Sur vey of the line state that there could be secured a gravity pressure of about seventy pounds on the mains if the wa ter is brought from the Verde. At present during a fire there is a pressure Of eighty to eighty-five on the mains during the continuance of the fire This is presumably adequate except where fire may be encountered in a down town building when engine pressure is required. Without a pump, it is point ed out, pressure of seventy pounds on the mains would leave the city in worse shape than it is now.
 Announcement has been made flwn time to time recently by the city com- mission that upon the return of Com missioner Corpstein from the coast the first matter to be considered would be that of the bids for fire pump. Now
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