The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-26
ORDER AUTO FIRE TRUCK,
WILL Be HERE IN A WEEK

| &
of an automobile
We found the cost of upkeeu OF
the machines to be exceedingly low
In some cases 1t amounts to much
less than it costs to shoe the horses
| OF the Sixth street department. AT
Racine, Wis, the cost of the upkeep
In tires has amounted to just $40
in the three years and two months
| their automobile has been used.
| The company from which we pro.
pose to purchase this truck takes
! care of all repairs unless the ma
] chine is damaged in an accident
They send man here when we get
the machine, to instruct our firemen
In operating the machine. Then they
send an expert here four times a
| year for as long as the truck is in
service, to go over the machine and
see that everything Is in good order.
Any necessary repairs are made at
| their expense by their own work
men,"
Truck Demonstrated
Mr.. Collins related what had been
| done by the truck in demonstrations
at Chicago. He said the pressure
pump on the machine throws a
stream of water from an inch and
three-quarters nozzle, a distance of
ESQ to 300 feet. This size nozzle
throws a greater volume of water
than three one-inch nozzles. The
pump, he said. will give the depart
ment enough pressure to throw a
stream Of water over any two-story
building in the city, even if the hy-
drant is on a dead end main, and
through 1900 feet OF hose. 1t will
give sufficient pressure for any 9TH
err occasion that may arise. Mr.. Col
Inns pointed out several cases here
in the last year or 50 where houses
had been almost completely de-
stroyed because the department was
unable to get enough pressure to
throw water to the roof of the build
ing. One or two fires, he said may
save the cost of the truck ten times
over.
Mr.. Collins called on those present
to express their opinions in regard to
whether the city should purchase
the machine with or without the
pressure pump.
Says Fix Streets First.
James J. Fallon. 1902 Concert, was
the first to speak. placing himself on
record against the purchase Of any
kind of automobile truck at the pres
emit time. His objection to the pur-
chase of an automobile was that the
streets were not good enough. He
objected to the reduction of three
men from the Sixth street station.
He suggested that If the city wanted
an automobile truck that they first
issue bonds to pay the cost of having
the streets improved and then buy
the truck.
John W. Rovane said: 81 think we
are in poor shape now to make an
investment, although l approve of
fire trucks. Our old horse
drawn trucks have been doing the
work good enough under normal con-
ditions. It is not to my mind,
good business proposition, to make
new debt for the city at this time.
would like to see the expenses of
the various departments cut down to
a sound basis, then buy the truck.
and I'll be with you heart and
mind
10 Matter Of Economy.
Mr.. Collins explained that the pur-
chase OF the automobile was a step
toward reducing the expenses of the
department and was matter of
economy. The reduction of three
men from the department., he said,
would put it back on the same plane
it was on in 1912.
Mcfarland Favors Truck. d.
C., F.. Mcfarland said: If you
found one department in your bust
ness inefficient. you wouldn't cut
down on expenses, necessarily, to
mako this department more efficient
II the old machinery was inefficient
and cost too much to operate, you
would get new machinery that would
do the worL more economically and
efficiently. I believe the added ex-
penditure made will be saved on one
or two fires. We may save on one
fire, ten times the amount the truck
cost. l believe absolutely, with Mr..
Fallon in regard to fixing the streets.
but I am little in hope that if we
get an automobile truck, we may
have to fix the streets.
Every Fire Causes Loss. !
G. Collingwood Tucker went on
record as being in favor of the
truck. The financial end of the
purchase of the truck Is being taken !
care of by the city commissioners,
said Mr.. Tucker. "Of all that has |
oder & all Uric-Acid Troubles