New Britain herald., 1915-04-06

NeW Elltaln IS less prepared to fight big fire than was Salem, Mass, at the tine of the recent confiagra of the tW enty-seven cities in the United States with u population be- tween fifty and sixty thousand, no city has a smaller number of pieces of ap- paratus in service ard no city has as few perm2 ment full paid men on it's force.
 Furthermore, New Britain and Salem stood together on the bottom of the list in the nur'ber of pieces or apparatus in use at the tune or the Salem fire and in po1nt of permanent men in the department even the much denounced Salem fire department was ahead of New Britain.
 1t is significant that at the meeting of the board of pubic safety last night Robert M. Dame, the chief of New Rrit,.ins fire department, sub- mitted his annual raport in which he listed the permanent 1orce at twenty six men Four of. the latter are sub-| stitutes, leaving twenty-two men on 
 During meal hours" says the report, 'this IS cut down to one and half, not much of force to start work4at large fire in a city the size, of New Britain
 Agitation Is Started.
 So conspicuous is New Brltain's position in the matter of fire preven- tion tLaJ the Chamber of Commerce has deemed it necessary to take up the matter ard present the facts to tho public. In the second issue of the Bulletin, just of the press today, the Chamber of Commerce says in part:
 New Blitain has been extremely fortunate in the matter of fire losses and tlle question is in the minds of many wJ'o have given this matter serious tit ught, whether or not New Britain is depending too much on it's past good fortune. t5.
 Preparedness is a word we are hearing L.uch about at present, and it is one which should be applied to the vety important question. -es
 Tt sNould seem that the lesson learned from Salem should be suffi- tlent to create wide interest in a careful study of this question:
 Fire Loss Is Small.
 The city fire department has been fortunate in adding another record of small fire loss to it's roster during the past year. In commenting on tho loss this morning, Ch!el Dame said lnat In spite of New Britain's low standing in point Of apparatus and permanent men, the total loss of s34.- o64 is the smallest of ali the cities in its class in the United States with the exception of Berkeley, Ca. This city. however, has nine fire stations fifteen pieces or apparatus all or which are motor and forty-two permanent men Against this showing. New Britain can boast O. only nine pieces of appara- rus of which are motor, and twenty six permanent men,
 The need of more motor apparatus IS one of Chief Danes greatest wor. res and he cannot understand why the common council fails to recoc- hize the economy of a change. The cIty has been considering the pur chase of motor truck for some tlne.' said the chief this morning
 put the appropriation was voted uoWn. A motor truck would cost So.70O and the cost or repairs and maintenance would be $50 year. "hlch IS based on the cost of the present motor equipment. The pres ent truck costs the city $1,45O year. S5O0 being the cost for the keep of the horses and $95O being the wages of driver At this rate the motor truck would pay for itself in three years and leave the city interest enough on it's investment to satisfy the most usurious financier."
 The Boards Position.
 The board of public safety stands as unit for better fire protection. The individual members are familiar with the position of New Britain among the cities of it's class in the matter of apparatus and permanent men, but the boards recommenda- tions have been ignored by the com mon council.
 The annual report of Chief Dame, submitted to the board last night, set forth in detail the number of