The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-26
rrinle Combination Machine
Will be Put in Service
Here at Sixth Street
Department.
MEETING LAST NIGHT
citizens Endorse Plan Of Com
missioner Collins and Fa-
yor Purchase Of the
Truck.

An automobile fire truck may be in
eorv;ce here within week. The
machine will be 100 horse power
American-La France, triple combina
lion truck equipped with chemical en-
n;na ladders, hose reel and pressure
nnmn The cost of the machine is
20 mo. but the chemical engine now
n use will be traded in for $500. The
sale of the horses at the Sixth street
denartment will reduce the cost to
abont 1880. The machine is now
;n chicago and will be brought here
within a few days, probably within 4
week.
The plan of the city commissioners
IN purchase an automobile fire truck
With a pressure pump equipment in
stead of truck with only chemical
engine and hose reel was heartily en-
dorsed at the meeting of citizens held
last eight at the superior court room,
here being but two present who ex-
rressed themselves as opposed to
tbe purchase of the truck at the pres
eBt time.
The meeting was presided over by
Commissioner J. A. NJ. Collins who
explained to those present the results
Of the tests and Investigation he
and Fire Chief John Anderson had
made in their recent trip to Chicago
and other cities. He also explained
what the city proposed to do and
asked the opinion OF those present
as to this course of action.
+ q
Objections Are Met.
Objections made by local people to
the purchase of an automobile truck.
that the streets here are too rough
for an automobile, were met by Mr..
Collins when he explained what one
OF. the cars did in tests conducted at
Chicago recently when he was there.
I'VE took the truck over the worst
streets and roads that you can find
any place in this city" said Mr.. Col
Inns When first saw some OF the
humps, thought | would be thrown
from my seat, but the truck rode
those bumps like one Of these little
boats down here on the river rides
the waves. was much surprised at
this, especially since the truck was
not loaded with fire hose. with which
i is regularly equipped. understood.
however, when they told me that
they had to build the trucks so they
could be used on these sort Of
streets
Il first took up this automobile
truck idea when started to reduce
the expenses Of the department
which had been running behind for
several years. The department was
conducted last year in such a man
ner that the expenses did not exceed
the income from the fire fund. but the
fund is in debt. 1t is neces sary to
reduce this Indebtedness. The spur
chase Of an automobile truck was
originally suggested by Chief Ander-
SON ! admit that / was very skeptic-
al at first, but was willing to investi-
gate. After | had figured it over, l
found that through the purchase Of
an automobile truck we could do two
,nings In this department: first, in
crease the efficiency of the depart
lhent to very large extent, and sec
ono: reduce the expenses of the de-
partment to such an extent that It
could be conducted within its income
every year and so that the cost of
lne automobile truck could be paid
out OF this saving in expenses with
In a short time.
In Other Cities.
Ihen we went further and investi-
e e:. what they have done in other
si'les where automobile trucks have
zee, ueen IN use. We found that almost
NIL mtnout exception, they have met
. WIN the greatest success. In one or
:; .~o places they had made mistake
-. ~ their selection Of certain make
- 'ruck, but in no case were they