The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-09-23
CITY MODERNIzES
FIRE DEPARTMENT
MODERN MOTOR DRIVEN FIRE
TRUCK INSTALLED HERE
THIS WEEK
PUTS SAUk CENTRE AT front
NEW EQUIPMENT TO INCREASE
THE EFFICIENCY OF FIRE
ladies

In the fall of 1914 committee from
the local fire department appeared be-
fore the City Council with the sug-
gestion that if the Council would take
up an order held by the Firemen's
Relief Association for $1,000, the fire.
men would use the money for the pur-
chase of badly needed equipment. The
Council decided to accept the liberal
offer made by the department and ne
gotiations were at once entered into
with the w. S. Mott Co., of Minneap-
oils, for the purchase of a new COM
bination chemical and hose wagon.
The wagon arrived some time in the
early spring, and after it had been de-
livered it was found to be much heav
Ter than the firemen had been lead to
believe it would be. 1t was entirely
impracticable for city of the calibre
of Sank Centre, and large majority
of the department were dissatisfied.
Of course the Mott Co., made the
sale to the city, but payment was
withheld until the latter part of last
week when committee consisting of
President of the Council Geo. O'Gara
City Clerk Cooper and City Attorney
L. L. Kells held conference with the
Mott company in Minneapolis at which
time the Company agreed to take the
wagon back upon payment by the city
of $500.
Before leaving Minneapolis the
committee also investigated one of
the modern Wilcox combination chem
ical, hose and ladder motor driven
trucks. The upshot of this meeting
was that the committee asked the Will
cox people to drive the truck to Sank
Centre with the understanding that if
the firemen were satisfied that it
would meet the city's needs after
demonstration, that the City would
purchase the truck. --.----...a. Ill
The machine arrived Sunday after
noon since which time it has been put
through every conceivable stunt and
at meeting of the council held Tues
day morning it was decided to COM
plete the purchase of the truck upon
the recommendation of petition
signed by As of the firemen expressing
their entire approval of the motor
driven Wilcox.
The new machine will cost the tax
payers in the neighborhood of $500,
the balance of the $4,000 purchase
price of the truck has been pand out
of the fremen's relief fund.
The Herald is glad that the problem
has been so successfully solved; in the
first place by getting rid of the old
outfit at loss of $500, and of acquir-
ing the new and modern apparatus at
the price of $4,000. Messrs. O'Gara,
Cooper and Kells, the committee put
ting the deal across are entitled to the
Communications of the public as &
whole and are receiving it.
The new equipment is in keeping
with the progressive spirit of the city
and will greatly lessen the fire hazard
1t is very likely the most up-to-date
equipment in any city of the state the
size of Sank Centre.
This big new truck has equipment
to take care of any three-story build
ing, and can make any point in the
city within three minutes after ar
alarm is turned in.
The Wilcox Trux is made in Mime
apolis. 1t is capable of carrying LOCO
feet of fire hose, and 10 men at
high rate of speed, in addition to the
regular equipment, which consists OF
two hook ladders, two extension lad
ders, assortment of picks, axes, crow
bars, torches, lanterns, bell, siren, wa
ter buckets, hand chemicals, one
Northern 40 gallon chemical tank with
200 feet of chemical hose. This chem
ical outfit is so arranged that when the
chemical is exhausted, city water fron
the hydrant can be run through thu
chemical hose, and used to charge the
chemical tank at the same time; thi;
gives continuous stream from the
chemical hose; thus the firemen do no
have to carry in second hose, nor al
any time lose their water supply
whether or not the chemical tank il
empty As the chemical mixture ha;
40 times the strength of water ano
80 per cent of fires are put out by
chemical, if they are reached In time
the motor driven apparatus is most
successful, as it reaches the fire ir
time to put the fire out before toe
much Roadway has been made.
This apparatus is built by the H.
E. Wilcox Motor Co, of Minneapolis
has, a long wheel base, thus giving
plenty of room for hose and equip
ment; has large running, boards,
which makes it safe for the fremen to;
ride; has q high powered, high speed