The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-08-11
COUNCIL BUYS
TWO ROBINSON
fire TRUCKS
Council Votes 5 to 3 to Dis
regard Special Committee
Report.
BOTH MACHINES WILL
COST CITY S11,S27.5O
To Be Here in 80 Days-Row
Marks Argument Over
Motor Apparatus.

rival motor fire fighting engines, water
pumps, hook and ladders, combination
trucks, triple combination outfits and
everything else in the way of fire
squelching apparatus discussed for two
hours last night, the City Council
awarded the contract for two machines
to the Robinson Company of St
Louis.
The new equipment will be delivered
within the next 80 days, and an en-
gineer sent along to teach the Cape
Girardeau men how to handle gasoline
buggies instead of horses.
The purchase of the Robinson equip
ment resulted in a break between the
mayors special fire engine investiga
ton committee and the remainder of
the council. The vote on the PROPOSE
|
son was carried to 3, the following
voting for Councilman Seagraves' mo-
ton: Armgardt, Seagraves, Medley,
Kaess and Brunke.
Black, Fowler and Bowman voted
against the motion and a few minutes
preceding the vote, Mr.. Black anc
Fowler submitted a report of their
committee recommending that the city
purchase the American-LaF France ma
chine.
The discussion of the rival machines
was marked by several verbal tits be-
tween the contending statesmen for the
two machines. At one time Mayor
Rage was forced to call upon Chief
Hutson to restore order.
Members of the council also engaged
in verbal tits over the purchase Of
the rival machines as they argued out
their convictions about the two type..
The Robinson and American La France
machines were the only cars consider
ed at the meeting.
Under the contract awarded the
Robinson firm, the city will buy a
alrge Jumbo pumping engine. which
is guaranteed to throw $50 gallons of
water minute with it's powerful fore.
pump. The cost of that machine alone
is $500. The hook and ladder will
be equipped with a 45-foot extension
ladder as we'll as chemical tank and
hose bed. 1t costs alone $500.
The contract price to the city for
both together is $13,15O. From this
will be deducted 5-per cent discount
for cash, and the company will allow
$500 for the present equipment, so that
the net cost to the city of the new
equipment will be $11,827.5O.
The prices that were quoted for the
American-La France machines prOvid-
ed $500 for a pumping engine and
$500 for the hook and ladder. The
two together were to cost $4,000 anc
$500 to be allowed for the old equip
ment.
One of the main points of difference
in the two pumping engines that was
brought out in the discussion of the
apparatus, was the relative merits of
a piston pump for water throwing
against the rotary pump. The car that
was purchased by the city will be
equipped with a piston pump which is
highly recommended by the National
Boari of Fire Underwriters.
The council now has spent s2225 for
new hose for the fire department, SILL
S27.50 for fire apparatus and has left
on hand $3.50 with which to make al
terations at the fire department sta
ton sc that the new motor equipment
may be housed properly and the proper
care of the hose provided.
1t is estimated that it will require
from $3.50 to $1,000 to make the altera-
lions at the fire station and the balance
of the fund will be used in the re-
organization Of the fire department.
The council also passed motion in
structing the Proposition and Griev-
ance Committee to investigate fire
plugs that have been out of commits
sion and see that they are charged off
on the Public Utilities water bill, as
well as $40 day penalty for furnish
ing bad water.
An ordinance approving the platt of
the Albert place was deferred on ac-
count of an alley that was unsatisfac-
tory and the extension of North stree:
through Matteson Terrace was approx
ed and made law.
A motion also was passed to give
place in the park for band shell and