The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-03-24
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Commission Wants Thorough Under
standing of Bonding Propositions.

The city commission is pleased to
answer the questions of Taxpayer"
in regard to the proposed improve
ment in the Fire Department, as fol-
| lows:
First: Motor driven apparatus
gives better service because it can
| get away from the fire house quicker
| can go faster and reach the fire soon
er than horse drawn apparatus.
Each hose truck is provided with
pump capable of throwing one pow
| erful stream of water at a much
| higher pressure than is furnished
from the water mains. This would
| be a decided advantage in the case
Of fire in a factory, large business
| building or where the water mains
| were small and tho pressure from
them low.
Second The yearly cost of oper-
ating the present horse drawn sys-
tenn is S11,5S1.S3 and the yearly
cost Of operating the motor driven
system would be SS,642.85 or S2,-
$1,000 less than it is now costing
the city This saving is enough tn ray
the average interest on bonds and
pay 100000 per year on the prin-
cipal without adding to the taxes. Or
in other words the city can have the
use of a modern motor driven fire
department without adding one cent
to the taxes and at the end of fifteen
years own the plant. After the plant
is paid for the net saving to the city
will be approximately 100000 per
year. We believe this a splendid
business proposition.
Third: The fact that such cities
as Lansing, Bay City, Saginaw, Elrt
and scores of others have substitut-
ed motor driven for horse-drawn fire
apparatus ought to be conclusive
evidence that motor driven appara-
tus "aa successfully negotiate dirt
roads. IL there is any question in
the mind of Taxpayer" in regard to
this matter, we suggest that he visit
Flint where he will find dirt roads
compared to which the dirt roads of
Owosso are 5oulevards, yet the in
surance companies think so we'll Of
Flint's motor driven fire department
that they have given her class two
rating. There are only two other
cities in this insurance class in Mich
igan-Grand Rapids and Detroit,
both of which are completely equip
ped with motor driven apparatus.
Most 5f the cities in Michigan are IN
classes ranging from 2 " to 5. Owos-
so is in class three. No city that has
once adopted the motor driven ap-
paratus has ever returned to horse
drawn apparatus.
Fourth: This we believe is cover
ed in the answer to your third ques-
ton, however we hope, in the near
future, to publish some letters from
fire chiefs of cities having motor
driven apparatus giving their exper-
fences.
Fifth: The workingman who lives
outside the business district will re-
ceive more benefit from a motor
driven fire department than any 9TH
er ind,y,!"al IN the city, because liv.
ing at a distance, the motor driven
machines would reach his home in
probably half the time taken by
horse drawn apparatus, reaching the
fire ni"lrr. the chemical which eacn
motor driven machines carries could
be used more effectively, and in case
the chemicals were not sufficient and
there were no water mains the
pumps with which each motor hose
truck is provided could take water
from any we'll, cistern or creek in
the vicinity and with them subdue
the fire.
Sixth: The bonded Indebtedness,
when the commission came into Of
flee was 100000, today it is
$241, 500 or a reduction in two
years of $14,500.00. In addition to
this there has been placed in the
sinking fund S1,360.00 making the
reduction in the bonded indebted
ness 5,S00.00
We wish to thank Taxpayer" for
asking these questions, through the
newspapers and hope that citizens
will follow his example "a this Is an
important cue stion anu every voter
shoul he well informed there on be-
fore casting ballot.
Yours very respectfully,
The City Commission,
Jap,ac naTounu MovOr