Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-03
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIRE DEPT.
Chief Howard L. Stanton Advises Motorzng of Entire De
 partment in His Annual Report-186 Alarms During
 Past Year.

would be changed or the stations l
 abandoned.
 For many years the attention of this |
 department has been called to the need
 of apparatus at the Thamesville sec
 ton of the city, and with the growing
 section unprotected except by a horse
 drawn company nearly one mile away.
 it would appear that steps should be
 taken to put the station. already To-
 cated in a suitable location, in proper
 condition and install a piece of motor
 apparatus, preferably a motor pump
 CT. on account of the large industries already located in this vicinity, with prospect of more to be established. The entire department should be motorized at once, experience has proven the advantage of motor driven apparatus over. horse drawn, not only from the point of efficiency but from the reduced cost Of maintenance. There are 509 hydrants installed throu ghout the city AS public and 61 private Four public hydrants were added the past year. All fire cisterns
 remain as reported one year ago. 14 the city, connected with city mains and holding from 5000 to 5000 gallons of water. There is II ,050 feet of hose distributed among the companies. The fire alarm system remains in 1 the same general condition as report ed one year ago. All alarms have been transmitted correctly and very | little trouble has occurred to prevent i it's working satisfactorily.
 The erection of new buildings of | importance have fallen off the past year: the larger number of frame i buildings erected were mostly garages, ] for new buildings and alterations were | granted follows Quarter ending | Sept. 30, 1916, 26; quarter ending Dec. | 31. 1916, 21; quarter ending March 31, l 1917, 12: quarter ending June 90, 1917, 1s. making a total of 7s permits grant 1 ed during the year.
 The inventory of the department property amounts to S129 900, ,Ge0. The 1 disbursements total sS5, ,499.6O, s29,- | 011.12 of which was paid out in sal aries.
 | The recommendations made to the | court of common council by the board | of fire commissioners May T, 1917. ! should be complied with to the end | that the entire department be motor | ized, the horses are from IS to IT years old. Some of the horses have 1 been in the service of the department 1 13 years.
 | The same condition exists at | Thamesville as reported in former re- ports, a growing section with Iatge l industrial plants. and no fire protec- | tion. I earnestly recommend that l some steps be taken to provide pro- 1 lection for this part of the city. Should | a. fire occur at this end of the city with i the apparatus from the center already out at fires. the loss would be consfd- erable.
 The condition at the GreeneviHe end 1 of the city should be improved by the purchase of motor apparatus, as the service from outside horses is very un- satisfactory. coupled with two entirely volunteer companies. A combination chemical, hose and pump for Engine company No. and light motor truck with 50 foot extension Ia adder should be purchased for Truck company No ?, with not less than five permanent
 men at the station, would make a sta.t toward giving Greenevilfe the protec- ton 1t deserves and needs. new building code should be adopted that would prohibit the use
 of wood shingles within the city linn it's.
 Some method should be adopted to ward creating a pension fund sin1ils r
 to other cities of the state, as the time
 will come when some members of the
 departme ent will be incapacitated either by age or disability.