The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-01-29
CITY Commission
FIRE TRUCKS AGAIN COME UP
FOR DISCUSSION-OTHER
CITY BUSINESS,

Fire trucks vas the main topic of
conversation at the regular weekly
meeting of the city commission last
night in the council chamber at the
city hall. The city commission knows
that they need some kind of eff
cient fire fighting apparatus, and
fully intend to purchase something
along that line. So many different
trucks have been explained to the
commissioners, and the advantages
of each pointed out by the fluent
statesmen, that they have decided to
do nothing definite until they can see
some of the apparatus in action. A
demonstration was to have been held
at Sioux Falls last week, but was
postponed on account of some of the
apparatus being delayed in transit.
The commissioners will attend the
demonstration when it is held and
will then decide on the kind of appa-
ratus which will fill their needs.
liver Rad was present at the meet
ing last night with pictures, price
| llSlS anu SPECIFICATIONS VI Tic INtO OHt
and two ton fire trucks. The two
ton truck which sells for $500, is
equipped with two 35-gallon chemi-
cal tanks and $50 feet of chemical
hose, has room for carrying 1900
feet of fire hose, and is equipped with
electric lights and self starter.
w. H. Baddeley was also present
with pictures of the Maxwell one and
a half ton truck. Mr.. Baddeley's
brother, who is employed by the HUI
ron Auto Supply company, had heard
that Madison was contemplating the
purchase of a fire truck and wrote
to his brother here giving him a
short description of the truck and
pointing out it's best features. The
truck is equipped with ladders and
two hand chemical tanks, and has
provisions for the installation of a
larger chemical tank. The truck
without the larger tank sells for ST.
$50, and the larger tank installed is
$500 extra. The truck is now located
at Pierre, but is not in use there. Mr..
Baddeley was asked by the commits
sioners TO secure more definite de-
tails and specifications and TO pre-
sent them to the commissioners at
their next regular meeting.
1t seems that some of the minor
equipment of the fire department has
been kept up in rather poor shape,
and the commissioners are going to
make it a point to find out who has
charge of it and see that his duties
are fulfilled. 1t also seems that any
time anyone wants to borrow a lam
tern, ak or rubber coat they go to
the fire hall and help themselves. and
in many cases suffer lapse of memory
as to when and where they procured
such articles. An effort will be made
I to keep the equipment there at all
times and in such shape that it will
D be ready for immediate use.
The hydrant at the corner of Van
3, Fps avenue and Third street N. w.
which was found to be frozen Sunday
: night, was tested out last fall and
was found to be all right at hat time
G Those in charge are at a loss to know
why it should be out of order at this
a time.
The lack of water pressure Sunday
night was not due to ignorance OF
neglect in taking care of the equip,
ment and seeing to it thai it is in firsl
V class shape. The electric valve at the
/, power house which shuts the water
n off from the standpipe and sends the
pressure directly into the mains is
n tested at intervals and has always
been found to work perfectly, but or
g Sunday night when it was needed
badly, it refused to perform it's func
tons without a great deal of coaxing
and it was some time before the wa
ter could be turned into the mains OF
direct pressure.
The public comfort station which
c is to be installed by the city came in
u for a share of the discussion. Mayor
u Robertson had intended to look into
, the matter yesterday, but the fire oil
the night before had interfered with
n his plans and he was unable to pre-,
sent anything definite. Rough plans
were drawn by the mayor and talked
over by the commission, but nothing
, definite was done until the contractor
Z who will have charge of the work
can be conferred with.
The term of r. l.. Kingsley as city