The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-05-16
fire engine BOUGHT
CONDITIONAL CONTRACT SIGNED
TODAY-LONG CONSIDERA-
TION ENDED.

After a long consideration and
study of the machine best adapted
to the use of q city like Madison for
fire protection. a d~iscouraging wres-
tie with the problem of funds, the
imposition of which extra eXpendi-
ture doomed large in connection with
those incurred in the city improve
ments incident to paving and sewers,
the city commission this morning
signed a conditional contract for an
observation-disclosures truck in the sum
of $500. The inception of the &C
tivity toward better fire protection
than that offered by the equipment
now in use followed Immediately up
on an exhaustive treatment of a rise
in insurance rates, a treatment of
the equipment, and an account of the
normal expectancy of fire loss in The
Daily Leader last fall. Cognizance
was taken at once thereafter of the
city's situation in the matter, and an
agitation was at once begun toward
betterment.
Dul Ing tht WlHICl tic NOililllASoloh
ers considered the matter several
times, and gave much study to the
kind of machine best adapted to the
city use. The cold of the winter pre-
cluded a direct study of the subject
from exhibitions or machines in &C
ton, but many representatives of
both specially designed machines and
those built up or developed from
chassis and engines of other makes
were heard. This week a demonstra-
ton of the machine was attended.
and they were pleased with the show
ing made. 1t showed them that only
a good machine of standard make
and special design would give the de-
sired results.
Lack of funds was the n deter
rent factor at this time. The eXpend-
iture may be made only from the con-
tingent fund of the city, according to
state law. The contingent fund is in
a state of depletion, and the law also
provides that no contract for pur-
chase or expenditure may be made
that amounts to more than the levy.
After long consideration of this ii
dawned upon Mayor Robertson that
! the eelctric light fund would again
bear an assessment, transferring
enough to the contingent fund to
purchase the needed equipment.
The problem was solved. Monday
night a resolution will be adopted
making the transfer from the electric
light fund to the contingent fund.
and the purchase made. The city is
DESTROYS of having a new housing
built for the expensive light plant,
and assessments will be made in Sep
TENDER for enough to repay to this
fund what has been borrowed from
it.
Promises had been made that other
companies bids for prices of engines
would be considered. but they did not
have their data or authority at hand.
The conditional clause of the con-
tract with the observation-disclosures
people is for a Today acceptance of
the contract that these agents may
make their representations.
Owing to the difficulty of making
anything like immediate delivery of
the machine the switching Of funds
was made necessary. If 1T were de-
ferred until the time of making the
levy in September it would deprive
the city of the use of a machine dur
ing the risky months of winter,
Therefore they felt the necessity OF
ordering at as early a date as posi-
BILE. Then, too, the government al
times visits the manufacturing plant,
and seeing a machine that they want
they take 1t arbitrarily, and the city
for which ii was intended must bide
its time. AS it is, the machine will
not be received before some time late
in the fall or early winter, when the
tests will be made for acceptance.