Arizona republican., 1918-05-05
PLAN
 TO RA|SEFUND
 FUR AMBULANCE

If the plans of Fire Chief Thomas K. Murphy of the San Francisco Fire department are successfully carried out, the fire fighting organizations or the Pacific coast and adjacent states will create what is to be known as the ''firemens unit" the purpose or which is to purchase and fully equip three ambulances to be turned over to the Red Cross for service Tn France. Although the plan origin ated in California, the states of Wash lngton and Oregon have already evinced strong interest.
 To the end that Arizona, which is included in the list of states identi- lied with the Pacific coast organiza- tions, shall do it's bit" in this move ment, Chief Murphy has addressed communication to Fire Chief A. F. Wright of this city, designating the local fire executive as the chairman of the plan for this state. In the l absence of Chief Wright, the matter of interesting other Arizona chiefs in the work has been undertaken by Acting Chief W. D. Simmons.
 As means of starting the move ment in Arizona, Acting Chief Sim mons yesterday addressed letters to 50 or more chiefs throughout the state, asking them to communicate with him their views. The letters he sent the chiefs are identical and read as follows:
 May 3, 1918. | Dear Chief A movement is on foot | to start what is to be known as firemans' unit for the purchase of three ambulances to be fully equipped and turned over to. the Red Cross l for service in France The funds to be raised for this purpose to be subscribed exclusively by firemen of the Pacific coast and adjacent states as this tender is to be known as 'The Firemens' Unit" The present thought is of a s1 per man assess ment. no matter whether he be with a volunteer, fully paid or partly paid | department. This would place every fireman on common basis of S1 assessment.
 l have taken this matter of furnish ing three ambulances for service in France up with the local Red Cross officials and they have wired to the National Red Cross officials, and both these bodies are delighted with this proposition and have sanctioned it.
 The amount of money to be con | tributed by each state will be appor- tioned according to the number of firemen therein. This communication is more or less of an informal char acter in order to avoid any unneces- sary loss of time, and as it is a prop -osition that covers wide territory no matter how rapidly you work it will nevertheless take considerable i Ac be the first attempt at anything like this by by the firemen in any part of the country, and it will be fine thing in my judgment to have it started with the least possible delay.
 Awaiting your immediate reply and any suggestions you may have to offer, l beg to remain.
 Respectfully,
 W. D. SIMMONS,
 Acting Chief, Phoenix Fire Dept.
 In calling upon the Phoenix chief to take up the work, Chief Murphy says:
 T am going to ask you to take this up as state proposition. 1 hope you can see your way clear to handle this movement with the various de- partments throughout the state of ATlZDDd. ] Ou cOUlu communicate WILL each town, setting forth the plan, and he in turn could take the matter ur with his department. Then the va rious chiefs could communicate the result to you.
 This is the quickest and surest method of handling this important . proposition and at the same time each and every fireman will be giver , an opportunity to assist in this very worthy cause. The chiefs and fire men from the states of Oregon ant Washington as well as California arc '. all intensely interested and have sig l nified their good intentions by con tributing very literally.
 Awaiting your response at the very } earliest possible moment and an! suggestions or recommendations tha , you may have to offer will be ap preciated, I am,
 Yours most respectfully, 9 (Signed) "THOS R. MURPHY, 7 "Chief Engineer, s. r. F. D. -O-