The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-02-06

At the meeting of the Commission.
erS of Cambridge last night, the mem
| bers of Rescue Fire Company atten-
| ded en- masse as delegation seeking
prompt action upon the part of the
| Commissioners to secure the sale OF
! the Fire Equipment bonds authoriz-
land Legislature.
4 special meeting of the members
of the Fire Company was convened at
half-past seven o'clock, and judging
from the number present it would
| seem that every active member of
the Department was on hand. The
question of the additional apparatus
needed was discussed, and it was de-
cided that tractor for the present
steamer engine, and an autom obile
hook and ladder truck, were the
pressing needs at this time.
There has been, in the past, some
criticism of the Fire Company be-
cause the engine has not been taken
out at the first alarm of fire, but
those making such criticism were
not acquainted with the conditions,
as much valuable time would have
been lost in reaching the various
fires if this had been attempted. The
important thing, of course, at every
fire, is to get to it as quickly as pos
sible, as many fires can be easily ex-
tinguished by getting small stream
of water on them promptly
The first thing done when a fire
cart and a crew of firemen to the.
scene at once; the hose is layed out
and a stream of water is gotten on
the fire quickly, then the truck is
sent back for the engine, but the
time required to send the truck back
for the engine amounts to minutes,
the number of minutes depending
upon the distance from the engine
house to the scene of the fire. 1t
this is a long distance, and the fire
is a fierce one, it may gain great
Roadway before the engine arrives.
but this Roadway does not compare
with the Roadway it would likely
gain if there was the necessary delay
of from five to ten minutes which
would be required to run the truck
out. back it again and hook on to the
engine.
The firemen have recognized the
need for some quick method of get
ting the engine to the fire for the
past two or three years, and have
been making every possible effort to
get the necessary equipment, and in
order that the money might be pro-
vided through the proper channels,
ture bill was introduced and pass
ed permitting and requiring the Com
missioners to bond Cambridge to the
extent of $4,000 for the purchase Of
the necessary equipment.
1t was not considered feasible, on
account of the war conditions, to is
sue these bonds last year, but now
that the war is over the urgent need
for the equipment is such that-thes
Commissioners, after hearing from
the firemen, decided to issue the
bonds as soon as possible.
When the new equipment is deliv-
cred the engine of the Company will
go out on all alarms of fire. This is
in line with the recommendations OF
the Underwriters Association, which
made a thorough inspection of the
fire risk situation in Cambridge three
or four years ago. The automobile
engine, in connection with the auto
mobile hook and ladder equipment,
will give Cambridge an up-to-date
fire fighting apparatus, and will
greatly lessen the danger from fires.
The needs of the Fire Company
were presented to the Commission
ers by President Russell P. Smith, OF
the Fire Company; former Mayor
Clement G. Rogers, and P. Watson
Webb, while a letter written by
Clerk of the Circuit, William H.
Medford, was made a part of the rec
ords, Mr.. Medford being unable to
be present on account of being cali
ed away from Cambridge on business
After hearing the arguments, the
Commissioners unanim ously decided
to authorize the selling of the bonds.
1t will probably be several months
after the sale of the bonds before
the equipment can be secured, as all
the companies manufacturing such
equipment are crowded with orders.