Evening journal., 1921-06-24
FIREMEN Want
CITY TO BUY
ALLENGINEES
CONTINUED from First Page }

In addition TO the ten companies,
according to plans being discussed,
the erection Of fire houses at Ninth
and Rodney streets and Fourth and
West streets are being considered
for additional companies.
There Is now a large section OF the
western part OF the city without suf-
ficient fire protection, It is pointed
out by those advocating the new FIRE
house at Ninth and Rodney streets,
and a company stationed there would
afford protection and could easily
respond to alarms in the business
section, as the runs would practi-
cally all be down hill
The Union fire company has called
a special meeting for tonight to take
action on the sale Of its property at
Third and Union streets to the De-
partment Of Public Safety.
The Directors OF the Department
Of Public Safety have refused TO give
out any prices paid for fire proper
ties, as they claim Il would inter-
fere with their purchase Of other
properties.
In addition to the purchase Of the
| fire houses the Directors are securing
estimates on new equipment Ten
thousand feet OF new hose is expect
ed to be ordered soon. Sealing
ladders and other modern fire fight
ing appliances are also ON the list OF
supplies and will probably be de-
livered before the new department
becomes effective on September /.
While a considerable number Of
men have applied for positions in
the new department. many Of them,
il is stated, cannot measure up TO
the physical requirements For the
purpose of increasing interest in the
paid fire department the Directors
are considering the publication in
the newspapers of the amount Of
wages to be paid firemen and the
advantages Of working for the city
as FIRE fighters.
With more than two hundred
names on file less than half. IL is re-
ported, are fitted for the work OF a
hremen by reason Of age or some
physical defects.
It was said today that the Direc-
tors of Public Safety have about de-
cided to buy two new pumping en-
gines for the paid department. One
is to be an Ahrens-Fox machine
somewhat like the Fame and Water
Witch companies now have. and the
other is to be an American-LaFrance
machine, the first of the kind for
the Wilmington department. Both
are Of the automobile engine type.
Some Fircmen Agitated.
Members Of some Of the fire COM
panies whose apparatus it is report
ed did not meet the requirement.
set by the experts who conducted
the tests are agitated over the pos
sibility that the Directors OF Public
Safety may not buy their apparatus
] II such should prove true, severa
j, companies would be lit with pump
ing engines on their hands and with
little immediate chance of selling
them.
. According to reports among FIRE
men who witnessed the tests con
Quoted by the experts from othei
cities, several pumping engines die
p not meet the specifications. Amonl
the companies whose pumping ap
paratus did not measure up entirel,
are reported to be the Reliance
Phoenix. Washington, Brandywin'
and independence. The Phoent
steam engine and the Reliance gas
oline motor pumper were givei
Z three tests.
The Phoenix fell short in som
respect in all three tests. and tn
Reliance, after failing in two tests
made a far better showing in tn
third, It is said. The Brandywin
a and Independent engines, II is said
!. developed valve or tube trouble nea
y the end OF their workouts, whicl
had been satisfactory up to tina
time, II is reported. The Washingto
engine met all pumping require
y ments, but fell slightly short whe
. its auto tractor was tried out.
Whether any of the above-name
l apparatus will be taken over. or wi
not be taken over, by the city Ia
not been stated by the directors O
the Department Of Public Safety. A
any rate, firemen Of some Of IN
companies are agitated for fear thei
apparatus may not be bought by tn
city and may be left on the voluntee
companies hands. when the paid de
partment is established.
/ According to reports. the Friend
ship, Fame. Water Witch; Weccaco'
Liberty and Union pumping outfit
and the Delaware truck met the eS
perts' requirements and in all prob
ability will be taken over by the cit!
That efforts will be made to hay
the Directors Of Public Safety bu
the engines, chemical apparatus an
hose wagons OF all the compani'
now existing in Wilmington wa
stated today.
while some OF the pumping al
paratus did not measure up to n
standards set by the experts" said
man interested in the situation. q
\ day, lit would not take a great e.
penditure TO restore all FIRE engin'
in the city to first-class conditio
The trouble. speaking frankly,
that some OF the pumping engin'
have been looked after at times
amateurs and not practical men.
men who were skilled in caring Il
such apparatus had been in chars
at all times, as would be the ca,
with a paid fire department, 1 ha'
no doubt every pumping engine
Wilmington would meet the rig
requirement set by the experts. YC
don't recall any Wilmington engin
breaking down in actual pumpir
service at fires. do you? I think tn
is a phase OF the situation the Dire
tors Of Public Safety should II
quire into thoroughly, in justice