Norwich bulletin., 1921-07-26
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Our FlEe Department.


 Mfr Editer: If there is one department of cur Nty of which our citizens should feel proud, it Is our fire department By this I mean the personnel and not the equipment. The showing of Chief Stan ton and his men, considering the lack of tools to work with, is remarkable. One of the opponents of more apparatus saw fit to compare our department with that of eur neighbor, New London. In so do- ing he cameuhaged the facts. In looking over the report of the city treasurer and of the fire chieF of New London for the last fiscal year, 1920, I find the following interesting facts:
 The total appropriations for the New London fire department were ss3,4o as compared to $5o,f45 for Norwich for the same year. This is equal to S1.s5 for eacn S1 for Chief Stanton's men. Norwich had S6.s02.52 above salaries while New Lon don had S7s,46T.25, a ratio of S1oe for Norwich to s1o.15 fer New Ienden. The average cost per machine fer shoes, tubes gas. etc, in New LendeH wass4ss.55. In Norwich it was S1S.S4 In Norwich the average cost per horse for forage, shoeing etc., was s312.40. New London's new hose cost an even S5,0o0. While Norwich could buy none, although 5000 feet of it's total of II 800 is from two to eleven years old, 1000 feet from five to eleven years old and the balance from eleven te eighteen years old Norwich's fuel cost $1,454,o7 and New London paid $2,331.s1 for heat. NerBich's telephone bille amounted to ss26.3o, v hile New London was S5e4.7S. Our 27 men incurred a bill of $13S.76 for gas and electric, while New Iondon's men cost S1e72sS for | midnight oil Laundry and bedding, etc. for 27 men in Norwich cost $147S5 while New London paid the Columbia Towel and Supply Go. SIPS for towels alone
 These figures are cited to show what Chief Stanton has done in the way of economy, and to prove that his rEeem- mFRdations are reasonable. It is safe to say that he is one city official who will not pad his recommendations to ab- normal size for the sake of getting part of them through. It does not take more 1 than average intelligence to see the nee. l essity of modern fire-hghting appa ratus and fire risk insurance rates are a big | factor in getting new industries and hold 1 ing old cones. The Fhamesyille sectior | contains some of the largest industrla plants in the city, and has no fire pro | lection nearer than Main street and Wes Main street, with narrow and congesteG | thoroughfare to pass through. Motor ap paratus should be located nearer thar 1 one mile from these plants and resi- l denees.
 A word about bumpers New LondoT 1 has the following pieces of appa ratus l One SeagFaye combination hook and lad l der truck and chemical, three Seagrav' | combination pumping engines hose car rier and chemical, one LaFrance cenbin ation hose wagon and chemicals, on' automobile hose wagon, forty gallon two 1 wheel chemical, two automobile sauat wagons, all motorized. Also one stean fire engine and one herse-drawn hook ant lader, which have been condemned There is not a- heFse-ArsTn piece of ap paratus in the service in New London Given a chief like ours such apparatus a 1 New London has and it would be the hes department in the country. Lets d. something for eur department.
 PROGRESS.
 Norwich, July 25. 1921.