Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-26
hIaintenance Cost Low

years. an average of $S.Ss2.
 Included in these figures are the pur- chase price of the Cadillac car in service at the West Side station, the chiefs Rec car and the deputy chiefs Buick car. These three pieces were purchased by way of trade of old horses and material at a cost of $500. Purchase of new firm alarm boxes and maintenance of the fire alarm system with 37 miles of wire, renewal of batteries, etc, are included in these figures. The largest items are for fuel, forage and hose. which went to high prices during the war, as is apparent in the increased figures in the war years
 No account has been made of the 1 amount of money that has been return ed to the city treasurer for the sale q old horses that the department paid for from regular appropriations, which amounted in 1916 to $500. In 20 years | the fire department has exceeded its ap- propriation orA gree times, and then | because O. conditions beyond the control of those directing it, as, for instance in | 1911, when a lot of new hose had to be l bought because of the low water condl- {, tions.
 Pumper at Thamesville
 The now vacant West Thames street station should have one of the proposed new bumpers put in it with a company to operate it, said Chief Stanton. This would not necessarily increase the num- Der of men in the department The mo- tor driven aerial truck that is wanted would be placed at the central station This would carry 75-foot laGder which would be long enough to reach the highest building in the town and could also be used as water tower, just as the pres -;11 ,01y number of occasions and has given valu- able service in saving lives and property : The second additional bumper asked for could replace the practically worn out chemical at the Main street station, ol could be placed anywhere that the com missioners deemed advisable.
 Chief Stanton declared that it was nc secret that unless the apparatus in tht Norwich fire department could be bolster ed up, the city and town stood a strong possibility of being re-rated on it's in surance rates and of getting into a clas where the rates would be higher than the, are now. At present Norwich is in Gas B. which is the same as Hartford ant New Haven the only other Class B citie in Connecticut.
 Calling attention to the interest tha : the citizens in general have in raising tn . fire department to still greater efficienc by providing apparatus Chief Stanto
 spoke of the important manufacturing in | dustries, some of which probably woul . not rebuild here if their plants should un fortunately be destroyed by fire. Ther
 has also been a very considerable in
 crease in the number of houses in out
 lying parts of the city, and these all ca h for more provision for fire fighting. v Protects Humane Institutions 2 Norwich also has r-umber of human y institutions such as the Rock Nook hom e Sheltering Arms Backus hospital, Johr T son home and Tuberculosis sanatoriun l, It happens that all of these are outsid If of the city limits but they all expect fiji r protection and everybody expects that d shall be given them by the Norwich fiji 0 department. There are also large mills le the town, but outside the city limits, an 1t for these also it is expected that fire pr, > lection shall be given by the Norwich fl r. department.
 's Reserve Apparatus Needed n With only one bumper, as at presen Ia Chief Stanton pointed out that the ci
 would be pracsically stripped of protectit Ie if he should be obliged to send the pum
 CT to a fire at any of these institutions
 mills outside the city. The only ssa ve protection is to have at least one oth m bumper to hold in reserve at any tin : Just how valuable a reserve ernacht