Norwich bulletin., 1921-10-26

According to recommendations made by the fire commissioners of the common council, an appropriation of S4l,0O0 for new apparatus for the fire department is to be asked at special city meeting on Friday evening of this week which has been called by Mayor H. M. Lerou. Two bumpers, to cost about s12.500 each, and an aerial truck to cost about s1500o, all motor-driven are the pieces of apparatus, which the fire commissioners are advocating to be bought at this time. The financing of this large appropria- tion can be accomplished sMayor Lerou said Tuesday without adding any to the | city tax. It will be proposed that the | city take five years to pay off the money l that it will borrow to buy the fire aeparat- us, if the city meeting votes the appro- priation.
 l Need Has Been Growing
 Asked Tuesday about contemplated ad- 1 dition of apparatus to the fire department, Chief Howard L. Stanton called attention to his recommendation made each year | for a number of years past for the pur- chase of additional apparatus but each year this recommendation has been turn l ed down. It has been the purpose of the
 different fire commissioners, who have re- cognized the need of more a,papratus, to
 
 plan has been defeated each time it was 1 offered, and the time has now arrived
 when the need has reached an acute stage.
 | At the present time, said Chief Stanton, | the available motor apparatus of the Norwich fire department, outside of the chiefs and the deputy chiefs cars consist of three pieces the Pope-Hartford chemi- cal at the Main street station, which is ten years old, the Cadillac chemical at the
 West Side station, which was an impro- , vised but serviceable piece of apparatus
 and the Seagrave bumper, which was i. bought in 1915 and is as good as new. Three Appropriations in 20 Years Norwich really needs three bumpers continued Chief Stanton. There has beer , no appropriation for apparatus since 191i 7 and only three appropriations for appa ? ratus in the last twenty years. In 1905 {
 steamer was bought, in 1906 another $ steamer and in 1915 the Seagrave bumper $ The department also has the aeria 5 hook and ladder truck but the horses l which have to be kept by the city tt
 draw it have now become so old tha : there are many places in the city wher
 they cannot pull the truck and the easies
 grades have to be picked out In order t
 get the truck to nre when II reSpOnQS U
 an alarm. It would be folly to buy nev
 horses, and in addition to that an exercis > wagon must be kept and this is nov
 played out. Another exercise wagon vii = be needed if horses are to be kept 7 Both the steam engines are horse : drawn, but the city is in the position wit = relation to these of having the steamer V but no horses to get them to a fire.
 
 j. Maintenance Cost Low Il In the maintenance of city fire depart
 ments said Chief Stanton, it is considere II good management if the maintenance cos a can be kept to a $50 per capita on tn V population. In Norwich the averag
 maintenance cost for twelve years show i- $S,S92, which is per capita of 29 l.
 cents.
 Figures taken from the general e,
 pense account of the fire department, n, S. rios al- II