Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1922-02-24
REASONS FOR RESIGNING

article, our reasons for resigning
The failure of the council to CO.
operate with the fire department was
the main reason. Several times we
have asked for various equipment
that would improve the service. In
no instance have we received the
kind of equipment we wanted.
In the first place when bids for
a fire truck were called for Chief
Ewing fought for a larger truck,
knowing that the truck called for
would not meet the requiremets. The
delivery of the truck seemed to make
the council think they had every
thing necessary in the way of fire
fighting equipment. Enough has
been said before in regard to the
truck and it is not necessary to go
however, from the standpoint of the
men who have had to work with it
that said truck is worse than a joke
It's faults far outnumber anything
good which may be said about it.
Also the hose which was purchased
is not pliable enough to be of much
use.
The equipment for the truck, sold
by M. NJ See of the Northwest Fire
Apparatus Co. of Spokane, consisted
of chemical tank, chemical hose and
reel. one extension ladder, one hook
ladder, 400 feet of fire hose, crow
bar and axe. The connections be-
tween the chemical tank and hose
is not practical and loosens when
the hose is reeled Off The connec-
tions for the fire hose did not fit
and had to be made over. The hook
ladder is as good as the rest and is
not safe for man to climb on.
However, we wish to congratulate
the council upon their selection of
the axe, crowbar and extension lad
der, since they will work.
In the spring of 1921 the firemen
asked the council to have various
repairs made at the different hose
cart houses to make it easier to get
the carts in and out We also asked
to have some of them moved to more
suitable locations. The request was
granted but so far nothing has been
done. What was done such as paint
ing hydrants, fixing some of the hose
houses, was done by the firemen free
of any charge to the city
About the same time the need of
a siren was felt by the firemen, but
for lack of sufficient funds, it was
not possible to get one then. After
the fires of November ii we felt we
must have siren, since only a few
of the firemen heard the "old family
bell" and turned out. At the next
meeting of the council we offered to
give our allowance of $500 for 1922
on siren, providing it would be sat
isfactory and efficient. Bids were
called for and two sets of bids were
submitted. One by NJ. M. See, the
man who sold them the chemical
equipment, quoted the Denver single
head siren at $733.50, and the dou-
bic head siren at $957.5O The 9TH
er bid, by Dana & Thornton of Pull
man, quoted the Sterling double head
siren at $6S6OO
The council decided to accept Mr..
Sees bid for the single head Denver
siren since he stated that it would
make more noise than the Sterling
double head type. They planned to
try it out in comparison with the
"old family bell.' However, we
wanted to see both sirens given
fair trial So Dana & Thornton or
dered Sterling siren, installed it
and gave the city a demonstration
without any cost to the city At the
demonstration the Sterling siren
proved its superiority to the Denver
in every way. Still the council goes
on dealing with man who has stung
them every chance he gets
VIC nave uOHG Oul uGSl 10 udht
this a good fire department We
have spent our own money for equip
ment such as hats, coats, boots, belts,
spanners, etc The men have been
very faithful and we have bunch
that can be depended upon to be
there no matter what time of night
the alarm might sound. The back
ing the council has given us has
made us feel that we are wasting our
time. So we are quitting.
When our resignation was read at
the council meeting they didn't even
recognize us as a fire department.
However. they have been turning
$500 per year over to the depart