Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-11-02
PUMP ENGINE
RECOMMEND
FOR THE CITY
MICHIGAN INSPECTION BUREAU
MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING FIRES.
Need for Pumper
Felt by the City

report OF lne MlcnlRdu lnSpeC-
tion Bureau regarding the fire de-
partment in this city, and with it the
waterworks system as it is effective
as means of combating fires, shows
among the recommendations that are
made for the betterment Of the sys-
tenn for fighting fires the Bureau re-
commends the installation of automo-
bile driven triple combination hose
chemical and pumping engine, pump
to be rated at, at least, 600 gallons
per minute at l20 pounds net engine
pressure, one half capacity, at 200
pounds pressure and one-third capac
ity of $50 pounds.
These recommendations naturally
bring in insurance rates, as these
are based upon the class in which a
city is rated by the Michigan Inspec-
tion Bureau Alma at the present
time is in the fourth class, and by
filling the recommendations of the
Michigan Inspection Bureau can go
into the third class. Adrian is the
smallest city in Michigan in this
class. Adrian has a population Of 12,-
600, has a fire department with II
full time men and five pieces of mo-
tor driven apparatus. 1t is estimated
that by getting ino the 81. class the
insurance rates here would be cut
from 3 to per cent, which in the
course of two or three years would
pay the cost of such apparatus. This
insurance rate is paid by the property
owners who also pay the taxes which
would pay for the pumper, but after
the first year or two it would be paid
for, while the insurance saving was
still being made over period of
years, and apparently is matter of
good business in the long run.
Alma people will recall that the
present single truck unit is eight
years old and has given wonderful
service, but they cannot expect that
this will continue forever. Sometime
in going to fire the truck may
break down, or two fires might come
at the same time, which easily shows
where the great value Of a second
motor driven piece Of fire apparatus
might at one fire save its entire cost
II certainly would greatly lessen fire
hazards. Should a big fire break
out in the business section, or should
a fire occur in the outlying section
Of the city, especially on dead-ends of
the piping system, a pumper that
would bring greater pressure would
be invaluable.
The matter was taken up by the
city commission Tuesday evening and
discussed at length and Manager Will
liam Reynolds was asked to prepare
a report on the matter.
Following are the recommendations
which the Michigan Inspection Bur
eau has made for the betterment of
fire fighting service in this city:
WaterwOrks
/. Reinforce the present supply TO
the mercantile section by main of
ample capacity 50 that in case of
failure of the 10-inch main on Su-
perior street, il can supply the mer-
camille section.
2. Replace present S-inch main on
Superior street from State to Park
streets with a 10 inch main.
Fire Department
g. Install an automobile driven
triple combination hose chemical and
pumping engine, pump to be rated at,
at least, 600 gallons per minute at
l20 pounds net engine pressure, one
half capacity at 200 pounds and one
third capacity at 250 pounds.
4. Appoint additional members to
The fire department. 50 that there will
be at least, three full paid men on
duty at all times.
;. Install an additional 80 gallon
chemical tank so that there will be
at least, two such pieces of appara-
tus responding to all first alarms.
8. Make provision so that the lad
der truck will respond to all first
alarm fires in the mercantile and
manufacturing section.
II will be noted from the recon-
mendations that the Michigan In
apection Bureau makes that it is
seeking not only to better the pres
cnt fire fighting machinery, but. to
guard against the failure of any one
part of it, which is seen from the rec
ommendation regarding the reinforc-
ing Of the present pipe system into
the mercantile section and by the de
sire for two pieces Of motor driven
machinery.
While it is impossible at the pres
cnt time to estimate the cost of max
ing these changes, or of ascertaining
the amount of insurance carried in
the city, and thus ascertaining the
possible saving in insurance rate
each year by advancing to the new
class, there apparently is little ques-
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