New Britain herald., 1922-04-11
Plalnville News
FIRE DEPT. ID GET
 A STANDARD TRUCK Town Appropriates S8,50O to
 Equip Headquarters LOCAL MEN FINED IN COURT

UUUhu WIEN TlNED IN UUUkl Mass Meeting in Rcdccmcr's Zion
 Church Tomorrow E,cning-IIugh
 Trimbull in Serious Condition To-
 dny-Othcr Items.
 The voters last night decided at a special meeting to appropriate $S,boo towards equipping the local fire department with a new truck. There was practically no opposition to the recommendation Of the fire com mission in regards to the apparatus and the vote was unanimous for the purchase of the truck Chairman Robert Skellcy Of the fire commission gave an itemized description of the equipment needed.
 A part of the money for the pur- chase of the truck will come out of the expenses of this year The re- mainder will be placed on next years budget and an additional two mill tax will be necessary to cover the added expense.
 The voters were all agreeable to the proposed plan Of paying,
 Chairman Skelley read the resolu- ton prepared by the fire commission asking for an appropriation not to exceed sS,5O0, to be either drawn upon the town treasury or secured as loan, as seen fit by the selectmen and voters. He read a list of the equipment which would be needed and included city service truck of triple combination ladders, hose chemicals, two 40 gallon chemical tanks electrically operated 50 foot extension ladders, 3 foot ladders, 16 foot ladders, IS foot ladders and 20 and 2S foot ladders. The truck would have a compartment for 1000 feet of hose and the sum of s25o would be used for changes on the apparatus as seen fit by the mechanical end of the fire department.
 Chief Prior Speaks
 Chief Edward P. Prior urged the proposed new equipment. "The pres ent truck is at least eight or nine years old with hand chemicals and ladders with a reach of but Is feet said the chief. "On fires in the second or third stories of homes we are help less when it comes to proper ladder facilities. This was seen in the re- cent blaze at Leon Spencer's home on West Main street when the fire dam age came to s175 and water more than s1,1oo'
 "Al this expense from water dam- age could have been saved had we proper chemical tanks such as the new truck would have. The present truck weighs about 4,2oo pounds and is overloaded now. There are 40 men in the company and generally the truck had four to ten men going to each fire which makes the truck more overweight. There may be a fire tonight and an accident result from the poor truck we have now. The re- sponsibility would lie up the shoulders of the citizens as we are now asking for a new truck and if we cannot get it, the fault lies in the hands of the people," concluded Chief Prior
 Frederick Bulen, a member of the fire commission spoke of the efficiency of the men on the fire department and said he felt that a new truck would be proper
 SeIectman Johnson wanted to know if there was any additional expenses with the purchase of the new truck outside the pay of the chief and the inf vi h jc question stating that there would be practically none at all except addi- tional gas and oil and the cost of the battery.
 Payment of Truck
 Frederick Louis Benzon wanted to press the question in regards to the payment of the truck and be- lieved in paying at it went along. The 20 mill tax rate today is not enough to cover the towns expenses, said Mir. Benzon, who is an auditor of the town. He recommended laying tax to cover the ss,S00 instead of borrow ing money.
 Selectman Johnson replied that by laying a special tax, a sum of money NOulu nave lO bS SpCill dIlu IL "tAS just as advisa ble to borrow the money and pay this amount out in interest He said the town now owes about s50,o00 in bonds and has borrowed the same amount which makes the total indebtedness of Plainville about s10O,ooo
 H. c. Thompson. a member of the commission, mentioned the fact that Plainvile is rated as a ID" town In the insurance companies and believed the taxpayers could save money by