The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-09-28

lock.
(NOTE by the Editor: Prior to
my coming to Lambertville was
engaged by the John A, Roebling's
Sons Co., of Trenton, in the compil-
ing and publication of two vol
umes on Fire Prevention" For
eighteen months was engaged in
tests, surveys and experiments of
every known fire equipment for the
express purpose of providing pro-
lection to the three Trenton plants
of the Roebling Co., and for the
entire works and village of Roeb-
ling, N. j.
Copies of Fire Prevention" were
supplied to every foreman and time
keeper of the Roebling plants af-
ter all equipment had been installed
to the extent of some 100000. |
conducted weekly classes for the
men in which Fire Prevention" was
studied For these reasons be-
lieve it is pardonable for me to say
that am not altogether ignorant
in fire equipment.
The proceeding story of the con
trovcrsy over purchase of fire hose
for Lambertville naturally COM
mands my interest. The following
facts bear on the situation, and |
pass them on to the taxpayers with
the sincere assurance that they are
not biased
In New York City, prior to 1913,
the Fire Department there used
Eureka hose. For some reason or
other tyou can decide why for your
self, closed specifications were adj
vertised, to which only Eureka
could qualify. But so many acct
dents occurred in which hose burst,
etc, that agroup of public minded
citizens got together and demanded
that OPEN specifications be adj
vertised so THAT THE BEST
HOSE POSSIBLE COULD BE Sc
CURED.
This resulted in the Comptroller
Of New York City refusing to hon
or appropriations for hose GUN
LESS OPEN SPECIFICATIONS
WERE ADVERTISED Consc-
quently committee of EXPERT
fire engineers and fire underwriters
drew up drastic specifications and
submitted them to 80 hose manu-
facturers. Then bids were asked
on these open specifications. The
following bids eyre received;
Eureka $1.20 Il foot
Fabric, SOC. a foot
Empire, S6c foot
When tests were made il was
found that the Empire hose had
bursting strength far in excess of
the others. Whereupon the Fire
Commissioner ordered the Comp
troller to award the contract to
time (913) Empire has supplied
approximately 175,000 feet of hose
to New York City. If you want
the proof Of this write to New
York's Municipal Library and ask
for the bulletin on Municipal Re
search" for November, 1913, and
- -, ftsai,.
ask how much Empire hose they
have used since 1913.
Five years ago Philadelphia went
thru the same experience, and they
now have $4,000 feet of Empire
hose in their fire trucks in pref
erence to any other.
Washington, d. c., has had closed
specifications until recently 50
much complaint has been made
that for the first time in the his
tory of the district of Columbia
OPEN SPECIFICATIONS HAVE
BEEN ISSUED AND BIDS ARE
TO BE OPENED OCTOBER 9Th
And wherever Empire hose has had
fair trial it has always proven its
superiority. And if Empire bids on
the Washington contract they are
pretty certain to get it. AND THEY
WON'T HAVE TO BRIDE ANY
BODY, EITHER
The Trenton Fire Department is
now receiving maximum order
of 1000 feet of Empire hose. of
this have been reliably informed.
If New York, Philadelphia and
Trenton Fire departments find EN-
pire hose satisfactory, WHY DOES
LAMBERTVILLE'S FIRE CHIEF
OBJECT TO IT?
The 900 feet of hose required
by Lambertville can be supplied by
Empire for $40. If Eureka "Troj-
an is bought it will cost 81 200.
WHO PAYS THE BILL?
YOU, MR. TAXPAYER
submit these truths to you in
the interest Of fair play and square
dealing. The Empire Hose Go. did
not ask it, and they don't pay for
it, They don't pay brides!
(Signed) GORDON COOPER.