The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-04-20
new FIRE AUTO
WAS HOUSED
Parade Marked Acceptance of
The Union Company's Fine
Big Pumping Machine
BEST EQUIPPED IN WORLD

1t
Company's parade last Saturday
evening, in honor of the arrival of
the new Ahrens-Fox motor engine,
was complete success, and marked
another epoch in the history of the
company.
The fire patrol, city commissioners,
chief and assistants, st. Michael's
0rphanage Band, Hibernia Fire Co,
No. 2, Fleet Wing Hook and Ladder
Co., No. 3, Columbia Fire Co., No.
4, and Sons of Veterans Fife and
Drum Corps, of this city; the Eagle
Fire Co., of New Hope; the Abing-
ton Fire Co., of Abingdon, Pa; Jr. O.
U. A. M. Bugle Corps, and Union
Fire Co., No l, of this city, COM
pleted the lineup
At the ceremonies after the parade
Chief Richard J. Mangan delivered
an address of presentation; Nelson
B. 0blinger, president of the COM
pany, delivered the acceptance, and
Mrs, Nelson B. oblinger christened
the new machine. Mayor Edward J.
Moonan also made appropriate re-
marks. Refreshments were served
and musical program rendered.
The purchase of this new machine,
at a cost of S13,6s5, brings the Union
Fire Company up to the front rank
of the fire companies of the country,
and adds still more to the efficiency
Of the fire department of this city,
which excels in equipment that of
any other city of its size in the
world.
The Union Steam Fire Engine Co.
was organized July is, 1864, and in
corporated March 81, 1886. The
original engine of the company was
hand affair, purchased from the
Union Co., of Trneton, for $3.50. at
ter test showed that it would throw
a single stream over the Presbyterian
Church spire, on North Union street,
taking the water from the canal.
A hose cart followed the engine,
adding 5000 to the cost of the equip
ment, and on December 20, 1869, a
Button" steam fire engine arrived.
Despite the muddy condition of the
streets, and darkness, torchlight
parade was held, and il was gener-
ally believed that the nth degree Of
efficiency had been reached, The
engine was pulled by hand,which was
not so bad when the excitement was
strong, on the way to a fire, but a
serious handicap when the homeward
trip was made after the enthusiasm
had been worked off This engine
cost "a 500, tremendous sum jim
those days.
Still another engine, from the
American Steam Fire Engine Com
lnany, was purchased on February
%, 1901, at cost of $4,250. This
is still doing duty, being mounted on
rubber tored wheels and hauled by
combination hose and chemical and
tractor wagon, bought May 8, 1913,
at a cost Of $5,450.
The total expense for equipment to
May s. 1913, was $l1 1888, and for
real estate, to that time, $5,45i, or a
grand total of S16,792. Purchases of
equipment since that date have
amounted to $19,135, bringing the
total investment up to $35,927.
towards Of 100000 has been III
vested in the buildings and equipment
of the fire companies of this city,
which makes high average foi a
city of 1900 people. All the equip
ment is fully motorized, ~ is that ot
New Hope, across the Delaware. and
the two towns together could put
enough apparatus, of the latest pat
tern, in the field. TO handle "a collf!ag-
ration in a city the size OF Trenton.
The greatest LEGAL handicap is the
lack Of sufficient water, the principal
mains in Lambertville being made
quate to supply the modern engines,
and there is no water supply at all
in New Hope. Both towns get their
main supply from the two canals
passing through them, with the river
as final resort; but it can only be
reached at one or two points in each
| town.
The late Fire Chief, George W
Arnett would have been one Of the
main figures at Saturday nights af'
fair, had he lived, as he was active
in the promotion of the local fire
companies for a quarter of a cen
tury, ard an active member of The