Evening star., 1925-07-25
FIRE TRUCK SPEED
TEST CUP OFFERED
M. and M. Acts to End In
equality in Contest Just
Closed.

HeCOSnlZlnS the IuIlllIy OF the Fire
Departments huge trucks attempting
to compete in a speed contest against
the lighter engine companies, the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation today announced, through its
president, Ross p. Andrews. the foun-
dation of an annual cup to be pre-
sented to the Washington fire truck
company that establishes the best
time record in answering an alarm.
This matches the cup offered by The
Evening Star recently to the fastest
company in Washington irrespective
OF its class, which was won Friday
morning by Engine Company 23,
located on G street between Twenty
first and Twenty-second streets. 1t
also neceSsitateS a reteSting or the
truck companies to determine the
winner of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association cup.
When Battalion Chief O'Connor and
others started out early in the week
to test the entire Fire Department to
determine the winner of The Evening
Star cup. everything was done to give
the truck companies an even chance
with the engine and rescue companies
1t was agreed that a line should be
placed in the big hook and ladder
apparatus SO feet from the door of
the engine house and it's time taken
when that point crossed the sill.
Trucks Handicapped.
This made it certain that the trucks
would not have to travel a longer
distance than the engines, at least,
for 1t was agreed that each engine
should be so placed that it's rear tip
should rest on a line measured exactly
39 feet from the front SILL 1t was
soon recognized, however, that the
1,s, ls<nr b-~ fINkalr
tremendous weight and that nothing
could be done to give them fair
chance against the fast little engines.
Despite the handicap, however, many
of the truck companies made remark
able time, some outStripping num-
ber of the engine companies. Four
were found to be tied for first place
among the trucks with 10 seconds each
when the test of the entire department
had been completed. They are: Truck
5, Dent place near -Thirty-fourth
street; Truck u, Wisconsin avenue
and Warren street; Truck 3, Lanier
place and Ontario road, and Truck
8, Fourteenth street and Ohio avenue.
When these amazing records be-
came known to Mr.. Andrews and
Charles j. Columbus, president and
secretary, respectively, of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers AssoCia-
ton, it was agreed that the truck COM
panies deserved a special cup, for
which they could compete among
themselves. With the consent of other
officers of the association, Mr.. An
drews authorized the foundation of a
handsome loving cup to be won an
nually by the fastest truck company
in Washington.
All Will Be Tested.
four trucks with records of 10 sec
onds each should be permitted to run
off the tie to decide the winner of the
newly Offered cup. Officers of the Fire
Department and the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association both
agreed, however, that 1t would be
better to test all of the truck com
panies over again, and this viii be
done, beginning at o'clock Monday
morning.
The same judges will officiate-Bat-
talon Chief O'Connor, w. w. Dean.
fire prevention engineer of the War
Department, and a representative of
The Evening Star. Exactly the same
rules will be used in this test, as the
time is too short for the department
headquarters to acquaint each COM
pany with any changes.
1t is recognized, however, that next
year some changes probably will be
made, and that the tests will in
clude more difficult evolutions in ad
dition to the speed element.
Engine Company % is being del
uged with congratulations not only
from other companies in Washing
ton, but from other cities as we'll
One Complaint Made.
There was also one complaint
from a citizen of Georgetown. 1t
was received in the form of a let
ter, addressed to The Evening Star,
and pointed out that Engine Com
pany had been handicapped in be-
ing obliged to use the quarters of
Truck for it's test. Number is
located at Wisconsin avenue and NJ
street and the thoroughfare in front
of it's station is torn up for recon
struction.
If anything, the fact that No.
was permitted to transfer benefited
it. AS a matter of fact, the judges
were dubious about permitting the
engine to be tested while its motor
was still warm for fear other COM
panies might claim a warm motor is
easier to start than a cold one, and
that it will develop more speed in less
time. No. 5 was given every ad
vantage accorded the other companies
and the judges agreed after readlng
the letter that the test is over, so far
as the engine companies are con-
cerned.
Officials of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association paid the highest
tribute to the Fire Department and
the Police Department alike, when
they announced the foundation of the
cup. 1--WE are glad we have this op-
portunity of expressing our gratitude
to the firemen, small though the gift
may be-" said an officer of the asso-
citation. THE men of both the Police
and the Fire Departments are close to.
our hearts-they are always on the
job, ready to protect our interests by
night or by day-and we are proud of
every one of them"