Evening star., 1925-07-15
FENN|NG ACCEPTS
CUP F0RF|RE TEST
Washington Companies Out
to Beat Baltimore Time in
Answering Alarm.

Full authority for the competitive
test of the Washington Fire Depart
ment to determine which company in
the city can get away on an alarm of
fire fastest was granted today by Com
missioner Frederick A. Fenning, who
at the same time accepted The Stars
offer OF large loving cup to the win
ming company.
Although the two primary objectives
of the test are to increase the morale
of the department and to determine
how fast the local companies are IN
comparison with those Of other cities,
the big goal the men in the depart
ment have before them is to break Bal
tmore's record of 10 seconds in actual
ly getting under way and thus captur-
ing national honors as the fastest de-
partment in the country.
Star Offers Cup.
In letter to Commissioner Fenning
yesterday, Philip c. Kaufman. as
sistant city editor, offered in the
name OF The Star a large silver loving
cup to the company in Washington
which, under conditions to be arranged
by Chief Engineer George S. Watson,
spots its alarm and flashes out of it's
headquarters in the least number of
seconds. The letter follows:
lNcSCIlIy dDDedTGu papers
all over the country an Associated
Press dispatch announcing that a fire
engine company in Baltimore had es-
tablished a new speed record for get.
ting away on an alarm of fire. The
time was 10 seconds
I'VE have carefully investigated the
conditions under which the record
was made. and are confident there is a
fire company in Washington that can
beat that time. To that end, The
Evening Star wishes to offer a silver
loving cup to the local fire company
getting away fastest to an alarm of
fire under given conditions.
The Evening Star wishes TO i'm
pose no conditions except that every
fire company in Washington shall be
given an opportunity to compete.
Chief Engineer George S. Watson has
already been officially apprised of the
conditions under which the test was
made in Baltimore, and we are in
formed he desires to have similar con.
ditionS here
1t is our belief that an annual test
OF the Fire Departments alertness
would be an excellent means of keep
ing up morale, and if there was a
suitable prize in sight for the winning
company it seems that it might do
much to intensity the mems interest
and create some keen, beneficial com
petition.
Trusting you will see fit to accept
this cup and permit the officers of
the Fire Department to conduct the
test in the interests of increased eff
cheney, and with sincere personal re-
CARDS, | am, very truly,
PHILIP c. kAUFFMANN.
Assistant City Editor
Fenning Accepts Offer
To that letter Commissioner Fen
ming, who is in charge of the Police
and Fire Departments of the District,
replied today, accepting the cup in
the name of the Fire Department.
Commissioner Fenning added that he
believed the test would make for in
creased efficiency, his letter in part
following:
II concur in the opinion of the
chief engineer of the Fire Depart
ment that such test will be of dis
tinct interest to the men of the de-
partment and will undoubtedly make
for increased efficiency.
THE generous offer of The Evening
Star TO donate a silver loving cup is
therefore accepted and it is under
stood that the officers of the Fire De
partment will conduct the test in such
may be subsequently arranged"
Plans Completed.
Chief Watson has already complet-
ed plans for the test. 1t is to be con-
Quoted by Deputy Chief Thomas
O'Connor. drillmaster of the depart
ment, who went to Baltimore last
week to watch the record breaking
Baltimore company turn out. Exact
ly the same rules used in Baltimore
are to be enforced here, so that
should a Washington company lower
the Monumental City's record of 10
seconds it can claim the national
championship.
The date the tests are to begin will
not be announced. The deputy chief
and another timer will simply turn up
at the various engine houses, quietly
order the officers in charge to sound
box 13 and then time the apparatus
as it leaves the house. There are to
be no excuses. no second trials. The
company that Is ready and fastest will
win the cup, and with it a bronze
tablet, to be placed on the winning
engine.
Nearly a week will be consumed
in trying out the different companies
in Washington, and when the outfit
with the best record has been de-
termined the cup will be presented
with fitting ceremonies High officials
of the department will be present and
congratulate the winners on their
splendid achievement. And if the
company has succeeded in nosing out
Baltimore's fast time there is likely
to be some very special praise for the
men.