Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
Cup for Truck Companies.

Another cup. offered by the MeT-
chants and Manufacturers AssOcla-
ton exclusively for the big truck
companies. which could not hope 70
compete with the engines because OF
their much more ponderous apparatus,
was can+ured by No. Truck Com
pany. The Merchants and Manufac.
turcrs' Association has offered an
other cup for the truck companies 10
shoot at this year.
To capture its cup, No. Iruck
roared out of its headquarters on
Park road. just east of Eighteenth
street. in eight seconds. The truck
used was q big, six-wheeied SeagraNe
and despite it's tremendous huIk, the
apparatus bettered the best times thdt
could no made by the speediest engine
companies in Baltimore Detroit,
Rochester and other cities which had
previously claimed to have the fastest
fire departments.
Under agreements reached during
the first test the same rules uSeu
last Summer will be followed 10 the
letter in the contest which opens To-
n,orrow These rules were used in
the tests in Baltimore and Detrolt,
and they were adopted by NasnllS-
ton so that i'm the event OF lowering
the records of those cities the loc'l
department could rightfully claim
title to having the Nation tastest
company. if not the worlds.
Trophy Is Handsome.
The star trophy is handsome sill
var loving cup. which was offered by
this newspaper to stimulate interest
in the test and give the winning com
panies a permanent place in whlch
their records might be inscribed. Inc
Gun remains in the possession Oh tIe
winning engine company for one
wear until the same outfit wins IL
three times, when ii becomes the per-
manent property of that company.
Three judges have charge oil Inc
contest. Each is equipped with StuF
watch and their times are carefully
compared at each engine house to
prevent mistakes. The same three
who ran the test last Summer viii
have charge tomorrow - Battalion
Chief Thomas O'ConnOr, w. w. Dean,
fire prevention engineer OF the War
Department and q reporter OF Inc
Star. In addition. Edward y. SHAW
secretary of the Merchants and Man
ufacturerS' Association VIII accom-
pany them during part Of the tests.
The Judges will mot take either the
engine or the truck companies In
order. and will not previously an
nounce the places To he visited. They
will jump from one section of the city
to another so that no company VIII
know when to expect them. Ihls Is
done to prevent companies from
warming up" their motors so as to
get quick start. 1t is especially de
sirous to- have them leave their
quarters exactly as they do in answer
to regular fire.
Rules Are Distributed.
The alarm will he sounded in the
regular manner, and the companies
must go through all of the motions
that would be necessary in preparing
to answer a call to Il real blaze. In
effect. they will answer a false alarm.
Failure to follow all rules for fire
call will promptly diSquality the Of
Tending company. and the Judges VIII
move on to the next place. The rules.
as sent out 10 all companies by
George :. Watson, head of the Fire
Department, follow:
members of the company will he
stationed Mt different places on the
apparatus floor, with the driver ~
feet in the rear Of the apparatus scat
and on the side from which he mounts
to the seat.
"In engine companies only one piece
of apparatus will be used, and 1t will
be optional with company command
ing officers as TO which piece. the en-
CINE or hose wagon, is TO be used.
Back From Front Door.
The rear step of apparatus in an
engine company is to be placed 80 feet
from the front doorsill. If the house
is not deep enough to allow this,
line will he drawn on the pavement
in front of the door 80 feet from the
rear step. In truck companies a mark
will be placed on the truck 80 feet
from the front doorsill.
THE test will he started by striking
'1-3 on the big gong. At the first
stroke of the gong members shall i'm
mediately take their places on the ap-
paratus, and the motor shall De i'm
mediately started. The apparatus
shall not be PLACED in motion. how
ever. until the officer in charge has
counted the box, which. IS above
stated. will be Is and has called
Box l3, go.