Putnam patriot., 1926-05-07

When the request of Woodstock -..idents that the city of Putnam fur -isb fire protection on Woodstock Hill, from Herbert W. Bowen's residence to the late Dr. Spalding's place, was brought up at the common council meeting. Tuesday night, 1t started considerable discussion. As the re- snlt of the argument it appeared to be the unanimous opinion of the eoun- ei that m answering out-of- town alarms Putnam k taking a risk by leaving the city mole or less unpro- tected.
 Chief Ralph E. Thurstou was em- fhaiic .n his statements that, with the present equipment, Putnam should not take on any more obligations to answer fires out of the city. He eX- pressed the opinion that if the towns
 pamfret. Woodstock and Thompson -auld get together and furnish Putnam ata another motor truck and pump, -Hat suggestions te give them assist aHg5 in time of need might well be
 uzdered. but with only one truck, Nt with pump attachment, being au hY the city he did not think .#e present apparatus should answer IHe calls in other towns.
 Limited Agreements
 Putnam is under agreement witt ae citizens of Thompson Hill. to a mted extent, and with two property owners in Pomfret. In Thompson the agreement stipulates that if either of i've responsible residents of Thompson Iill shall call the Putnam fire depart Ment, the department will respond if
 nditions seem favorable. In other words. if 1t is deemed advisable This leaves II Co the discretion of the chief whether a call to Thompson will be answered or not.
 ln Pomfret there is an arrangement with the Ben-Grosyenor Inn and the fBmfret School for the department to answer calls. In both of these places sHere is sufficient supply of water
 The above facts were stated hy mef Thurston when Alderman Ames raised the point that if pomfret and Thompson were to be accommodated Woodstock should not be discriminate 4 against, but the same courtesy
 #Ea that town a5 is shown the etb- r two.
 T, was then that Chief Thurstoa rIed to explain that there was mo aEHcement with Pomffet or Thompson Is towns. but only with a few iudivid- uaHH Re stated that it was seldom
 Enc department could be of any a-s faucc on out-of-toWn calls due to there being no way Co get water Some people think, said the chief that all they have to do is to call the fire department and the fire will be put oat; that We can get water out of tae air or somewhere He said that by the time the department could Feaeh a distant fire it was under such teadway that there is little that can Do done
 Better Reseind Than Add
 Alderman Ames was not convinced and maintained his original point that f calls are answered in one neighbor- ing town they should be answered in another He thought that all should be answered or none. The chief agreed that II would be better to rescind the two agreements the city is now under than Go add more agreements.
 The chief cited an instance that happened Tuesday afternoon when d call came for help in Quinebaug where store and other buildings were burn ed He said that he replied to the request for help that he had no au- thority to send the truck, although Quinebaug is in Thompson. He did. however, go in his own automobile,