New Britain Herald Newspaper, May 21, 1919, Page 9

NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1912 'MANY IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE DEPARTMENT New Maxim Motor Pump an Part of New Equipment— SHOWN IN REPORT Ladder Changes at Various Sta- d Seagrave Aerial tions Are Also Made to Increase Efficiency. Mollowing is the report of the fire commissioners which will be pre- sented at the meeting of the com- mon council this evening: To His Honor the Mayor, and Mem- bers of the Common Council, » City of New Britain, | Gentlemen In conformity to the provisions of | the city charter we beg leave to sub- mit herewith the annual report of the | fire department. It Is a pleasure to | report the improvements made dur- ing the past year and we appreciate | the cordial co-operation on your part which have made them possible. The " steps of progress have been impor- tant and we feel that better fire serv- ifce may be expected. The units of fire protection been materially increased in the fis- cal year 1918-19. The Maxim motor | pump, which we were awalting the delivery of when we submitted the | last annual report to your honorable | .body, is now in service and the new | Seagrave 75 foot aerial ladder truck, | is also in commission The Maxim pump for delivery, subject to requirements of an underwriters’ test. The result of the underwriters’ test, made by the underwriters’ represent- atives, showed that the pump met the contract requirements as is shown in the following have was contracted meeting the | | { | records Gallons Showed | pumping . 0 458 | pumping 245 | pumping . 3 180 ‘ In making payment for the Maxim pump, the amount included the wi tax. Since then we have obtained a ruling that such motor apparatus is | Jot subject to war tax and the cor Poration counsel is now negotiating | for the return of the 1 paid. The Seagraves ladder truck, deliv ered in Mar¢h has been accepted as | having met the requirements of the | contract. It was thoroughly tested | before acceptance. The contract price of this apparatus was $13,405. | In contracting for it provision was made so that we could utilize some of ®he equipment on the old aerial lad- | der truck, thereby reducing the price. | The manufacturers stated that the contract price included the war tax, and in consideration of the ruling from the internal revenue depart- ment, that such apparatus is not sub- ject to tax the amount of the war tax about $400 was withheld when pay- ment was made for the truck. The Gity’s order for $12,692.45 was drawn | in payment This apparatus has been made more valuable to the city by attach- ing to it a ladder pipe, so case of emergency it able as a water tower. It is now at the central headquar- | ters but the locating of it at No. 3 | fire station is favored. From there it will be possible to make a better “get-away.” Your fire department will be made still more efficient in the line of equipment. Thd master mechanic is attaching a chemical tank to the city service ladder truck, taking a chem- ical tank from the hose wagon which | was “stripped” before selling. | Freauently apparatus was called for | “chimney fires and sometimes more | ladders than those carried on hose | trucks were required, and necessi- | tated sending back for the ladder | truck. This valuable addition® has | been accomplished at expense | to the city. The fire department of the completely motorized today » Required Gallons 2 hours’ 30 minutes’ 30 minutes’ that in | wiil be serviee- | slight city is > Station Tmprovements. Living conditions for firemen while on duty materially improved The dormitory at the Central station was mare than doubled in size. Tho improvement was much needed : The alterations at No 2 fire station which have caused many favorable comments and have practically given *he city a new station. The additional | room required by location § of the city service campany | there. The costs of the improvements ex- ceeded the original estimate of cost, | principally on account of the increased cost of labor and material between the | time twhen the appropriation was sought and when the work was done. ~ Fire Prevention. While the fire prevention work in New Britain has been in progress for { a few years it is since Captain Barnes has been in charge that results have | been obtained and the records cover-{ ing the past vear are of interest. In-{ spections made, 1703: unsatistactors conditions, 1295; persons affected by | inspections, 24,682. Fire prevention inspections undoubtedly contributed to some extent in the reduction of the number of fires and fire losses the past yea The following seem significant Bell alarms 76; 1918-19, 57 Call alarms, 1 186; 1918-19, 1° Losses, 1916-17. $214,290; 1918-19, $74,260. Property endangered, 1916-17, 655,779; 1917-18, $2,524,09 $1,660,525. In three fires alone this year the to- tal losses amounted to $54.500, which shows haw effective the department's work has been ¥ We regard the fire prevention work as most important. An appropriation was saught for 1919-20 for the em- ployment of two men to devote all thelr time to inspection work in com- pany with firemen, thereby preventing i a reduction in the ready fighting force to go with apparatus, and making possible regular and systematic at- were reason of ladder figuces 1916-17, 59: 1017-18 1917-18, $67,851; 1917-18 $1.- 1918-19, | scene of ! titled | meal | installation of show that the work tends to reduce the number of fires Fire Methods and Drills. Captaing of the fire companies have met during the winter to discuss fire fighting methods and to consider problems. Captain Barnes has intro- duced a set of uniform knots and ties and all members of the department have been instructed in their use. Captain Barnes will be in full charge of the drills hereafter and more pro- ficiency may be expected Serving and Saving tor City. Members of the department have employed themselves in various kinds of work. Improvements during the year and the value of the work done, which would otherwise have had to be paid for amounts to $250. The work has been mast cheerfully done and it was performed with the skill of trained tradesmen. The work of the firemen in fire service throughout the year has been of the usual good order. Fire losses were kept at a low figure by reason of the efficiency af the men and their cheerful and willing work. Increase in Force, The permanent force of the depart- ment was increased by the addition of five men during the vear and it will shortly be further increased by the ddition of two more With the fast-traveling motors it is essential that the men to handle the equipment should be ready to go with the apparatus. A study of the re- sponse of the callmen was made and showed that the callmen were at the ires from three to ten min- bell sounded at 60 per cent. of the fires. The average time of arrival of callmen at fires is about ten minutes after the bell sounds. The first few minutes of the fire are the most important and it is then that men are most needed. The permanent force of the depart- ment should be at least 64 men which would give an average of eight men to a company. With each man en- to one day in seven, the force to seven; and during the hours the force drops to five men covering a period of nine hours. The permanent force of the depart- is 47 men Fire Alarm. Five additional fire alarm boxes were added to the system during the past vear and the system is being con- stantly added to. The increase in boxes meané an ad- utes after the is reduced ment today | dition to the load on the system. The city is laid out with six circuits and as there are now about 100 boxes on i the lines, the circuits are much over- [ erowded. The breaking of a wire in the center means that one-sixth of the city is cut off from the service until repairs are made. The central station equipment should be located in a fireproof huild- ing in order to insure service. We are hopeful that through the provision of the charter amendment it will be possible to erect a fireproof building and install the larger equip- ment necessary to establish a 12-cir- stem in the city and to install lead cable in the subway district. The lead cable will be an assure elimination of The fire alarm system as it is today probably adequate for a city of 19,000 and was the best to be had ew Britain has spread out today a city of 60,000, and practically the only change has heen the placing of wires undersround and the adding of boxes. The changes which we contemplate provide for the division of the into 12 circuits and is so designed that as the city grows the number of circuits can e further increased New Fire Station. The ercction of another fire station in the city is essential. The railroad tracks and the movement of trains are a hindrance to positive prompt re- sponse for alarms to the southern part of the city. No. 5 company scrves the southeastorn section of the city well No. company has to bhe de- pended upon practically alone for the southern and southwestern sections. Tn these sections there are six build- ings housing 135 orphan children: the average number of patients in the hos- pital is 70, and usually about ten in- fants; at the Erwin Home there is an average of 38 inmates—women over 70 vears of age. There are 3.862 children in schools in the section which a net fire sta- tion in the southeastern section of the city would serve. The number of fires in that section of the eity is in- creaging. Using the railroad tracks and Main street for dividing lines, the number of fires in the four sections of the city the past two follows: economy and troutble. was and is city vears was as 1916-17 Northwestern Northeastern Southes e Southwestern . No. 6 compan cated at the mereial street a small temporarily lo- headquarters on Com- has the apparatus and working foree. If the new station is built this year, as we hope, it will be located there. New Britain should take advantage of the charter right to erect the new fire station in the southwestern section of the ecity at the very carliest possible date. Motor Costs. Through the service of the depart- ment's master mechanic, Edward . Burke, the motor maintenance cost to the city is kept down. All general repair and overhauling is done by him, assisted by members of com- panies. Since resuming duty after being mustered out of the federal tention to this important work. We regret the amount required was not %ilowed. A careful study of Captain Barnes’ report indicates the need, 1t shows results that have been obtained, and the figures of the department sorvice he has given the apparatus a thorough overhauling. The city serv- ice ladder truck is now undergoing overhauling. This truck is to be equipped with pneumatic tires In- stead of solid tires, and as stated elsewhere, will be fitted with a chemical tank and made that much more valuable in service. During the year two trucks and the chief’s car were repainted and while now laid up the ctty service truck will he re-varnished and touched up. The appropriations for the main- tenance of motor apparatus for the vear is $1,700, a sum which will hardly be sufficient to carry through. The expenditures this year with only seven cars was greater than the sum now allowed. This amount allowed covers gasoline, oil, painting, tires and such parts as may be required, for nine machines. It also covers part of the cost of maintenance of the eclectrician’s car. That motors are an economy, bar- ring accident, is apparent since the maintenance cost of a like amount of horse-drawn equipment would en tail an annual expense of at least $6,000. Costs and Results., The Britain f record of services of the New department compares fav- orably with other cities. The per cap- ita cost of the department last year was §$2.20, figuring on the census pop- ulation, which was taken in the con- sideration of the cost of other depart- ments. The per capita fire loss here was $1.90. The following tabulations are ofinterest: Department ropriatic Gost Per 2Appr Hartford New Bedford Stamford ... Holvolke Pittsfield 3.99 New Britain .. 2. 96,64 1.90 Value of Buildings Threatened i 3. 1.04 % L2353 EXR S b Fires Losases Hartford 2 Holyoke . N'w Bedf'd Stamford Pittsfield 1,374,754 New Brit'n 2,524,000 The tollowing tabulation shows the work forces and equipment of the companioes: = Pormanent Callmen 2 Companies Hartford Weatvi New Bedford ...1 Holyoke ..105 Stamford .. .. 42 Pittsfield .. .. 33 New Britain .... 47 N ot Apparatus. Feet of Pumps Hose Ladders Hose Hartford ....12 3 31,000 New Bedford 8§ 3 19,950 Holyoke .... 3 5 24,050 Stamford ... 3 2 a 2,600 Pittsfield 1 3 New Britain . 4 2 13,200 The service rendered by the men in the past year merits the ap- preciation of the public and is fully appreciated by the members of the board of fire commissioners, who take this occasion to publicly express thanks for the good work done, not only the past year, but in previous | vears. . Following will be found the finan- cial statements of the departmental account, and the firemen's pension fund. fire- | | | Appropriated Expended Pay roll ....$71,343.00 $65,574.65 Chairman’s and clerk's salary. Motor service— Gasoline, oil, Bte B b 700.00 Repa ete. . 12,250.00 Horse service .. 100.00 Incidentals .. 500.00 Supplies 700.00 Dighting oSt u 500.00 Fuel .......... 1,400.00 Fire alarm nal service .868.44 Subway rent ... §00.00 Repairs to build- ing cei.... 8,400.00 Care of quarters 150.00 Telephones 300,00 New equipment. 000.00 Insurance ..... 250.00 Bell rental .... 100.00 £50.00 ot Na ) IS T propriations .396,811.44 $96,806.13 Firemen's Pension Fund Balance on hand SHatnaral i Receipts, City of New Brit- ain appropria- tion o $1,2 Firemen’ tion o Mr. F. G. Platt Landers, Frary & Clark 0 Hartford Board Co. New Britain Gas Light Co. ... Interest from Bu ritt_Savings Bk. 195.82 Interest from Sav- ings BK. of New RBritain March 100.00 100.00 100.00 186.48 2,116.80 $11,603.57 Disbursements—Pensions, Harry Lathem $112.50 Thomas Clark 112.50 William Hultbers. 100.00 John Foley ... 100.00 James McConkey 14.30 Patrick Bgan .... 100.00 William Forsythe 100.00 Frank Humphrey 100.00 Thomas Clerkin 100.00 James Tormay .. 100.00 George Caswell . 100.00 Richard Hartnett 536.67 Balance on S1stiig) e N Fund Depositories. Burritt Savings Bank ! Savings Bank of N. Britain hand March | countering a WATCH FOR THE OP ENING 149 Main Street, PLANS, SAYS TOWERS e e | Naval Commander Tells of Flight of NC-8 Delgada, 21.—*“Exeep- bad weather, Ponta May tionally totally unexpected, was the sole rea- which was son for the failure of all three of the | American navy's seaplanes to fly from Newfoundland, to Ponia schedule Trepassey, Delgada on John ™ time,” said commander Towers to the correspondent of the Associated Press. The man who commanded the over- seas flight in his flagship NC 3 the members of his crew, who had r buffeting both and ccived a severe from the storm overhead and the turbulent | sea when the plane was damaged Sat- ! urday in alighting on the water, wore much refreshed today after having rvegained sicep lost while bucking the storm for 16 hours and being adrift 5% hours more, entirely out of com- munication with the world Gave Up Hope of Being Rescued. “Individually,” Commander Towers, “the members of the crew of | the NC 3 virtually zave up said lectively they showed no signs of fear and ‘carried on’ until they arrived in port here Monday and heard the ! forts firing salvos in welcome and witnessed the scenes of general jubila- tion over their escape from “Having run short of fuel and en- heavy fog the NC came down at 1 o'clock Saturd: afternoon in order that we might ob- tain our Dbearings. The plane was damaged as it reached the water and | While we miles in the seas was unable a n to were drifting the 205 heavy storm the high washed over or pounded the plane and the boat began to leak. So fast did the water enter the boat that the mem- hers of the crew took turns in hailing the hull with a small hand pump while others stood on the wings in order to keep the plane in balance. Mean- while we were steering landward Drank Radiator Water. “That our radio was out of com- mission was not known to the crow until our arrival here. Communica- tion had been cut off since 9 o'clo’k Monday morning., owing to our hav- ing lost our ground wire. We ate chocolate and drank water from our radiator. This was our only means | of subsistence. The crew smoked heavily in order to keep awake while we were drifting. No one of us oh- tained more than four hours of sleep after leaving Trepassey until Ponta Delgada was reached.” The hands of all the members of the crew of the NC 3 were Dadly swollen as a resuit of their heroic work at the pump. Otherwise thay risd hope of | being rescued Saturday nght, but col- | the sea. | F THE NEW WOMAN'S SHOP not [ undergo e (T T ¢ | aia S, WEATHER SP[“[E!] | cept Lieut. Commander MecCulloch, | tack of seasickness. The men have it 3 s any New Britain, Connecticut. now full recovered from ing experience, suffering, e one of the pilots, who had a severe at- pEPPERMlNTSE .. Are more than a mere confection— for particular persons they are a ne- cessity. The purest of sugars and the cool- ing, soothing and refreshing oil of mint, combine to make this the most delicious candy you’ve tasted. “—They Satisfy—" NICKEL A PACKAGE o et e e e e o R A A S T A il TRADE MARK REG. \M US PAT.QTY. 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