Fire-Brigade Matters.
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The Lighting and Fires Committee of the Aberdeen Town Council Baas at last sent in its recommendation for the purchase of a motor are-engine with turbine pump.
It is reported that the Edinburgh City Council has been recommended to purchase four Merryweather engines with turbine pumps, and one Merryweather tender.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer .as expressed his willingness. to consider the matter of exempting linotor fire-engines and fire-brigade motor equipment generally from motorcar taxation.
Belfast recently took delivery of its second Morris fire-ergine, and the machine was given a severe trial trip to Bangor and Donaghadee, in the presence of members • of the Police Committee, of which Dr. Williamson is Chairman.
Barrow, which is about to spend samo on a new fire station, and .721,200 on a motor fire-engine, at the present moment keeps its horses 300 yds. aWay from the central fire *itation—a condition which obviously requires alteration as soon as tpossible.
Capt. Ernest L. Lane, the head of the Bournemouth Brigade, is to have a new fire station and a motor fire-engine with a pumping capacity of from 350 to 400 gallons per minute—subject to the final investigation of a sub-committee which thas been appointed.
Leipzig has just lost by death George 13andau, the captain of its fire brigade. He had been an officer of the brigade for more than '25 years, and was mainly instrumental in introducing self-propelled vehicles for fire-extinguishing operation into that city.
Another County Council Ready.
A second county-council brigade in Scotland, that for Lower Renfrewshire, will shortly be established. The estimated initial cost is 23,100, and the estimated annual charges 2718-an assessment of id. in the Z. Pollokshaws Town Council is co-operating with the Renfrewshire County Council, in respect of certain areas.
Stockton Asleep.
We regret to observe that the Town Council at Stockton-on-Tees has decided, by 16 votes to 14, not to purchase a motor fire-engine. In view of the fact that the Council has accepted the responsibility to attend hres in certain neighbouring rural areas, this decision cannot be regarded as other than foolish. As a matter of fact, by the narrow margin quoted above, the Council decided not even to make inquiries in regard to the matter, which is more foolish still. We suppose Stockton intends to witness the consequences of lost minutes, both in the matter of property and lives, before it realizes that motor fire-engines have reached that state of perfection which renders them reliable and infinitely superior to horse-drawn equipment of any kind, and we shall hope to hear that the Stockton Town Council has decided to reconsider its decision.
Are Never-skids Needed ?
The Morley fire-engine skidded, when proceeding to a fire on the 8th inst., and damaged the wall of a house. Four of the brigade were thrown off into the road, and shaken, but they quickly boarded the engine again and proceeded to the fire. The engine sustained practically no damage. Was this a case for Never-skid bands ?
Repairs No Longer Feared.
An informal discussion on motor fire-engines occupied members of the Greenock Fire Brigade earlier in the month. We are glad to see that Firemaster Waddell, of Glasgow, spoke up strongly in favour of petrol fire-engines, and that he contradicted a locally-expressed opinion that "were the brigade given a petrol-driven machine, they would be so much taken up with effecting repairs that their other duties might suffer neglect."
Starting Up.
Arecent experience with the fireengine belonging to the Rowley Regis Brigade, when considerable delay at starting was experienced, should prove a lesson to all in charge of motor fire-engines in other parts of the country. The delay, as will be gathered from the extracts which we give below from a letter written by Mr. John Chilton, the Chief Officer, is admitted to be in no sense the fault of the Dennis engine which is owned by the Council in question. Mr. Chilton writes :— "Re delay in starting with fireengine.—The delay was due to a block in the petrol pipe ; the men had not been sufficiently careful periodically to clean out the strainer. The engine is in fine condition, and works most efficiently. The delay was not as represented, and is no fault of the engine. The fire, as a matter of fact, was not of a serious nature, and was extinguished by the neighbours. I especially regret the circumstances, all the same, as this is the first occasion on which we have not been able to get away in a few seconds."
The L.C.C. Orders Four More Dennis Engines.
The Fire Brigade Committee of the London County Council reports having considered the question of obtaining petrol motor fire-engines to take the place of steam motor engines at present in use. The cost of maintaining the steam motor engines in the London Fire Brigade is very heavy, and the Committee is convinced that, apart from this, petrol-driven engines are more efficient, and that the cost of their upkeep will be considerably less. In the case of steam motor engines, it is necessary, in London, constantly to keep up a full pressure of steam, and there will consequently be a saving in the cost of maintenance by the substitution of petrol-driven engines.
The Council, on 19th July, 1910, accepted the tender of Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, for the supply of seven petrol engines, and decided that, when these should have been delivered and accepted, two of the steam motor -engines at present in use should be offered for sale. The Committee having resolved that steps should be taken at the earliest possible date to substitute petrol engines for the remaining four steam motor engines of the same type as the two above re
ferred to, got into communication with Dennis Bros., Ltd., as to the terms on which that company would be prepared to supply four additional engines beyond the seven included in the present contract. As the result, the company offered to supply four extra engines (without front-wheel brakes, but with electric lamps and two hydrant connections each) for a net sum of £935 each, and to deliver the engines within a period of 11 weeks from receipt of the order at the works. The price is at the same rate as that previously quoted, and the Committee has resolved (subject to the usual sanction) that the company's offer be accepted.