Economy of Motor Apparatus in Syracuse

Economy of Motor Apparatus in Syracuse

The city of Syracuse, N. Y., has compiled some figures to show that it pays to install motor apparatus, the maintenance expense being less than in instances where motordrawn apparatus has not been adopted. According to the Bureau of Fire of that city there is a saving of about $185 a year for every horse replaced by motor apparatus. In the last three years motor apparatus which would have required thirty horses has been installed in the bureau. According to estimates this has resulted in a saving of $5,550. The average cost a year of each of the more than fifty horses in the service is placed by bureau officials at $250. This covers forage, bedding, shoeing, harness repair and other items which are not required by companies equipped with motor apparatus It is stated the expense for gasoline and oils is more during the early part of the period that motor apparatus is in service for the reason that every member of the company is required to become efficient in driving the apparatus. One of two men are first instructed how to operate the motor and then in turn each member of the company is trained. This consumes more gasoline and oil than is used in regular service. In order to make a fair comparison two companies of the local fire department which were equipped with motor apparatus were taken, Engine Company 1 used thirty gallons of gasoline in August, forty-seven gallons in September and sixty-seven in October, an average of forty-eight gallons a month, costing about $144 a year. To this, it is estimated, $60 will be required for oil and other articles, a total of $204 a year. This company’s motors do the work of five horses, which would have required $1,250. The saving is $1,046, or an average of $209.20 per horse. During the same three months Combination Company No. 1 used an average of forty-six gallons of gasoline a month, which with $50 a year for oils would be a total of $188.25 a year. The motors do the work of two horses costing $500 a year, a saving of $311.75 a year, or $155.87 per horse. The Syracuse companies equipped with motor apparatus are the following: Engine Company No. 10, equipped with a pumping engine and taking the place of a steam engine and hose wagon, which would have required five horses; Combination Company No. 1, which would have required two horses; Engine Company No. 1, equipped with a tractor, and a combination wagon, which would have required five horses; Hook and Ladder Company No. 5 with an automobile truck, which would have required three horses; Engine Company No. 11, equipped with a tractor and combination wagon, which would have required five horses; Combination Company No. 4. equipped with a new automobile wagon, which would have required two horses; Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, equipped with a tractor, which would have required three horses; Engine Company No. 6, equipped with a tractor and a combination wagon, which would have required five horses. The chief and the four district chiefs have automobiles, which replace five horses.

The city of Syracuse, N. Y., has compiled some figures to show that it pays to install motor apparatus, the maintenance expense being less than in instances where motordrawn apparatus has not been adopted. According to the Bureau of Fire of that city there is a saving of about $185 a year for every horse replaced by motor apparatus. In the last three years motor apparatus which would have required thirty horses has been installed in the bureau. According to estimates this has resulted in a saving of $5,550. The average cost a year of each of the more than fifty horses in the service is placed by bureau officials at $250. This covers forage, bedding, shoeing, harness repair and other items which are not required by companies equipped with motor apparatus It is stated the expense for gasoline and oils is more during the early part of the period that motor apparatus is in service for the reason that every member of the company is required to become efficient in driving the apparatus. One of two men are first instructed how to operate the motor and then in turn each member of the company is trained. This consumes more gasoline and oil than is used in regular service. In order to make a fair comparison two companies of the local fire department which were equipped with motor apparatus were taken, Engine Company 1 used thirty gallons of gasoline in August, forty-seven gallons in September and sixty-seven in October, an average of forty-eight gallons a month, costing about $144 a year. To this, it is estimated, $60 will be required for oil and other articles, a total of $204 a year. This company’s motors do the work of five horses, which would have required $1,250. The saving is $1,046, or an average of $209.20 per horse. During the same three months Combination Company No. 1 used an average of forty-six gallons of gasoline a month, which with $50 a year for oils would be a total of $188.25 a year. The motors do the work of two horses costing $500 a year, a saving of $311.75 a year, or $155.87 per horse. The Syracuse companies equipped with motor apparatus are the following: Engine Company No. 10, equipped with a pumping engine and taking the place of a steam engine and hose wagon, which would have required five horses; Combination Company No. 1, which would have required two horses; Engine Company No. 1, equipped with a tractor, and a combination wagon, which would have required five horses; Hook and Ladder Company No. 5 with an automobile truck, which would have required three horses; Engine Company No. 11, equipped with a tractor and combination wagon, which would have required five horses; Combination Company No. 4. equipped with a new automobile wagon, which would have required two horses; Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, equipped with a tractor, which would have required three horses; Engine Company No. 6, equipped with a tractor and a combination wagon, which would have required five horses. The chief and the four district chiefs have automobiles, which replace five horses.