The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-17

Fires.
Mr. EDIroR The frequent alarms 10 which We have
been subject from fires matter OF serious consideration
AMI lbehooyes us only 10 nqlre into the origin,
but the means Oh TemedyiRg so great an evil
When had charge OF the waeT.works ~ Baltimore,
many years ago, called upon By The companies
OF that city To report The position and eteciue pOpsr
Of the different fire plugs distributed IN various pas 81
that city. In connexon with this subject considered II
70 u, SLps@i Of fres for hai Witnessed TOO
often the reckless Eae OF this fluid on these occasions
II is fact, Mr. Editor that small qualify OF water,
propriy applied smore elhcaclous IN exlnguishng hre
Than large quantity iadiaindisly applied cast upon
it, From the composition OF ioater i IS the harhnger OF
good ev, applied TO the eriingn'stmeh Of rtsgo0d,
II il used a sheath or guard, intervening between The
fIs and the cOmbuStbLe body. When water IS thrown
into HE fire, il becomes decomposed, and resolved into
two combustble gases, winch tend 10 tsredse me vlo
ence OF the flame and il is by sheer deiug'ng the flame
that il be conquered subdued The great secret ~
the extnguishment OF houses on fire is 10 use so much
water only as will cover the exposed combus,ihle sur.
face, and body OF steam, which will ehecual-
| y sheath il from the action OF The lire. when me
IRE gets much ahead as precludes The possibility
of eXtinguishing il. saving the property, The effort
should be confined 10 the adjoining houses, TO place
them under the protection OF steam guard great
evil Mr. Editor, attends the present system OF conduct
ing fires by our bre companies, and requires the serious
attention Of city authorities 10 recny. That Il is ca
pable OF being placed upon conservative PLAN there Is
no question and 10 such plan would respectfully cai
the attention OF our public councils
The liJortr Is toorhy Of his hire and there Is no
labor OF more value to the community Than that devoted
10 the prevention and early extinguShuent OF iTes
Under what regulations circumstances shall this Ia
Dor be placed TO effect thus service This is question
OF the deepest Importance and upon the response and
corresponding action the part OF councils 10 carry
out its PROVISIONS rest the peace and safety oil our Guy
from fires.
Before developing the plan by which this important re-
suit will be effected let review the evils OF the present
system OF conducting fires.
Every unnecessary alarm and excitement should be
avoided, especially IN crowded city Is fearful now
to hear the cry of "FTei fire." followed by the shouts
OF hundreds of persons, the ringing Of bells, the rafting
Of engines and the rush OF crowds TO the scene OF the
conhagraon; and frequently, what is The character of
the fire that has called forth this hubhub Often il is but
chimney on fire, or some trihng out-buIldng.
The immoral tendency Of such alarms has been man.
fest in the history OF our fire companies IN neghboribg
cities, aud the evil is fast growing in our own city.
check cannot be too soon given 10 these influences among
In England the fire company System is under strict
iatO and rule. The popuace have nothing to do with the
operations of putting out the fire. But such arbitrary
rules will not suit peope-hey will and must act IN
cases OF this nature and we must adopt and carry out
system of action which will not infringe on their
rights, and effect the object in view.
THE PLAN.
All great and noble undertakings are founded on order
"Ordgr Is Heavens first iato" Where order regns heg
is neither confusion, noise nor incidence All action is
harmonious, and the result success. The groundwork
is lst To divide he city into fire yards ID To
bell in each of these wards Sd. To appoint fire mas
Ter for each ward, who shall be resident in the same
and whose duty il shall be to make himself acquainted with
the position and circumstances oil each house III that ward
the locality OF pumps, wells springs or other water ac
es the ngress and esress OF each and every property so
that in the event of fire taking place in his ward, he
may be instantly on The premises and from his practical
knowledge and se-command he would be able, IN every
almost, 10 ektngush the fire, and render nnheces-
sary the alarm being sounded from the bell In connex.
ion with his personal services he should have especial
guard TO assist him in all emegent cases The import
ance OF such officer in each ward II will be evident
TO every OF paramount Importance, and his pres
ence and services would inspire confidence IN every
householder OF that ward has often occurred that The
mere tenant OF house where IRE takes place Will
make little no effort 10 extngush the fire. but
devote all to the safe removal OF his furniture or
goods, in which he is most interested, and thus the
landlord suffers loss from negligence Of this char
Now, il there is an officer in that ward whose
duty il is to meet THIS case, the destruction OF the
property may be prevented, and the tenant be saved
from loss 6y the has,y removal Of his goods, SC |
The valuable services which such an officer could and
would render in such ward would entle him to receive
handsome compensation that the treasury OF the city
would be The gamer 10 pay as The property saved by bis
exerions could be taxed 10 meet IT, In the event OF the
fire gaining tie hfemdsers powers add he has TO re-
sort 10 the reengne department, be orders The ward
bell be rung five minutes, and the location Of the fire
pointed out which bell IN the order oil the system, - not
10 be answered by any other bell until three distinct
strikes given before ringing, as the engines belong
ing TO Is t0dFd would 10 general suffice TO eyhngush
such FIRE Should il be deemed necessary and eypedent
10 call in more engines and help these are obtained from
the adjoining ward wards, from the call OF the bell
and would be an extraordinary hfe that could not be
extinguisEei by such force.
b. this arrangement il will be seen that noise,
comnoion, or excitement, exists anywhere 0uts de ,
oil the ward where the fire originated aud thus the
rest Of the city is left quiet and orderly. 10 connex
ion with this arrangement wouldbe the establishment
OF grea, eeaal and lofty point for the fire hatcher Of
the ctyhe great look outer around the horizon Here the
greet bell is placed and the signals OF direction where
FIRE is discovered pointing out lis location When fire
IS discovered from this lofty point, the watcher first
listens 10 hear the bell Of itdi to1rd where the fire is
seen and if this signal oil conscious danger not sound
ed then three didiact strikes given the great BELL and
the signal light displayed TO point out the direction OF
The fire. In addition to this signal Of dret3n as many
strikes TO be gwen the great bell the number OF
he 0dri shall designate and thus those who may not
The signal light will be able 10 kaoW in Who yard tie
fire is.
The above, Mr.. Elilor is brief view Of this in.
teresng subject and worthy the attention OF our city |
authorities The plan here developed to rem,dy the
evil have been considering is certainly SIMPLE as il
would be efecuI 10 citizens from The dreadful
alarms Of the fire cry, and check the immoral practices
resulting IRON such state OF alarm.
ROBERT MILLS,
Engineer and Architect
CRY or WAsmsGTos, June Is, 1852
The WRECKED AMERICAN WHALEsHP LAWRENCE, on
THE CoAsr OF JAPAN-By the barque Eureka IRON Can.
~, u,tap Hob hara