The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-02-19

scented to the City Council last evening, by
Mr. r. n. Littler, President Of the Fire
Company. We think il contains . Psae,ic-
81 suggestion worthy Of the consideration
Of Council. Some means should certain
iy be adopted for the protection OF property
in the upper part OF the city againet FIRE,
aud we do not know OF any better plan than
the building of public eis,erns, Even
where cities are provided with water works
and drs plugs, public cis,erns are promi.
neut reliance in case of FIRE They are al
ways available the coldcst weather, always
ready under proper care, and afford facilities
for wor king several engines II required at
the same spot As will be seen BY this
communication, we have now we'll organ.
ICED Fire Department, though small, and
the Company are daily expecting excellent
apparatus. This Department and appsra-
tus can be of bu, little avail in case OF fire,
in certain parts Of the city, unless some
means be adopted to secure supply OF wa
ter. The necessity is urgent, and demands
immediate ction. We invite the attention
OF readers to this communication. Mr.. Lit
tier deserves much praise for the zeal he
has manifested in assisting to establish
fire organisation here, and for bis labors at
this time not only in behalf of this orgsni.
cation, but in endeavoring to make il 4 real
nrota rfion IN the rify.
To the Honorable Mayor and City Council
Of Davenport:
GExTLxMEH:
Your petitioner would respect
fully inform your honorable body that the
apparatus for the use OF Independent Fire
Engine and Hose Co. Of this city, is daily
expected from the East In view Of this
fact, and Of the subject to which design
drawing your attention, deem il necessary
to make your honorable body . statement
Of the condition Of tho Ncreaniza,ion into
whose keeping this apparatus will be plac
ed. The Company now numbers over one
hundred active men. II 10 divided into three
Divisions, each Division in charge OF =
Foreman and an Assistant--the whole un.
der the supervision Of the President. The
Company are with complete organization
ready for active service, 80 soon as Their
engines shall arrive. These engines have
been built BY Mr.. Honeyman, OF Boston,
and combine oil the latest improvements,
They are both suction engines, and Of SUN
Gent capacity to lift and discharge 800 bbls
per minute. and when fully manned,
forty four men being required for this, viii
discharge water through lilo inch nozzle
l6o feet perpendicular, and 2l5 to 225 feet
horizontally. This is the promise OF the
builder, and judging from what have seen
Of his engines, (they being used in Fire
Department with which / was connected
eight years. think his promises will be
Hose from the factory OF Messrs. Jewett 4
Co. Hartford. Conn. The Hose Carriages
have been built in this city BY Messfs. Web
er 4 Co., and viii correspond in beauty
and good workmanship to the engines with
| which they are intended to run.
| We shall thus soon be properly provided
with good apparatus, Tor the sccommoda-
tion of which 3 suitable house has been
secured. Our organization 10 complete so
far - itgoes, and will gradually become
strengthened az il becomes better known
aud appreciated in its purposes and useful.
ness. But to render Us more efficient az q
Fire Company in the protection Of the
,cAole city, some action seems to me to be
| required OF the City Council to secure for
Fire Companies q supply OF water above
Third street. would respectfully call the
attention of your honorable body to the
unprotected condition of the city above
| said street, In consequence of there being
no place where on The occasion OF FIRE,
water could be obtained for the use of the
engines. AT present our supply OF wster
must come from the river, excepting The
uncertain and inadequate supplies which
in some localities might be obtained from
private cisterns. Should fire occur at q
distance of twelve hundred feet Of & water
supply, il would be impossible for our appa.
rstus to pisy upon it with more than two
streams. II nearer, say five hundred feet,
We could play four effective streams, |
would respectfully suggest the building Of
eapacious public cisterus 1T prominent
points above Third stree, to be FLIED BY
the water from the roofs of houses, anc
when We have water works, BY means o.
them. These cisterns might be buiitof the
capacity of six to eight hundred barrels
and would cost from $3.50 to $500 each
Even had We water works now, there sre
many reaso1f why cisterns are preferable
for this purpose than hydrants or ERE plugs,
- this climate especially when for three or
four months 10 the year the mercury 10 IRE.
| quently ranging below zero They are not
| liable TO freeze as is the case with FIRE
plugs, while they aifsrd the facility of work
ing two or more engines at one spot. But
will not occupy the attention Of your body
Ia giving reasons tor this preference. They
are regarded as indispensable in cities 9th.
erwise fully provided ~ means OF water
\ works.
l While, under Prsyideniial care, we have
thus far escaped any serious calamity by
IRE, such as have almost ruined many other
cities, this should not render US less ener
getic in guarding our beautiful city against
The accidents of the future. With this re-
Election, and being earnestly DESTROYS that
| every reasonable means should be adopted
to render the present Fire organizati
what il is intended TO be, protectionto the
city. | have thus troubled your honorable
body with this communication, hoping its
suggestion will meet with your careful con-
siderstion,
am respectfully yours,
ROB'T NJ. LITTIER,
Presd't fndt Fire Eng and Hose Co.