The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-27
Steam Fire-EnginpS.

The advantages of these engines for the pro-
lection of property against fire in cities are
clearly established in every city where they
have been introduced. A correspondent who
signs himself" "a Baltimorean, - communicates
some facts i'll the history of their employment
IN Baltimore, which We give below. Their
publication is quite timely, just after the fire
of Friday evening:
There are IN Baltimore six steam fire -engines
making enc for each district. They have each a
large hose caTriage attached to them. The engine
IS drawn ny two horses and the hose carriage by
one They require only the following men to man
axe them: A Captain and Lieutenant an tnglDear
lreman, two Drivers and two Plpemen-nakIng
eight to each COMPANY. and only forty eight he
whole department The engines burn wood. and
the furnace IS always kept full of wood, sa urated
with ,urpent!ne or ETHEREAL oil; so that the Eng
heer may always be able Ia light IL at a moments
Warning. When the fire is started, the use of the
'ufpehtine or OIL isd scontlnued Certain portions
81 tAe company are compelled to remain at the
engine house both night and day. Each engine
house is provided with bell.
for the convenience OF the police and fire de-
LattInents, "A telegraph from various pontssn the
sts to the city hall has been estahllshed alarm
Tafions points m the CITY, and at each engine and
watch house. Every watchman and member OF
the hte department. IS furnished with Il key to these
boxes. When ire is seen anywhere IN the CITY
the Waterman IN that district goes to the alarm
number OF tunes strikes the number of his box IN
every box III the city. Ihe bells of the various
eHtiHc III TIE ciLS repeat the number sound
cd by the bells in the boxes By reference to a
pointed indicator. almost the precise spot where
The Department IL needed can be ascertained
Suppose the number should he 3. B, reference To
the indicator IT Will be seen that box No is
placed at the corner OF Baltimore and Hanover
streets, from which point the fire can be seen. AS
soon as the alarm is given. and II can lie given ali
over the city IN two minutes after the FIRE is see NJ
the eng ineer lights the fire, the horses are htCne
20 the n&lne and hose carriage, and all start of
Tor The hTe: In this manner at least two engines
can lie on the ground and ready for service in SIX
minutes after the alarm, and In IS minutes the
Ghoie department can reach any point in the clty
The steam is generated on the way to the fire
Such is Il brief sketch Of the re.arrangement
of the Fire Department Of Baltimore Since
ats Introduction into that city, our correspon.
dent states that there has been a gradual and
steady decrease of the number of fires. and in
'he amount of property destroyed. The pre-.
MUM on insurance policies have been re-.
duced rs the risk is not rs great us formerly.
An engine, such as IL used there, costs about
5000: but, since Baltimore has had them il
has saved III least twice the cost Of all of tho
engincs
The advantages resulting from their intro.
oucuon are manifest and, if they had been in
use rioay afternoon, the owners of the facto-
~ destroyed would have saved at least their
factory, II not their tobacco Our corresnon.
aeHt thinks that two or three engines wou,d
w >"nicieht Ior this city. We trust that our
City Council will order one and maks IN. -.
pertinent.