The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-02-20
The Engine Question

The Engine Question
A call has been issued, by authority
of Common Council, through Mayor
KEEPER, for a public meeting, to be
held on Saturday evening next, in the
new Council Chamber to take into
consideration the propriety of procu
ring more efficient means for the pro-
lection of our citizens against acct
dental or incendiary fires.
In our report in the Press, of the
fire that occurred in New Hope, re-
Gently, we intimated that it was time
our citizens woke up to the fact that
they were not properly protected from
fire, and we are pleased to notice that
they have determined not to wait I'M
til we were visited by similar disas-
ter, but be prepared to meet it in case
it does come
On Saturday afternoon last, the
old "Globe, +" and the extra" were
patched up for the occasion, and
brought out for trial, to ascertain if
they were of any use. Considering
the condition they were in, all rusty
and the hose looking as though oil nor
water had not been near them for an
age, they performed tolerably well,
and succeeded in raising a stream of
water about thirty feet high, being
well manned by boys. at that. But
the "Globe," according to our way of
thinking, is "played out" No doubt
it has been a good machine in its day
and generation, and answered very
well for "Bung town." but for the
+" city of Lambertville," we require a
better one-a larger engine, that will
throw an inch stream into the top of
the highest building in the place--one
that can be relied upon, so that our
business men and citizens generally,
may be enabled, to retire at night, or
be absent for time from their places
of business, with some assurance of
safety in case of fire.
1t has been stated that an engine
belonging to the United States Fire
Company Of Philadelphia, could be
bought cheap. The Company will put
it in first rate order, alter it into a sue
tion engine, paint it, &c, and sell it
for one thousand dollars, and it is
now "as good as new" The original
cost of the machine was SO, 100
The "new" part of the story is very
good, but very Old There is hardly
a Fire Company in New York or
Philadelphia but would display the
same liberality if they had the oppor-
tunity. 1t is quite common for Fire
Companies in large titles, as soon as
their engines become "shaky," either
from long or hard use, TO put them in
the market for about half their origi-
nal cost, and if possible, sell them to
the citizens Of country places, when
they can find those who are green
emo gh to buy, and then purchase new
ones for their own use They will in
variably agree to fix and paint them
up, and make them look "as good as
new" but after they have been used
for year or two, you find out exact
ly what you have got-an old engine,
good for nothing. This is generally
the result in buying s,cond hand en-
gines, and it is to be hoped our citi-
zens will not throw away their money
on an apparatus which is of about as
much use where it comes from as the
Globe is here. If there is to be only
one engine in the place, it should be
good one.
We hope the meeting will be large
" attended, and the Common G )uncil
authorized to appoint a Committee
from among themselves, or from the
citizens, to ascertain the cost of first
class engine, plain and servicable,
made by good builder, with a writ
ten guarantee as to its capacity, and
order it at once; the ems inc to be un
der the control of the Common Conn-
Gil, or the Committee on Fire Depart
ment, with an efficient Company, whose
duty it shall be to keep the engine and
hose clean and in good working order.
If this is done, we shall have FIRE APP
paratus worthy of our city.
N. B.-We have learned that Mr.
VIM. Cohen. of this place, has pro
posed to build an engine either for
steam or han1 use. as good as can be
obtained any where, and at "a reasona-
BILE price.