The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-07

THE"UNcLE Ax."-A large steam ngine,
built for governm ent use on Rock Island was
tried Thursday afternoon, in the presence
of several hundred persons including
delegations from the Rock Island and Dav-
export fire departments. The Uncle Sam,
a large and powerful frst-class machine
from the Amosksag Works was hauled
upon the avenue near the north shore of
the Island. The engine weighs about l.
500 pounds. The whssls are five feet nine
inches in diametre, and the engine frame is
twelve feet in length. The boiler capacity is
sixty gallons, heated by three hundred and
thirteen one and ons-fourth inch fues, &c in.
ders eight inches in diameter, twelve inches
stroke driving two filling and forcing pumps,
four and half inches diameter twelve in.
ches stroke, each of which have two dischar-
gss, making four connections ON the engine
tor leading hose. The machine ia construct
ed for suction attachments on either side, in
order to accommodate the lay OF the land
Gen. Rodman has ordered 100 feet OF suction
hose, and the trial was commenced with
taking water through one hundred yeet If
suction and playing through four lines of
leading hose with one inch MOBILES In six
minutes and thirty seven seconds from the
lighting of the torch steam was raised and
the engine started il eight minutes two
streams, and In eleven mlnu tea four streams
ware playsd-about ITO feet each With
two streams the playing was about 10 feet
and with one stream about 200 feet. The play
ing was all done through lines of leading
hose $50 feet each. The throwing on dis
tance wos not 30 great as expected by many,
but it should be borne In mind that it is I'm.
usual for fire engine to take water through
one hundred feet of suction hose with an ele.
walton of twenty feet. Twenty five feet and
less is the usual suction had by steam and
hand fire engines. The trial was generally
satisfactory, as was the test of the quality of
the hose. Gen. Rodman, commander of the
the arsenal, was present and appeared salts
fed with the working of the machine, which,
with the two four wheel hose carriages, q
600 feet of double riveted leather hose, and
100 of suction hose, cost Uncle Sam Sl2 900,
delivered ct Rock Island. A good invest
ment, as with few good cisterns and fire
engine TO play four streams of water, there
would be little danger of disastrous confa-
grafton.
As we have before remarked, Gen. Rod
man will send the Uncle Sam to Rock Island
in case of large fire, or any time when the
machine is needed, provided he is informed
OF the necessity, by the proper authorities
either by signals agreed on, or by message.
But he will not send the machine out, at ev-
cry bsel ringing, unless he is satisfied there
Is necessity for it, to save property or help
subdue conaagration.
he Will, In return, expect our fire depart
ment'to turn out with their machines, in case
of fire at the Island, If they are needed
which, OF course will be cheerfuliy done.
second trial of the "Uncls Sam" steam
fire engine took place Friday afternoon on the
Island. The machine took water through %
feet OF suction. Steam vas raised and vat.-
played in six minutes and fifteen seconds
Fifty feet of leading hose Was laid for each
cline, and the following lie the result, If Tho
playing:
streams, | inch nozzle, IT'S feet.
2 200
l I" II 22O 8"
Through open butt, one line 65
The hose was subjected to test of $50 lbs
pressure to the square inch.
During. the playing one of the EMPLOYEES
IN tho Islopd ubo No. oss;..: =.