Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-03
LOCAL NEWS. p,

TIE STEAM FIRE DEPARTMENT OF ALEX
.SDEIA.-A few days ago We were passing by
he Hydraulion Engine House on North Royal
street, and its singularly neat, and even elegant
,ppearance, induced US to step in. We found
he engineer, Mr.. Joseph H. Young, not only
.,olite to visitors, but anxious to afford them
eyerg information in his power, relative to mat
:ers connected with his charge.
che company has recently fitted up the III
.erior Of its engine room in very superior style,
90 that few engine houses in the country, GER
:a;ply none that we ever saw, can compete with
i in appearance
The walls and ceiling have been newly coated
rifh hard, white plaster; the former being
PAINTED a dark brown color, some five feet from
&c floor, while the latter is adorned with cut
,c2ev OF al! the colors OF the rainbow, arranged
:: elegant patterns, and serving not on y to
,>autily the room, but, also, to keep the flies
rcn1 the apparatus The trsnsoms Of the side
coos have been handsomely painted BY Mr..
:.r.hrl G. Kel, the Secretary of the Company,
nd bear the words ''Hydraulion Steam Fire
COMPANY" 10 beautiful fancy letters, flanked
~ the date of organization, 1927, and the rep
saatatiou of fire plug On the left, as you
enter is the water sink, under the hydrant,
rom which the boiler is supplied, and above
T. q water cooler for the use of members and
~isitors.
Che first piece Of apparatus seen, IS hand
some four wheeled carriage, carrying 500 feet
Of rubber hose, and lighted at night by two red
lanterns. Next comes the Potomac, second
class steam fire engine, Of the Amoskeag pat
tern, the brass ard copper work, of which It is
almost entirely composed, kept always so bright
that the engineer has no need Of looking
glass, the polished air vessel serving that puc
DOSE to admiration. This is lighted by two
EDite lanterns, and has 3 gong attached: which
is struck as the machine glides rapidly through
ne streets, to warn passing vehicles Of its ap-
Droach. We noticed on the suction pipe very
curious recent invention, the Jones coupling,
which dispenses entirely with the old screws.
and requires no spanner to tighten it, perform
ing that duty for itself. and merely requiring TO
be pushed together by the hoseman, when the
more pressure the water makes the tighter it
Tets. This improvement is invaluable in saw
ing time at u FIRE, and should be universally
adopted.
Ia one corner, behind, stands large hose
carriage also lighted by two red lamps contain
ing six hundred feet Of hose, the reserves kept
70 oppose the most desperate charges Of the
fiery enemy, and in the other, is the work
bench with its tools, &c., for repairs, the tool
closet. &C., and above, shelf for the kindling
wood, below which hang the white lanterns
used by the torch bearers The beds used by
he engineer and Ostler, also, occupy this
portion of the room, in which, at night, one Of
thc gas lights is kept at low flame continual
Jy, while in winter, q constant fire not only
warns the room, and keeps the boilers from
freezing, but supplies hot water for all nccessa-
~ purposes.
'Ihe two fine grays used for pulling the ap-
o:.rstus, are lodged next door, and their stable
3 model Of neatuess, being kept in admirable
cider, BY the ostler, Mr. VIM. Corners.
When an alarm of fire is given the first hose
carriage is Immediately run out, while the tri-
angle in the cupola strikes the ward, to sum
mon the members to the scene Of action. More
cuicly than we write this, Conner has his
norses always kept in harness. hitchcd to the
steamer, while Young has set off his fire, (al
Ways ready made in the furnace, } and the ma
chine thundcrs along to the scene Of danger,
clounds of smoke Illuminated by myrlads OF
s7arks, heralding It's approach through the
darkness Of the night. In less than eight mir
utes steam is up, tit has been ready in three
and then hose being already laid out, all that
les to be done is to attach The suction tube to
cplug, and the fire king must acknowledge
himself conquered! Our people and the lnsu-
:ance Offices have already saved thousands OF
dollars by the aid Of the Potomac, and IT she
continues to be as we'll managed as she Is now,
tor the "Hydraulion' never races and never
fights, will save many other thousands. We
may we'll apply to it the language Of fhepoH, :
Thou art a most invalureless mersheen,
to old cnIIirt, -