The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-14
STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

II
petition was in circulation praying the Coun-
ell to provide for the city, a steam FIRE en-
CINE. Three hundred and sixty FIVE of our
heaviest tax payers signed this petition
Since the recent fire, inquiries have been
made of those active in the matter, as to
what had been developed from the inyesti-
cations set on foot 1t has been thought
best to answer these questions, as well as
objections which have been raised by few
in public manner:
The several manufacturers of steam fire
engines, build machines of different sizes:
Some are intended to be pulled by hand and
it was this class Of engine that it was at
first thought best to procure. Information,
however, received from other cities has led to
the conclusion, that the engine size larger
than this, to be pulled by horses, is the most
suitable for our purpose. There is differ
ence of opinion as to which style of engine is
best-that with rotary or that with cylinder
pumps but the chief engineer of the Boston
FIRE department and the FIRE marshall of
Chicago recommend the cylinder engines of
the Amoskeag Works. The size recommend
ed as suitable tor our purpose, at fair work
ing speed will discharge 400 gallons per
minute, or throw FIVE seven eighth inch
streams, 2l0 feet, or will throw one, one
and one-eighth inch stream $50 feet. The
weight of this engine with every thing ready
to run ont to service. including fuel. water in
boiler, tools &c, is 5000 pounds. Its cost
is Sd, $50.
The plan OF organization of the company
IN charge OF an engine, as adopted at Lowell
aud some other Massachusetts towns. is as
follows Hire one fireman to take care of the
engine, under the direction of the engineer
Arrange with competent steam engineer
who shall have familiarized himself with the
machine, that he shall repair to the engine at
the alarm of FIFE, and there do duty as long
as required, receiving a stipulated sum for
each hours service. Appoint an assistant
competent to take the place of the first engi-
neer, It need be. Locate the engine as near
as possible to livery stable, and contract
with its proprietor for the immediate furnish
ing of a suitable team and driver, when re.
CURED. Volunteer firemen will do the rest.
The objections met in the effort SO secure
petitioners were these:
No new expense shond be incurred by the
city until our Indebtedness is cancelled The
hiring OF the necessary hands, horses, &c,
would be too great a tax upon the city.
The machine would be too heavy and un-
wieldy for our streets.
We have no supply of water adequate for
such machine.
While it is true that none but the most
necessary expense should be incurred until
we have satisfied our creditors. it is also
unquestionably true that We owe it to them
and to ourselves, to use proper means to pro
teet that property, which is their only security
from destruction. The report of the engineer
OF the lire department of Cincinnati, shows
that the loss by fire in that city has been
diminished fifty per cent. by the use of
steamers. The report Of the engineer of the
fire department of Louisville, shows that
during the fifteen months prior to the use of
steamers, the loss by fire was S476, 900: and
that for the fifteen months following their
Introduction the loss was but SIS, 0O0-a
falling of in the fire loss of S42l 200 during
period of fifteen months
The economical organization of the COM
lany' as suggested above, obviates the obiec-
aon regarding the expense of keeping the
The weight of the machine is not greater
VIA. .la' ., the hrst' class Philadelphia hand
1t may be turned about like a vaIos;.,ads "a
Is, consequently, not liable to be ditcbad
II we have not a sufficient supply of wotor
to protect the city, it should be secured a,
once, and the greatest aid toward this il ,ba
steam ste, hire engine. From the river it could
M eastern at distance only limited by tbe.
length of the hose. Some imagine thai hos |
would not stand the pressure necessarv Ca
lhis work, and some men think the machine
incompetent to force the water up our hills
The Chicago engines sometimes throw a Good
stream from the top Of s;x.story bo,s
through hose carried to the caves Ono of
the size recon mendei above, has thrown
stream On building through l, 400 feet Of
hose. The c,sterns OF Memphis, private a.
well as public, are tiled from the river by 4 |
Steamer. PRossSss.