Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-07-31

Report of ths Committe on Fire. Water and
Gas Of the City of Toronto, Canada, on the
Tria, Of steam Fire Engines, held there on
sOrh June, 1871.
Toaosro, Canada, July 6, 1871.
70 His Worship the Mayor, and the Com
mon Council Of the CITY Of Toronto:
The Committee on Fire, Water and Gas
beg leave 20 present their report.
On the 17th February last, the Council
instructed the Committee to negotiate for
purchase of Steam Fire Engine.
Your Committee communicated with the
following manufacturers, viz Silsby Manu~
featuring Co., Clapp Il lJones' MAnufsetur-
ing Co, Amoskeag Manufacturing Co., Hey.
slop Reynolds, OF Chatham, Ontario, and
Shand & Mason, of London, England; aaking
for proposals to furnish hrst-elass engine,
and the cost of same, giving the parties to
understand that the engines would be tested
in Toronto, and the one most satisfactory in
every particular would be purchased by the
Com mittee,
The Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. de
clined entering the contest the Shand 4
Mason engine did not arrive in time and
MessrS. Heyslop 4 Reynolds, after having
month, did not communicate further with
the Committee, nor put in an appearance or
the day of trial. The engines present were
the Silsby Manufacturing Co. 5, and Clapl
& Jones Manufacturing Co. q.
| Previous TO the trial your Committed
thought it advisable to test two of the isis
BY" engines now in use in the CITY, which
was accordingly done.
| Both these engines have been in seryic
over ten years, and do good work with from
80 to 40 lbs. of steam, seldom if ever, ex
eeeding the latter. Yearly Committee ha
drafted for the trial on tho 30th June, pro
grsmme allowing double that amount c
lsteam
The programme was as follows:
4
i Your Committee having ascertaIned t
their satisfaction, that 40 lbs. of steam wa
scarcely ever used, and less amount mor
commonly, decided that so lbs, or doubl
the usual amount, would be sufficient fl
test, and decided accordingly neither Of ii
competing parties knowing what the tria
were to be. until they were 90 the grour
and ready, the programme then being han
: ed to each
g Your Committee called 10 their assistant
pratical engineers, amongt whom was NJ
William Gill, LIST engineer OF the Rollir
> Mills, q gentleman standing at the head
o his profession in Canada.
Your Committee, after careful invest
gaticu of the engines fair trial of the
s. workings, and receiving the opinions
= practical engineers. (which are herewi
submitted), have decided unanimously
- purchase the "Silsby" engine, as being Il
Or most practical and efficient of the two.
it We submit for your further considerable
the result of the trial, giving foil partic
lars, and ss you will see the "Silshyf "
/. in each and every instance, far ahead of !
opponent.
ToRoxTo, July Sd, 1871.
10 TO Nr. Alderman B0uStead, Chairman Fl
d Water and Gas Committee :
. DEAR SIR: In accordance with your
:. strue.ions, inspected the FIRE engines DIT
ing the trial on the 30th June last. pa
I'd particular attention 10 the operations of t
y engines, and although previously prejudic
IN favor ofs piston engine, | found tn
after perfectly fair trial, the "Rotar
Of engine threwa larger quantity Of wal
20 than the other engine, and in a more co
r. pact body. II also threw it g greater d
lance than the other engine did the small
'e quantity, and this with pressure Of fro
o. ! 0 to Il lbs. less steam thsn the piston e
10 CINE, which is q very great advantage.
l would therefore recommend the Corp
ration to purchase the Rotary" engine
the most efficient ofthe two engines.
y am, yours truly,
i WILLIAM GILL,
: Chief Engineer Toronto Rolling MI