Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-27

How CHICAGO FIRM is INsURED.-The
Chicago Post gives the following interesting ae-
count of the manner in which prominent firm
in that city is protected:
John V. Farwell & Co. do not mean to suffer
again by fire if careful, intelligent and compre-
henslve efforts at prevention will avoid con-
hagration. Their immense stores on Monroe
street are five stories in height To guard
them during the night the firm employ three
watchmen, who are known to be vigilant, and
who will be apt to discover in its ncplenCy and
check it there any fire which may spring up
upon the premises. The precaution of provd-
ing watchmen is, however, an ordinary one,
useful, but in the opinion of the Messrs. Far.
well not all sufficient. Their system OF protec-
ton against fire by no means rests simply upon
the services of their men. Their engineer is on
duty at night, and should fire be discovered on
any Of the floors the watchmen communicate
with him by means of a knob which ,5when
touched, sounds gong in the engine room and
indicates by the number of strokes the floor
upon which the fire IS found. The engineer thus
alarmed opens the valve of a monster Babcock
stationed upon the premiseS-an engine having
a pressure OF 300 pounds TO the square inch,
and by a system of pipes the chemical solution
is forced TO the top Of the building. The Bah
cock having been put in order, the engineer en-
lists the services OF the natural enemy of fire by
opening valve of the apparatus connected with
water to the fourth, and by aid of pump to the
fifth floor. The pressure Of this engine is such
that no fire engine in the city can compete with
its strongest stream. To stay the flames
these agencies are put into Instantaneous
operation, hut the efforts against the fiery
element do not cease here. By the touching of
a knob the news of the fire runs with lightning
rapidity 10 the private fire department of the
firm at their stables on Fifth avenue, near Van
Buren street, some six blocks from the store
This fire department consists of twenty drivers
who sleep in apartments provided in the sta
bes Reused by the striking of the gong, the
fire brigade are instantly upon their feet and
hitching horse, ready harnessed, are off to the
store. Upon their arrival they mount to the
floor upon which the fire is at work, divide into
squads, and work the hose and Babcocks. They
will of course, be aided by the city department.
which will reach the scene as rapidly as possible
This aid will be facilitated by The careful fore
sight of the FarWellS, for the engine first arrY-
ing may connect with the arteSian well, and at
once get forclble stream upon the building.
Further supplies of water may be had from
reservoir under the sidewalk on Franklin street.
This reservoir is supplied by the powerful arte-
sian well. 1t is 100 feet long by IL feet vide,
and contains four feet of water To save the
periShabe stock from the deluge of water and
chemicals which upon occasion may descend
upon it, the employees are required, before leav-
ing the store each night, to cover the goods
laden tables with impervious oil cloth. These
are, in the nam, the precautionary measures
adopted by the MeSsrs. Farwell. Additional to
these they use divers minor precautions, which
will suggest themselves to any prudent mind,
but which, unfortunately, are too often neg
lected