Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1872-09-05
(COmmunicated.)
The Babcock Self-Acting Fire
En- Oinn

(Communicated.)
The BabcOck Self-Acting Fire |
Engine.
There seems to be considerable. feeling in |
this community relative to the action of our
Village Council in the purchase of the Bah |
cock Engine for the use of the Village, an |
this feeling, in many instances is not of the |
best kind. The fear that some of the citizens
express, that the feeling will, in great meas
ure, distrOy, or at least, weaken the enthu-
siastic action of many of our best toorkiRg citi
zens, in times of fire, is not without founda-
ton; and hence it becomes the duty of each
to put forth his best efforts to harmonic the
public upon the question and avoid infiaming
or prejudicing the public mind. The Coun-
ell have, no doubt acted in good faith, and af
ter full information upon the subject.
petition was presented to the Council
nearly year ago, signed by very large por-
tion of the people, asking for a more efficient
protection from fire. After discussing the
matter. on various occasions, the Council unan-
imously agreed to build public building for
theaccommodation of fire department, Iand
a Mayors Office, Council Chamber, and cells
for prisoners. They agreed upon plan and
location, and madea contract for the erection
of the building. and purchased hook and lad
ders and buckets, and early June last ap.
pointed a committee to investigate and report
the kind and cost of Fire Engine, suita BILE for
| the needs of the Village. All their proceed
ing were public and all citizens might, if
they desired, have made any objections or sug-
gestions upon these matters to the Council
Some suggestions were made and were con-
sidered; but no citizen, at any time, disap
proved of the general course of the Council
On the 18th day of June. last, the Council IN
structed the committee, appointed by them, to
purchase the Babcock Fire Engine, at a cost
not to exceed 81, 300. This action of the Coun-
| ell was taken after the committee had visited
Cincinnati, and obtained the very best infor-
! hat aonld ha obtained fbara ralatiua 10
| fire engines of various kinds. The committee
| reported unanimously in favor of the F'Ba bcock
Fire Engine" Having, against their former
| conYictons, been fully convinced that it was
the very best machine for the protection of
property here. They consulted with members
| of the fire department and prominent business
| men in that city, and all testified to the eff
cheney of this engine.
Mr.. E G. McGrue, Chief Engineer of the
| fire department. and who has devoted his
whole life to the subject of fires and the best
mode of extinguishing them, and who has for
80 years been employed by the city in the fire
department. unhesitatingly prenouneed the
| Babceck Fire Engine the best thet could be
procured for a village of this size. This opin-
ion was controverted by none but affirmed by
| all.
They were shown the certificate of McGrue
and others, of which the following is a copy:
"CINcINNATr, July, 1879.
"To H j Bond General Agent Babeock Self
Acting Fire Engine:
"Having witnessed the test of the Babcock
| Self Acting Fire Engine, at Paramount, July
Sd, ordered by the Board of Supervisors, to
determine their efficiency for protecting from
destruction by fire the suburban localities,
would state for the benefit of those needing
like protection, that the test was a severe and
very successful one. A building I6 feet high.
l2xl4, made of dry pine lumber, with one
opening in front and sides and roof, and con-
| taIOincr n baprols with oh nd
kindling wood in barrels and around the
building. all saturated with oil, was fired and
allowed to burn until the building was thor
oughly on fire, when the stream from the en-
gine was directed upon it, and in less than two
minutes the fire was extinguished and the
building and contents charred mass. The
trial was repeated with like success. and easi-
ly controlled.
1--WE feel confident that they being so quick.
" brought into action with such power over
fire without damage by water, makes them
superior to any hand fire engine, and second
only to n steamer with an abundance of water
Signed: JOHN TwAcKLMAN,
JACOB MEYER,
L. @. FRINTz,
Committe.
E. G. McGRUE, Chief Engineer Fire Dept.
L. Wisely, Assistant
The following is copy of the written state
ment sent by the Engineer of the Cincinnati
, Fire Department to the Secretary of the Bah
r cock En- gine Co, to-wit:
''F. W. Farewell, Secretary: A fire broke on
in the drug store, No. $50 North Fifth street
; April 26, and owing to oil and other inhami
Y BILE fluids, the stock and wood work of the stor
completely enveloped in flames in a few mo
l ments, making an intensely hot fire. Th
: Babcock Engine, in the hands of Engine-Co
: No. IA, arrived quickly on the gre1ndsasnd 9
soon as fifty feet of hose could be unreelee
was ready to play, and without aid from tn
f | steamers, the fire was quickly extinguished /
| q faxv OoOr did damage to Otle
y portion of the building and ithout drenchin
the stock in the basement. At another hr
v the engine taken ten blocks, $50 feet {
hose was unreeled and taken to the rear of tn
y building and up three stories to roof and th
e file extinguished without any damage by WI
a ter or aid from the steamers. We were wi
nesses to the above. and cheerfully give oil
re testimony to its efficiency, economy anc read
0, ness. and commend it to the confidence
towns and cities.
;" E. G. McGRUE, Chief Engineer.
Id L. Wisely, Assistant Engineer.
10 w. H. RUGHEs. Assistant Engineer.
Cincinnati Fire Dept"
IN The Insurance offices representing eigl
IN companies, fire Commissioners and Chief E
id gineer, of Hartford, Conn. under date of N o
= 26, 1863, say that, ''In promptness, efhcIenc
ID and economy we believe it (the Babcock E
! gine1 superior to any country engine now
no use, and even in cities it would be q valuab
I0 auxiliary to the fire departments, as fires
en- without heavy damage from water"
- A very large number of certificates and te
L" timonials from other competent authorities
lip the different Stetes TO the same purport Al
r. effect were presented to the Committee and
, Council, and the evidence overwhelming
ou favor of the Babcock Engine that they Fl
We constrained to pursue the course they have.
m. Now. why attempt to embarrass the Cou
" ell by opposition unless some evidence be pl
he sented- (and none has been presented) to pro
n that the Council have committed an ecregio
error. The Babcock Engines are not a ne
thing. They have been in use several yeal
on and wherever used have proved a success.
on an auxiliary to a Hook and Ladder Compan
with strong bucket force, it does seem tt
laC all reasonable persons must admit that it "
lse meet the wants OF the people, and be of me
~ practicable benefit than airy other engine.
No the opinions of tie officers of the Fire Depa
: ments of Cincinnati, Chicago, Hartford,
OIL South Weymouth and Denvers, Mass, and
many other places, the officers of many
ou surance companies, the public press, and hr
is dreds of persons in nearly every State in
or Union who have witnessed the practit
~ operations of the Babcock Engine at mum
lst GUS fires, is worth anything, then the Coun
= are clearly in the right; but if the opinions
&c afew individuals in our town. of very limit
Vi experience in fires, and with little or no kno'
the edge of the Babcock Engine, and who p
COS nounce it hunbug, should govern and ov
ride the opinions of these experienced m
oe- then the Council are wrong CITIZEN
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