Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1872-02-01
FIRE ExTENGUTsmERS.

We were reminded the other day by
remark of ourwerthy Mayor that our town.
is wholly destitute of any provisions nee
essary to guard against fires, or to extin-
guish them when they occur, therefore,
we in Washington, are at the mercy of the
flames at any moment. Is it not time that
some measures were adopted by which we
can defend our lives and property against
fires. Some time since, our Mayor in his
Message to the Council, recommended that
Babcock Fire Extinguishers be procured
for the use of the town in case of fire. On
looking over the Scientific American of the
I'd of January, we find the following arti-
Gle in relation to this extinquisher. By
the way, this paper is the most scientific
paper and the best authority that can be
quoted from on scientific questions. 1t
says in relation to this extinguisher:
The value of a ready means of extin-
gushing fires at their very commencement
has often been dwelt upon in these columns.
We have shown, by facts, figures and ar
gument, that large proportion OF all the
fires which occur could, by such means, be
extinguished before extensive damage oc-
ours.
Without making invidious distinctions
between the portable fire eXtinguishing ap-
paratuses now in use, we may well refer
to the history of a single one as ample
proof of the correctness of our position.
We refer to that known as the Babcock
Fire Extinguisher, which has made for it
self most honorable record, and is be-
coming quite extensively introduced. We
have not space to enumerate the large num-
Der of fires which have been almost imme-
diately extinguished by this machine, but
the number is very great. A few words,
however, as to the origin of the present
form and use of the device, may not be un-
interesting.
The original machine was of French
origin. and is known as the earlier and Wig
non Machine To this machine as start
ing point, have been added a great number
of American improvements. Observing
the bulletins of the Northwestern Fire Ex-
tinguisher Co, 407 Broadway, New York,
announcing the dangerous fires that have
been recently controlled at the outset by
the use of these portable extinguishers, we
have taken pains to Investigate its claims
upon public favor, and are satisfied that it
deserv Is to rank among the best Of modern
appliances for saving property.
The machine as now used EMPLOYS what
is known as the Bate and Pinkham mode
of charging, by which the liquid acid and
the solution of biearbonate of sodaare kept
separate until the apparatus is required.
By this means there is no gas generated
except at the time of using and consequent
| " no loss of gas or strain upon the cylin-
der during the intervals. The moment the
| two materials are allowed to commingle
which is done by simply pulling out the
! knob of steam which controls stopper,
| a large quantity of carbonic acid gas, in
which no fire can live. is generated under
| great pressure which forces out thoroughly
mingled water and gas in fine, small
stream through the nozzle of a small hose,
provided with stopcock to control the
| flow. Suitable arm straps enable the per-
son using the device to place it upon his
back. leaving his hands free to direct the
flow from the hose.
A very small portion of the mingled gas
and water a mere film, is sufficient to ex-
tinguish a fire that has not-loeen so long in
progress as to heat the burning material
through and through to the point of igni-
ton. The gas extinguishes4the fame, and
the water cools the material, most scien-
tific combination.
II becoming eehanaosffer ffief-
to have one of the extinguishers on each
floor of their building, ready for immediate
use.
i Itoccupies not much more space than g
water pail, and no more skill is required
to operate it than pouring bucket of water
on an ignited floor.