Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-01-10

How CmcAco FIRM Is ISsuRED-
The Chicago Post gives the following inter
eSting account of the manner in which
prominent firm in that city is protected.
John V Farwell 4 Co. do not mean
10 suffer again by fire. if careful, intelligent
and comprehensive efforts at prevention will
avoid c0uiiagation. Their immense stores
ON Alunroe street are five stories in height.
To guard them during the night the firm EN-
ploy three watchmen who are known TO be
yigilant, and who will be apt to discover in
its incipiency and check there any fire which
may spring up on the premises. The pre-
caution of providing watchmen Is, however,
an ordinary one, useful, but in the opinion
al the Messrs Farwell not all-suihcent.
Their system of protection against fire by no
means rests simply upon the services of their
men. The engineer Is on duty at night, and
should fire be discovered on any of the floors
the watchmen communicate with him by
means of knob, which, when touched,
sounds a gong in the engine room and indi-
Gates hv the number Of strokes the hOOr upon
which the fire Is found The engineer thus
alarmed opens the valve Of a monster BabcOck
stationed upon the premises-an engine hay
ing pressure Of 800 pounds to the square
inch, and by a system Of pipes the chemical
solution is forced to the top Of the building.
The Babcock having been put in order, the
engineer enlist, the services of the natural
enemy Of fire by opening a valve of the ap-
paratus connected with the artesian well,
which OF its own force eleyates water to the
fourth. and by aid Of pump to the fifth
floor. The pressure of this engine l. such
that no fire engine in the city can compete
with * strongest stream To stay the flames
these agencies are put into instantaneous op-
Grafton. bat the efforts against the fiery ele-
ment do not cease here. By the touching of
a knob the news of the fire runs with light
ming rapidity to 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 stables Reused by the stri-
king Of the gong, the fire brigade are in
stantly upon theirfeet, 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 depart
ment, which will reach the scene as rapidly
as possible This aid will be facilitated by
the careful foresight Of the Farwells, for the
engine first arriving may connect with the
artesian well, and at once get forcible
stream upon the building. Further supplies
of water may be had from a reservoir under
the sidewalk on Franklin street This reser-
yoir Is supplied by the powerful artesian
well. 1t i 100 feet long by II feet wide,
nsrl fafr f..rf~ foa+ of
the perishable stock from the deluge of water
and chemicals which upon occasion may de-
seend upon it, the employees are required,
before leaving the store each night, to cover
the good~-laden tables with imperyious oil
cloth. These are, in the main, the precau
tionary measures adopted by the Messrs.
Farwel Additional to these they use yari-
Gus minor precautions, which will suggest
themselyes to any prudent mind, but which,
unfortunately, are too often neglected.