Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-14
The Fire Engineers Convention.


The national fire engineers convention 10
session at st. Louis last week discussed numeT-
ous propositions to secure the efficiency of the
FIRE department of our large cities. Among
other things the use Of stand pipes in buildings
was q subject of recommendation, Stand pipes
are iron pipes of about the dimensions OF the
ordinary hose used at fires, and reaching from
the bottom to the top of a building and con-
nected with the water supply of the city. Hose
may be attached to them at any floor, and any
room of the whole building flooded in a shors
time. That these stand pipes are very excel
lent auxiliary to fire department is evident
from the fact that Insurance companies reduce
rates per cent where such appliances are pro-
yided. The representatives OF large cities Ike
Cincinnati, Boston, Philadelphia, New York,
and Chicago favored the erection OF these pipes.
In New York there are large number of stores
In which the pipes have been put up, and are
sometimes connected with steam pumps. They
have frequently been found OF use, when the
.eGktb of hose WSs suii ciently great, in putting
ont iDCipient fires. A committee Of the con-
ventICn recommend that stand pipes be erected
In all large buildings and warehouses. The eN-
pense is not great, and the reduction in insur.
aDee premiums would pay for their eTectiOU in
short time. Among the other recOmmeoda-
tions OF the convention committees are:
l. That the engines should bs kept always in
such order that they can be manned and be ef-
ncient at a moments netiee.
2, That chiefs should have supreme control OF
Their men. Tins control Is necessary TO secure
thorough discipline and insure the greatest
efficiency OF the departments.
3. That standing ladders should be erected on
tells, etc.
l. That iron shutters should come into gene
raj use on warehouses, factories, etc; and that
shutters above the first story should be provd-
I'd with tastenings accessible from the outside,
in order that tremen might open them speedily.
5. That IN ali cities with population OF 2Je,-
eco Inhabitants and upwards, the mains should
not be less than y inches iii diameter. Chicago
is not the only city in which the mains are too
small The committee Of the convention on
water supply reported that the supply OF water
9. That in the mercantile portions of cities
battlement walls of brick or other freproof ma
ter al should be constructed at least five feet
above the root, with hose openings twenty-five
feet apart and three feet above the root.
7. That there should be to every three engines
one truck with six to ten ladders.
5. That relief engines are s necessity, and
should always be kept In order.
9. That cities should forbid the erection or
buildings Of such height that their roofs are out
of the reach OF the fire apparatus.
10. That only competent machinists should be
tmplOyed az engineers OF steam fire engines.
IL: That paid fire departments be organizeJ
IN all cities and towns.
Besides these recommendations of commit
tees, the convention adopted resolution com
mendiug 10 iccal governments the enactment OF
o uiEsnCes providing thai IN the purchase OF
hese the quality sbouid he the best, and that the
lowest biCoer sloulG be ignored.
PoLITIoAL NOTES Hon. Geo. T. Hoar was
yesterCay unanimously nominated tor Con
gIes st Worcester, Mass. The political
contest in Nevada is at fever heat, and is con
duCteG with great acTimODy and personal bit
teIness. 1.-The county convention OF the
German Independent Citizens association
New York have nominated Alderman often
del1er for mayor. The republicans or Ii,
Stanton (Va.) district, in convention at Hsrri
soDbuTg, yesterday nominated United State
Senator Lewis for Congress by aCcl2mation
49, Colonel W. S. King, late postmaster Of tn
Houfe OF Representatives, now a republicaH
candidate TOR Congress in MnnesOtq, Ia
issued challenge to Eugene Wilson, a men.
Der OF the 42d Congress, his democratic oppo
nepi, to discuss publicly the statement ~ ~
by the Democratic Congressional committee IT.
rs ADDRESS, that King was corrupt, lobby.s. E.
Washington, and that he had Obtained hi
nomination ty bribery. 1t is probable tha
Wilson will decline the contest. hIag ais.
writes a letter to Iguatius DOnnelly, agree
ing TO resign the nomination if Dor
nelly will prove his charge of corruption
THE Philadelphia Press OF yesterday say.
In the LIST Congressional district the democrat
last night nominated that pol veteran, co!
Thomas h. Florence. This action complicaCe-
the contest and resolves it into triangular
affair, with the chances, however, largely l..
tayer OF the regular republican candidate
Chapman Freeman. Dallas Sanders, ESQ tn
leader of the young democracy Of the distric'
was warmly pressed by his friends TO take ia
nomination, and would have received il had b,
been willing, but declined in favor of the Nss
trr OF his party. The political sensation To,
the moment in New York is the furious attack
Of Hon. John McKeon, in the papers, upon th,
democratic candidate for governor, Mr. riIden
The novelty Of the thing l. in the fact that tht
party attacking has always BEEN in as gcod
standing with the democracy as the party at
tackled 1t Is quarrel, therefore, in which tn
republicans do not appear to have any part
though, 1t Is needless to add, they are lOO&in.
upon II as 80 much gTist to their mill. The sub
stance OF Mr. MckeOn's charges is that Mr.
TildeD has been mixed up with all sorts of rail
road and other monopoly jobs, and that, there
tore, bis nomination was one ''nOt hit TO be
made"