The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-24
To the Hon: Mayor and Common Council Of the
City Of Bridgeport;

To the Hon: Mayor and Common Council Of the
city Of Bridgeport:
COMMUNICATING Committee on Fire Depart
ment, and the 30 ,rd or Fire Commissioners, TO
whom was referred the petition OF the Wheeler
& Wilson Manufacturing Co, and others, to
your honorable body, for the purchase OF
Chemical Fire Engine, Tor the use OF the city,
beg leave to report, that III yhave carefully in
vestigated the subject, and IN doing so we have
sought Information and testimony upon sources
entirely inGependent OF Any interest I'M IN Their
mittee have visited cities where these engines
have been in service for some time. have been
fully tested, and have proved TO be a valuable
acquisition 10 the ordinary me apparatus. We
have reports from New York, Boston, chicago
Cincinnati, and many other places, all testify
ing TO their value as Il prompt. economical and
efficient method OF eXtinsulShlng fires One
most valuable feature TO be considered Is. that
In districts where there is no water supply or
where the water mains are too small To feed
the hydrants, or at times when the water may.
on account OF accident be shut of from part
or the whole OF the city, or In seasons OF ex-
IRENE cold like the present, when water mains
are frozen and hydrants liable 10 be rendered
useless, In such cases these engines are espcci-
ally valuable and meet such emergency, and
afford a protection more eifectual than any
other means yet devised. We regard this fea-
ture as or great Importance, as they supply
what has been felt to be needed-a means Of
protection when the ordinary resources and
appliances fail. Another point also TO be con-
sldertd Is the saving OF most or the damage
caused by the use OF large quantities OF water,
which is unavoidable IN the use or steamers; IN
a majority OF Instances when the engine Is
brought TO work promptly ana properly handled
the fire is eXtingulshed without the aid OF
steamers, and with slight damage, and that
confined TO what is injured by fire only; the
surrounding property, either goods or build
ings, being left unframed from water. These
engines are always ready TO work the moment
they reach the fre-the tank being full and the
chemical ready for use at once-there is no de-
lay in laying hose, or connecting with hydrants
-seyenty-nve gallons OF chemical being equal
TO three thousand OF water In distinguishing
power. one man can lead the hose 10 any part
OF the building and throw on stream in
stantly, the flow being under his control by u
stop In the pipe. These engines being indie
pendent OF hydrants, can be located at any
point most advantageous for operating directly
on a f1re, and thus avoid the delay experienced
In working from distant points. Where they
have been used they are regarded as success
and save many times their cost In simply
avoiding damage by water. We have been as.
sured by several departments that have had
| freouent opportunities TO test them, that
| steamer could better be dispensed with than
one of these engines.
~" The cost Of the chemical used at any fire Ia
not as much as the coal used 10 feed steamer;
| and the tiuid can remain in the tanks for a Pc
| Rod OF six months without any loss OF extin-
gushing power.
| tained. we are convinced that the efficiency OF
| the chemical engines has not been overesti-
| mated The experience we have had with the
portable extinguishers in our department also
We cannot here give you in detail the inter-
| views and examinations we have had In inves-
| tigatlng this subject, but state the substance
| OF il In the foregoing, and respectfully submit
| Il for your consideration.
| JAMES A. HOUSE,
| ALFRED HOPKINS,
| JAMES II. STEWART,
Committee on Fire Department.
| Il. DEwHURST
| JOHN b, ATHERTON,
| W. X. H1GBY,
\. W. BALDWIN,
Board OF Fire Commissioners.
Bridgeport, March LIST, 1875.
sv-Rutand Fire Department should have q
Babcock Engine.
NJ. ]. FRANCISCO, AGENT.