The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-11-06
HOME MATTERS.
0ur Fire Department.

We think our people can congratulate them
selves on the eticisncy of oar fire department,
Every effort during the past year that could be
made by our Assistant Fire Marshal Capt l.. A.
Rising ard the Fire Committee of the Council,
has been made, and to. day we believe there is
not city in Illinois Of the same size more
thoroughly equipped in this respect than Otta
wa, During the summer a large quantity of
new hose has beeN purchased the engine house
re.arranged and improved so as to be as conven-
TENT and useful as possible, and to cap it all, a
new and splendid steamer has been purchased.
It is that magnificent machine which Was made
by the Silsby Manufacturing Company expressly
Cor the Chicago Exposition, and was there eN-
hibited this fall. In an artistic point OF view 1t
:sno doubt, the handsomest machine in Illinois
and it is as useful as ornamental, 1t is nickel
plated has water.covered fucs and all the other
latest improvements.
On Thursday afternoon trial was made OF her
power and showed the very best results. The
two machines were placed side by side, lighted
at the same time and worked together. The
new machine showed steam in t,to minutes, D lis
in % m, 10 III 80 IN, ID in ~ m, Is IN
m, - in m, 80 in ~ m, when she began work
throwing full, powerful stream. The City Of
Ottawa showed steam first in 5lG minutes, ) lbs
in 81 M, then made steam very fast until she
began throwing water, with ~ lbs. Of steam in
) minutes. The old machine took the first sc
feet in the throw the new the first 100 feet, and
the old the first POO The old machine made the
longer throw, and used but about9O lbs of steam
while the new used about loo to no lbs, but the
old machine took every advantage that could be
s gained in using the better hose, etc. After this
each machine threw double stream through
double mains, and both did excellent work
Finally the new machine attached a single main
500 feet, and threw t,co strcams-strong and ef
fective, over the flagstaff on the Clifton Hotel
using from IS to IS lbs Of steam. On the whole
we consider the test AS cpnently successful
Not only are we confirmed in the opinion of
Capt. Rising that the City 'ef Ottawa is one OF
the best machines ever sent out of the Silsby
establishment, but that them II Swift" is even
better than the City of Ottawa. Let the NJ. II
Swift be worked few times TO get it into real
RAINING order and we hareno doubt it viii! do
much better than on THURSDAY
And now, so far rs the engines, fully equipped
in every point, with energetic manager, a willing
and useful fire company can keep our property
from the names, we need nave no narrowing
fears of confagration. The only remaining
need is water supply in these districts of he city
removed from the many supplies Of water we al.
ready have. Take the second, sixth and some parts
Of the fifth ward-what power can stay the pro.
gress OF the flames in the ttlicty settled parts OF
either, where the rivers ani canal are distant
and no large cisterns from which the steamers
can draw supplies? The engines would be pow
erless at a time when high wind was prevail
ing and the conditions favorable for a contlagra-
ton This lack will DOUBTLESS soon be rcmeded,
for the fact is keenly appreciated by our citizens
and the department, and it is only question of
time and means in regard to securing the neces.
= sary water supply.