The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-05
HOSE.

future and outbalance the present loss.
Such we believe to be the case with the fire
of Tuesday night, and although we may
seem to see just where the lesson is to be
found, we find difficulty in so grasping
hold of it that we may rightfully interpret
and properly apply It, The lesson which
the fire taught relates to chose :" and the
defect exposed is apparent enough, but
just where the responsibility belongs and
just where the remedy should be applied
may present questions more difficult to
answer. To aid in answering these ques-
tons, we propose to give few facts which
may, also, serve IN rightfully interpreting |
and applying the lesson. We will COM
mence with the year 1869, and when we |
speak of year we shall mean the munich
pal year ending in April and including, OF
course, the larger part of the previous year.
In 1869, the steamer was purchased, but
whether with or without hose the report OF
the trustees is silent, although the chief en-
gineer of the fire department says in his
report "Ysu have twelve hundred feet
" of patent combination hose in complete
order, and about eight hundred feet OF
" leather hose, old but may be used to
some extent on hand engines" Judging
from the report of the next year it is prob
able that hose was purchased with the
steamer, but whether SO or not. the trus-
tees for 1870, Immediately after their cleo
ton, paid eleven hundred dollars 'for new
" hose purchased but little period pre-
" vious to their election" Whether this
hose was in addition to hose purchased
with the steamer or not we do not propose
now to inquire, but we know that at the
close of the year 1860, including or not
this new hose as the case may be, the vii
lage had twelve hundred feet of ''patent
combination hose in complete order
When at least one thousand feet of this, or
additional new, had been In use only a
year, not more than seven fires occurring
in the meanwhile, how stands our hose
The chief engineer reports "1ou have
twelve hundred feet of combination hose,
almost aoorthless-might be used in some
" cases on q hydrant-and about eight
hundred feet of leather hose, old and
worn out"
In 1871, fourteen hundred and forty dol
lars were expended for the purchase of
new hose, and at the end of the year the
chief engineer reports that the village has
twelve hundred feet of combination hose,
Of
one hundred and fifty feet of three quarter
inch hose, but he is silent as to its condi-
ton. The trustees, however, report that
the property lis generally in good condi-
"tion," but that sit is evident that the hose
g and other property stored in the village
g hall building are not provided for as
they should be-" This, we may remark,
is the only complaint we have been able to
find Of the want of proper accommoda'
tions tor the proper care of hose or Other
property of the fire department.
In 1872, no new hose was purchased
but we find the chief engineer reporting tc
the trustees as follows "You have ont
" thousand feet of good hose, and about
"eight hundred feet that can be used tC
"some extent on hand engines. | woult
" recommend the purchase of some new
I" hose-say fifteen hundred feet"
In 1878, one thousand feet of rubber
hose was purchased at cost of fifteer
hundred and fifty dollars, and suction host
at cost of one hundred and forty-sx dol
lars seventy-five cents, while at the clos'
of the year, the chief engineer reports tn
possession of "two thousand feet of goo'
I" hose, and about eight hundred feet tina
" can be used to some extent on hand en-
"gines." In 1874, he reports the sam
amount OF good hose, five hundred feet ad
dtional "that can be used to some eXten
on hand engines" and recommends tn
purchase of one thousand feet of new hose
In 1875, one thousand feet more of ne'
hose was purchased, costing thirteen hun
dred and ninety dollars and thirty-fou
cents, and at the end of the year, las
April, we have the same old report of tw
thousand feet of ''good" hose and eigl
hundred feet that scan be used to some eA
tent
To sum the facts up, we find that in
little over five years, five thousand fou
hundred and eighty dollars have leen eN
pended for new hose, that, in April, 1877
we have some eight hundred feet more O
"good" hose than we had in April 1865
while we have the same amount of the st
" some extent" hose. We have not take
into consideration the hose, if any, pu
chased with the steamer; If there was non
purchased, then the figures are as stated
il any was purchased, then that amour
should be added. All of these years sma
sums have been expended, from time
time, in the repairing of hose, and of tn
we make no account Taking then thei
figures, the reports of 1869 and 1875, an
the condition of the hose as it appeared Q
Tuesday night, and as it is actually said
be, by those who profess to be informe,
are we not actually worse off than we we
SIX years ago?
Is there not wrong some where, and,
a wrong, remedy? Old and rotten ho
is not very useful at fire. While u
coupling length of "bursted" hose al
replacing it with good one, fire m,
gain such Roadway as to be beyond contrt
Good hose is manufactured. Is it pu
chased? If not, why not If purchase
is it properly cared for? If not, why no
Is there no mode that can be devised
which hose can be used and preserved
reasonable length of time? Turn back
the report for 1870, before referred to, al
see the expenditure of eleven hundred dc
lars at the commencement of the year, al
not foot of hose that was not "alme
" worthless" at the end of the year. 1t
TOO late, to be sure, to INQUIRE in the pa