The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-07

To the Hon: Mayor and Common Council Of tie
city If bridgeport:
GENTLEMEN-The Committee on Fire Depart
ment, and the Board OF Fire Commissioners, to
wnom was referred the petition OF the Wheeler
4 Wilson Manufacturing Co., and Others TO
ysur honorable body, for the purchase OF q
Chemical Fire Engne, Tor the use OF the city,
beg leave TO report. mat th-y have carefully In
ypstigate ed the subject, and in doing 30 we have
sougn. Information and testimony upon sources
entirely independent OF any interest In their
mit,ee have visited cities where these engines
have been in service for some time. have been
July tested, and have proved TO be a valuable
acquisition to the ordinary fire apparatus. We
have reports from New York, Boston, Chicago,
Cincinnati and many other places, all testify
Ing TO their value as n prompt. economical and
most valuable feature TO be considered Is that
In districts where there Is no water supply, or
where the water mains are too small 10 iced
the MIGRANTS, or AT times when the water may,
on account OF accident be shut on from part
or the whole or 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 espec-
ally valuable and meet sucn emergency, and
sfford a protection more effectuai than any
DINER means YET devised. We regard this lea
ture as OF great Importance, as they supply
what has been felt 10 be needed-a means OF
protection when the ordinary resources and
appliances fail. Another point also TO be COLI
sidertd is the saving OF most OF the damage
caused by the use OF large quantities OF water,
when is unavoidable In the USE OF steamers; Ia
a majority OF instances, when the engine Is
brought TO work promptly and properly handled
steamers, and with slight damage, and that
confined Ia what Is injured by nre only the
surrounding properly, eit9er g9oas or 1Siia,
engines are always ready 10 work the moment
they reach the fre-the tank being full and the
| chemical ready for use AT once-there is no de-
Law in LAYING hose, or connecting with hydrants
| -sevenJy-fye gallons OF chemical being equal
to three thousand OF water In eNtingushing
1 40 n IN I'm. IN ri
or The building and throw on stream In
| stantly, the now being under his control by a
stop IN the pipe. These engines being indie
| pendent OF hydrants, can be located at any
| point most advantageous for operating directly
l on fire. and thus avoid the delay experienced
l 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 nave been as
sured by several departments that have had
/ frequent opportunities 10 test them, That u
/ steamer could better be dispensed with Than
one OF these engines.
| The cost OF the chemical used at any fire Is
| not as much as the coal used 10 iced steamer;
| and the fiuid can remain In the tanks Tor a Pc
riod OF six months without any loss OF extln'
From All the iacts and testimony we have OBJ
| tained, we are convinced that the efficiency OF
the chemical engines has not been oyeresti
| mated. The experience we have had with tho
| portable eNtlngulsllers IN our department alst
justifes our opinion.
| We cannot here give you In detail the inter
| views and exam natons We have had in tnves
| ugating THIS subject, but state the substanc,
| OF II in the foregoing, and respectfully submit
II Tor your consideration.
| JAMkS A. HOUSE,
| ALFRED HOPKINS,
| JAMES II. STEWART,
Committee on Fire Department.
K. DEWHURsT,
JOHN Il, ATTENTION,
W. II. HlGBY,
\. w. BALDWIN,
Board OF Fire Commissioners.
bridgeport, March LIST, 1875.
Fw-Rutland Fire Department should have
Babcock Engine.
Il M. j. FRANCISCO, AGENT.