The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-09
To The Hon: Mayor and Common Council Of N
Ciiy Of bridgeport:

To the Hon: Mayor and Common Council Of the
CITY Of bridgeport:
GENTLgMEN-The Committee on Fire Depart-
mcnt, and the Board OF Fire COMMISSIONERS TO
whom was referred the petition OF the Wheeler
" Wilson Manufacturing Co., and others, to
your honorable body, Tor the purchase OF o
Chemical Fire Engine, for the use or the city,
beg leave 10 report. that they have carefully in
v-stigated the subject, and in doing so we have
sought Information and testimony upon sources
entirely independent or any interest in their
mttee have visited cities where these engines
have been In service for some time have been
fully tested, and have proved 10 be valuable
acquisition 10 the ordinary ilre apparatus. We
have reports from New York, Boston, Chicago,
Cincinnati, and many other places, all testify
Ing TO their value as a prompt. economical and
efficient method OF cXtinguishing fires. One
most valuable feature 10 be considered is. that
In districts where there is no water supply, or
Where the water mains are too small 10 feed
the hydrants, or az times when the water may,
on account or accident be shut on from a part
or the whole OF the city, or in seasons or ex-
IRENE cold like the present. when water mains
are frozen and hydrants liable TO be rendered
useless, In such cases these engines are cspcci-
ally valuable and meet such emergency, and
afford n protection more effectual than any
other means yet devised. We regard this fea-
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 con-
sdertd Is the saving OF most OF the damage
caused by the use OF large quantities OF water.
which is unavoidable IN the use OF steamers; In
a majority OF Instances, when the engine Is
brought TO work promptly and 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 nom water. These
engines are always ready 10 work the moment
they reach the fre-the tank being full and the
chemical ready for use at onee-there is no de-
lay IN laying hose, or connecting with hydrantS
-seventy-five gallons OF chemical being equal
TO three thousand or water In distinguishing
power. one man can lead the hose TO any:part
OF the building ana throw on stream In
stantly, the How being under his control by
stop In the pipe. These engines being indie
pendent OF hydrants, can be located at any
point most advantageous for operating directly
on a fire, and thus avoid the delay experienced
In working from distant points. where they
and save many times their cost In simply
avoiding damage by water. We have been as.
sured by several departments that nave naa
| frequent opportunities 10 test them, that
| steamer could better be dispensed with than
one OF these engines.
The cost OF the chemical usea a. any nre Ii
not as much as the coal used TO feed steamer;
and the fluid can remain in the tanks for q Pc
riod OF six months without any loss OF extln-
sI From All the facts and testimony we have OBJ
| tained, we are convinced that the efficiency OF
| the chemical engines has not been oveTesti-
mated. The experience we have had with the
| portable extinguishers In our department also
justiies our opinion.
| We cannot here give you In detail the inter-
Views and examinations we have had In inveS-
| tigating this subject but state the substance
| OF II In the foregoing, and respectfully submit
| II for your consideration.
| JAMES A. HOUSE,
ALFRED HOPKINS,
JAMES ii. STEWART,
Committee on Fire Department.
X. DEWHURST,
JOHN b, ATHERTON,
| W. II. UIGBY,
\. w. BALDWIN,
| Board OF Fire Commissioners.
Bridgeport, March LIST, 1875.
'v-Rutland Fire Department should have
Babcock Engine.
] M. j. FRANCISCO, AGENT,