The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-03

To The Hon: Mayor aud Common Council Of tie
City Of Bridgeport:
GRNrLKMRN-The Committee on Fire Depart
mcnt, and the Board or Fire Commissioners, to
whom was referred the petition OF the Wheeler
Wilson Manufacturing Co., and others, to
yeur honorable body, for the purchase Of o
Chemical Eire Engine, for the use OF the city,
beg leave TO report. that thr have carefully In
vestigated the subject, and in doing so we have
sought information and testimony upon sources
entirely independent of any interest in their
mittee have visited cities where these engines
have been in service Tor some time. have been
fully tested, and have proved TO be valuable
acquisition TO the ordinary nIe 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
efficient method OF eXtinguishng 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 OIL from part
or the whole OF the city, or in seasons OF ex-
are frozen and hydrants liable to be rendered
useless, In such cases these engines are eSpeci-
ally valuable and meet such emergency, and
AFFORD protection more erectual 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 10 be con-
sidertd is the saving of most OF the damage
caused by the use OF large quantities OF water,
which is unavoidable IN the use or steamers; In
a majority or instances, when the engine Is
brought TO work promptly and properly handled
the fre is extinguished without the aid OF
steamers, and with slight damage, and that
confined TO what is injured by fire only; the
surrounding properly, either goods or build
ings, being left unframed from water. These
engines are always ready TO work the moment
they reach the fire-the tank being full and the
chemical ready for use at once-there is no de-
lay IN laying hose, or connecting with hydrants
caua ~ ~ hat
TO three thousand OF water In eXtinguishing
power. One man can lead the hose TO any part
OF the building and throw on stream In
stantly, the now being under his control by q
stop In the pipe. These engines being indie
pendent or 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
have been used they are regarded as a success
and save many times their cost ST. IN Isl, SIMPLY ~
sured by several departments tnat nave nau
frequent opportunities TO test them, that
steamer could better oe dispensed with Than
The csst of the chemical used at any fire Is
not as much as the coal used 10 ietd steamer;
and the fluid can remain IN the tanks for Pc
Rod or six months without any loss OF extin-
gushing power. 49,,
tained we are convinced that the efficiency OF
the chemical engines has not been overesti-
mated. The experience we have had with the
portable extlnguishers In our department also
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 1t In the foregoing, and respectfully submit
IL for your consideration.
JAMES A. HOUSE,
ALFRED HOPKINS,
JANIS II. SrkWART,
Committee on Fire Department.
K. DEwHURST,
JOHN aTHERTON
W. r. HlGBY,
5. W, hA ALVIN,
Board OF Fire Commissioners.
bridgeport, March LIST, 1876.
tv-Rutland Fire Department should have
Babcock Engine.
NJ. J. FRANCISCO, AGENT.