The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-01

To the Hon: Mayor and Common Council Of the
City Of Bridgeport:
GENTLEMKN-The Committee on Fire Depart.
ment, and the Board OF Fire Commissioners, TO
& Wilson Manufacturing Co., and others, to
your honorable body, for the purchase Of q
Chemical Fire Engine, for the use Of the city,
beg leave 10 report that tn y have carefully In
vestigated the subject, and In doing so we have
sought Information and testimony upon sources
ens of sny e IN their
mittee have visited cities where these engines
have been In service for some time. have been
acquisition TO the ordinary fiie apparatus. We
have reports rrom New York, Boston, Chicago,
Cincinnati, and many other places, all testify
efficient method or extinguishing fires One
most valuable feature to be considered Is. that
In districts where there is no water supply. or
the MIGRANTS, or at times when the water may,
on account OF accident be shut on from part
IRENE cold like the present, when water mains
are frozen and hydrants liable TO be rendered
useless, In such cases these engines are espcci-
ally valuable and meet such emergency, and
afford a 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 TO 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 OF steamers; In
majority OF Instances, when the engine is
the fre Is extinguished without the aid OF
steamers, and with slight damage, and that
confined TO what is injured by IRE only the
ings being left unframed from water. These
engines are always ready TO work the moment
chemical ready for use at once-there is no de-
lay IN laying hose, or connecting with MIGRANTS
-seventy-iv gallons OF chemical being equal
TO three thousand OF water In extinguishing
power One man can lead the hose 10 any part
OF the building and throw on stream IN
stantly, the flow 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
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 have been as.
sured by several departments that have had
frequent opportunities to test them, that
steamer could better be dispensed with than
The cost OF the chemical used at any fire Is
not as much as the coal used TO feed steamer;
and the fluid can remain In the tanks for q Pc
Rod OF six months without any loss OF extin.
FROM ali the iacts and testimony we have OBJ
tanned, we are convinced that the efficiency OF
the chemical engines has not been overesti-
mated. The experience we have had with the
portable extinguishers In our department also
We cannot here give you in detail the inter-
views and examinations we have had in inves-
ugAtlng TINS subject, out STATE the substance
OF II In the foregoing, and respectfully submit
It for your consideration.
JAMES A. HOUSE,
ALFRED HOPKINS,
JAMES II. STEWART,
Committee on Fire Department.
r. DEWHURST,
JOHN b, ATHERTON,
W. X. H1GBY,
5. W. BALDWIN,
Board OF Fire Commissioners.
bridgeport, March LIST, 1875.
tTRutland Fire Department should have
Babcocx Engine.
NJ. ]. FRANCISCO, AGENT.