The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-26


City Of bridgeport:
GENrLEMEN-The Committee on Fire Depart.
ment, ana the DO ard or Fire Commissioners, to
whom Was referred the petition OF the Wheeler
& Wilson Manufacturing Co., and others, to
yeur honorable body, Tor the purchase OF q
Chemical Fire Engine, Tor the use OF the city,
beg leave 70 report, that I'll yhave carefully in.
vestigated the subject, and In doing SO we have
sought Information and testiniony upon sources
entirely Independent OF any interest In their
manufacture or sale Members of the Com.
mittee have visited cities where these engines
have been In service for some time. have been
fully tested, and have proved 10 be a valuable
acquisition TO the ordinary nre apparatus. We
have reports rrom New York, Boston, Chicago,
Cincinnati, and many other places, all TESTIFY
Ing TO their value as prompt economical and
efficient method OF distinguishing 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 10 feed
the hydrants, or al times when the water may,
on account OF accident be shut of from part
or the whole OF the city, or In seasons OF ex-
IRENE cold like the present, when water mains
are frozen and MIGRANTS liable to be rendered
useless, In such cases these engines are eSpcci-
ally valuable and meet such emergency, and
afford protection more enectual 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 to be con-
sidertd Is the saving or most OF the damage
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 lire is extinguished without the aid OF
steamers, and with slight damage, and thaU
confined to what is injured by lire only; the
surrounding properly, either goods or build
engines are always ready TO work the moment
they reach the fire-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-nve gallons OF chemical being equal
10 three thousand or water In eXtinguishing
power. One man can lead the hose TO any part
n hnil1inn "a n
stantly, the flow being under his control by
stop in the pipe. These engines being inde-
pendent or MIGRANTS, can be located at any
| point most advantageous for operating directly
| on IRE, 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 in simply
| avoiding damage by water. we have been as.
sured by several departments that have had
| frequent opportunities 10 test them, that a
| steamer could better be dispensed with than
| one OF these engines.
| not as much as the coal used TO feed steamer;
| and the mud can remain In the tanks for a Pc
| Rod OF six months without any loss OF extin-
gushing power.
From ali the iacts and testimony we have OBJ
| tained, 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
| justifes our opinion.
We cannot here give you In detail the inter-
views and examinations we have had In inyes-
| tigating this subject, but state the substance
OIL 1t in the foregoing, and respectfully submit
| Il for your consideration.
JANIS A. HOUSE,
| ALFRED hopkins,
| JAMES II. STEWART,
Committee on Fire Department
Il. DEwnuRsT,
| JOHN Il. ATHERTON,
W. II. HlGBY.
y. w. BAiL WIN, -
Board o. Fire Commissioners
bridgeport, March LIST, ISIS.
tv-Rutland Fire Department should have
Babcock Engine.
! NJ. J. FRANCISCO, AoESr