The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-28

TO the Hon: Mayor and Common Council Of the
city of bridgeport
GENTLEMEN-The Committee on Fire Depart
ment, and the Board or Fire Commissioners, to
whom was referred the petition OF the Wheeler
a. Wilson Manufacturing Co., and others, to
your honorable body, for the purchase OF
Chemical Fire Engine, for the use OF the city,
beg leave TO report, that tn 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
manufacture or sale Members of the Com.
mttee have visited cities where these engines
have been In service for some time. have been
fully tested, and have proved TO be valuable
acquisition 10 the ordinary fire apparatus. We
have reports from New y ork, Boston, Chicago
Cincinnati, and many other Places all testify
Ing to their value as prompt. economical and
efficient method OF eXtinguishing fires. Ono
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 of from q part
or the whole OF the city, or in seasons Of ex-
IRENE cold like the present, when water mains
are frozen and hydrants liable TO be rendered
useless, In such cases these engines are espcc-
ally valuable ana meet such emergency, and
afford protection more eifectual 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-
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 fre is eXtinguished without the aid OF
steamers, and with slight damage, anu that
confined TO what Is injured by fire only the
surrounding property, either goods or build
ings, being left unframed from water. These
engines are always ready 10 work the moment
they reach the iire-the tank being full and the
chemical ready for use at once-there is no de-
lay In laying hose, or connecting with MIGRANTS
seventy nve gallons OF chemical being equal
three Thousand OF water In rNtlnHulSnlnk
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
stop In the pipe. These engines being indie.
pendent OF hydrants. can be located ut any
ON a hre, and thus avoid the delay experienced
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 nave nau
frequent opportunities to test them, ~, ,ha ~,
steamer could better be dispensed Win thau
The cost of tie chemical used at any hre IL
| not as much as the coal used 10 feed steamer
and the tiuid can remain In the tanks for a Pc
rlod OF six months without any loss OF extin-
gushing power. ,, ,o.,,,,or,, -,
| tained. we are convinced that the efficiency OF
| the chemical engines has not been oyeresti-
| DOrtable extinguishers In our department also
iustifies our opinion.
We cannot here give you in detail the inter-
| views anu We nave nuu III lnNtS-
tigating this subject, but state the substance
or 1t In the foregoing, and respectfully submit
| II for your consideration
JAMES A. HOUSE,
ALFRED HOPKINS,
JAMES II. STEWART,
Committee ON Fire Department
Il. DEWHURST,
JOHN Il. ATHERTOk,
". X. lIIGBY,
s. W. BALDWIN,
Board OF Fire Commissioners
| bridgeport, March LIST, 1875.
sS-Rutland Fire Department should have
Babcock Engine.
! NJ. j. FRANCISCO, AGENT.