Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-07-06

crates, Darfeis, eN., bauuWItcneH Will
'shavings, was prepared on the COM
mon in the west part Of town. The
pile was some Is or 20 feet In circum-
ference at the base, and about ten feet
high. When the company had their
engine in readiness, the pile was
lighted; and when IL was well burning
from base to summit, and from center
10 circumference on oil sides, Capt.
Burris took the nozzle and attacked
the fire. With the assistance OF two
small Babcock extinguishers In the
hands of other parties, he had the fire
extingnishcd In three minutes. The
charge Of the engine being but half
exhausted, the machine was ordered
To Jones' Wooden Factory for another
and different test, as otis capacity for
throwing water long distance, and
to considerable height. There was
not sufficient power in the charge to
reach the higher portion Of the roof,
and the small portion Of water carried
beyond the caves of the building was
hardly sufficient to moisten a tenth
part Of The large roof. In this last test
the engine did not by any means full
I'll the anticipations Of those whose
faith was the greatest In IL; and many
Of those Of hating faith pronounced
10 failure some said II was fraud.
The writer observed carefully the
operations OF the engine, and noted
without favor or prejudice its good
points and bad. Our unbiased judg-
ment Ii that In great many caaes
the engine will do good work, and ex-
tinguish fires that could not be extin-
gnished with such appliances as we
had in this city before this engine was
purchased. Indeed we fully believe
that In any case Of fire likely to occur
in the place, the engine will do salts
factory work and save property, IL u
can reach the scene before the fire has
gained great proportions. In most
eases more satisfactory results would
be reached by the use of shorter
hose than the 300 feet used Ia the tests
last week. The hooks, ladders and
gum buckets will be useful in almost
every case. The spray and gas pro-
tect the man mt the nozzle from heat
TO such an extent that he may work
almost In the flames. In this our en-
CINE has n great advantage over an
engine worked either by hand or
steam power.
CONTRA.
The carriage and entire apparatus
wniglI 4 900 pounds, n weight entirely
too immense 10 10 drawn rapidly by
hand To fire, especially In the night
when but few men can be gathered
quickly 10 the engine, or mt time
when the streets are muddy. Twenty
men at the ropes last week, found
tagged and almost unable
TO move Mt pace more rapid than n
walk, after brisk run with the en-
gine n distance of only two squares,
md that when the streets were dry
md smooth.
A charge Ia the reservoir lists but
about five minutes Mt fartb0t, with u
constant stream ut full force, and then
will not throw water horizontally
more than 40 feet, nor PRECAUTIONARY
more than 2h or % feet, and then only
in spray. IL cannot concentrate n
stream, upon small area, even Mt six
feet from the nozzle; and nj distance
" 20 feet the spray il almost ineflec-
Lnally sonttered over mn area OF $50
'qnara feet At n distance greater
thnn 20 feet beyond the nozzle tho en-
CINE cannot do any perceptible good
upon fire. If the nozzle can be
placed within ten feet Of the desired
,pot ii IL very effective on small
ire. In n big fro 1t will prove almost
,r quito useless.
At the end Of fivo minutes operation
VI "A fire. tho charge In the reservoir
IL exhausted and must be replaced by
lnscrewiag tho cap, refilllng with
water, soda md acid, requiring break
of three 10 five minutes In the stream,
while tho conilagration gathers force
to resist another attack.
/ Few, ii any Of these faults could be
against n hand brake engine,
which In our opinion would he much
more valuable To our city ~ n defense
,galnst fire, aud which we think
night hayo been purchased nj cost
10 greater than that Of the engine we
nave.
This engine wo now have In posses
don, however, ut COST 10 the city of
! 300; aud It Is the duty Of every cit
zen to give every possible aid and
encouragement to the city authorities
md the fire company In making the
rest practicable use OF H., In All
every able-bodied man
hould tmrn ont and cheerfully place
liz utmost physical powers, and all
lis patience and zem obediently mt the
of Capt. Burris and his lieu
euants.
tsbehooves the City Council now
D provide some means for giving
uick and adequate alarm Of fire at
light. The lack fsuch means IL now
ar greatest need TO complete the work
'egun in the purchase OF an engine
nd the organization OF a fire company.
\ large bell in the Court House tower,
With hammer arranged for rapid ring
ny, and easily accessible % tho night
watch, IL our suggestion, III the BOARD
4 Supervisors will grant permission
nd appropriate fair share OF the
ind required. This the County
'onrd In Justice ought to do ~ com
'ensation for the protection secured
o the Court House by the city.
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Personals.
DIR. Coffin il off on Business tour
. Nortlrero Iowa, leaving his new
artneY, DR.. Smith, alone in the office