Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-30
STEAMERS, JUMPERS AND UNI
FORMS.


Tor She purpose Of purchasing uniforms
Tor Protection fire company figuring Tor
a hose carriage or jumper, aud toexwnne
into The working of departments NJ which
N. Y. state is Justly celebrated A stop
Of two hours was made at Erie, and the
department at that city hurriedly examin.
cd. IL was found in excellent condition aud
conducted about on the plan Of our own
department Rochester, n. Y WAS reach
ed early Sunday morning, and On Monday
visits we're made to the various branches Of
its fire department. Rochester has the
reputation, and boasts Of one Of the best
regulated, most effective and gentlemanly
fire departments in the land. The depart
ment is oxcellently distributed about the
city where il will be most effective in case
OF fire. Every apparatus was found in
perfect order, and the men at their posts
Rochester has two inderendant hose COM
panies-the Alerts and Actives and the
PrOtectives-a supply company in VIII ch
she takes special pride. These companies
were all visited in the writer's rambhngs,
through the kindness Of an old school
mate-Mr. viii S Woodruff, first assist
ant Of the Alert hose company-the writer
was enabled to CLEAN much valuable infor.
nation. The Alerts were organized in
1892, and are one Of the oldest and most
efficient fire companies in the state. They
occupy an elegant three story brick house
no titzhush street, furnished in the most
complete manner throughout. Attach
lnents are connected with the fire alarm
telegraph in such "a manner, that when
fire occurs-doors are thrown open, gas
turned on. men alarmed and in eight to
ten seconds the machine, after the first
stroke Of the gong, is on its way to the
fire. The uniforms worn by this company
took the prize at the Fremau's convention
held at Canandaigua, N. Y, last fall-out
OF the large number of crack companies
present. The new uniforms for Protection
company, will he precisely like them ex-
cept in color Mr. Frank p. Ranney the
popular gents furnisher Of Rochester was
awarded the contract for making the shirts,
blue shirts being adopted in place Of red,
with white regulation fire hat with blue
front piece in place Of black worn by the
Alert Company. The Actiye hose COM
pany are pleasantly located on North St.
Paul street in neat brick house,
The apparatuscs run by both these celebrat-
ed companies are from the shops of Sam
ual M. Ste wart, Of Rochester, and are ele.
giant pieces Of workmanship. They carry
nothing but extra hose. The Prottctives
occupy temporary quarters on Mill street,
having sold their old brick headquarters
for a more convenient location upon which
they will build Immediately. The duties
OF this old reliable, favorite company at
tires,is the saving and protection of pro-
perty. They are provided with buckets,
cavass, ropes, axes, fire extiuguishers, etc.
Their record is matter Of pride to the
city as well as the company. The wheeled
fire nguisher-hook and ladder carria-
ges, steam engines and other apparatuses
drawn by horse power are all provided with
the most improved attachments for the
speedy hltching of teams, so that no time
may be lost in reaching the scene of fire.
Chief Gibson is untiring in his efforts to
keep the department in perfect condition.
From Rochester the writer Yisied the city of
New York where some twenty different fire
companies and branches of its mammoth
department were visited and inspected.
New York is the stalwart headquarters for
firemen in the United States. 1t is simply
perfect, and anything like description
would fall far short of the mark. While
it is equalled by departments in other
cities in some special point, it is excelled
by none. Its steam propelling and horse
power steamers, hose carts, hook and lad
der and all Its apparatus, firemen are ever
prompt to save. The hats for Protection
company were purchased in New Yorlrand
will be made by Messrs. J. CAIRNS & Bros,
whose reputation is far famed for this
class Of work. Syracuse was next visited
and two or three hours pleasantly whiled
away inspecting her department. Seneca
Falls was next in order. This is one Of the
most delightful towns in all New York,
grandly situated on the Auburn branch Of
the n York Central road. Here is locat-
ed the works OF the famous Silsby Manu-
featuring Company-makers' of the eele-
brated Silsby Steam fire engines and other
apparatus. The writer was cordially wei
coined by one of the junior members OF the
firm and shown through the very extensive
works Of the concern. We believe this is
the only house in the U. States that man
ufacture everything used in the construct
ion of this class of goods. About 15O men
are employed in the various shops. These
men are all skilled, intelligent thinking
workmen. Everything about the building
was in the most perfect order and each
branch Of the business is separate and dis
tinct. The demand for these superior
machines is constantly increasing and are
fast taking the place of Clapp & Jones
engines in the East. The best two wheel
ed Jumpers seen any where were found
here, aud the best four wheeled carriage
(nothing like the bulky, heavy carriage
now used by Protection. Co.. at the works
offs. Nj. Stewert in Rochester The Silsby
Folks manufacture a patent heater for
steam fire engines No steamer should be
without one, especially in Ashtabula and
other towns where no teams are kept in