The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-09
LOCAL MATTERS.
The Fire department.

| INSPECTION YESTERDAY AfIEhNOON-IhlAl
or THE NEW ENGTNE-A FINE NACHINE-A
| SUCCESSFUL soUTRT-GREAT SATISFACTION
AT THE PURCHASE, &C.
The Committee on the Fire Department
OF the Council yesterday evening had an
| inspection Of the department, Chief Taylor
being in command. IL was quite an inter-
esting event, especially so in view OF the
fact that the new steamer recently pur-
chased by the committee was not only 10 be
tried but received by the city. A number
OF prominent citizens were therefore pres
ent who were anxious TO see the piston and
rotary engines at work together. and among
| the spectators were several experts, all OF
whom seemed delighted with the new Sis-
by.
| A general order from headquarters was
published yesterday which required the as
semblng OF the apparatus at the corner OF
Tenth and Canal streets. The drivers were
instructed to walk their horses to the meet
| ing point. When the goDgs recorded 6
O'Clock the Chief sent in his private signal,
and then turned In Box IA, corner Tenth
and Byrd streets. The apparatus arrived
in the following order: Hose Company,
No. 6, GIL z. NJ; Hook-and-Ladder Truck
Company No. /, GIG O'Clock; Steamer No.
3's hose-carriage, GIG; Engine No. 3, 6:lS
p. NJ; Steamer No. 4, 0:20; Steamer No.
2, 6:21 p. NJ; Steamer No. 5, 6:23, and
Steamer No. l, 6:2j p. NJ.
As he companies arrived the engines were
placed in position and the trial commenced,
Nos. /, 2. and starting to work promptly
at $3.50 L. NJ. No. at 6:35 p. NJ; and No.
at 6:43 p. NJ.
The e6gnes were in beautiful order, and
with good head Of steam worked very sat-
| isfactorily. But the new rotary was the
centre OF attraction. The first trial was
through two sections OF hose with II inch
| nozzle. The new steamer showed steam
from cold water in three minutes from the
| time the torch was applied. In six min
utes aud forty-fve seconds the gauge
indicated pressure OF twenty pounds,
and in seven minutes and fOrty-five
seconds thirty pounds, when it was put
10 work. There was now large crowd
| in attendance, and all eyes were turned to
the stream OF this beautiful little engine.
A steady, uniform, and powerful flow OF
water came from the nozzle. Higher and
higher, straight from the pipe, went the
water, and it was soon apparent that the
committee had secured fine piece Of ap-
paratus. Distance OF solid stream Of water
thrown, 275 feet. The engine was then
stopped, one section of bose taken out, and
an inch.and-a.haf nozzle put on. This
stream was perfectly wonderful. Its power
and eVenness astonished all who witnessed
the trial. 1t was thrown over 800 feet.
The other steamers were now stopped, and
the new one had trial with four splendid
streams (three-quarter inch), thrown about
$50 feet.
We have already stated that the new
steamer takes the place OF the one hereto
fore used by Engine Company No. 8. The
machine was built by the Silsby Manufac-
turing Company, Seneca Falls, n. T., and
weighs between 800 and $500 pounds. 1t
| is a third.size engine, and has a capacity OF
900 gallons OF water per minute. 1t Is crane
neck steamer, nickel plated boiler, and all
exposed parts OF iron-wo nickel-Dlated. 1t
is fitted with Archbald's patented wooden
wheels, and is regarded by judges and
all who have examined it as a model
OF beauty, strength, and compactness.
There are now 667 Silsby engines in use in
this country and abroad. Rotary steamers
have been in operation about twenty-siX
wears. but this is the first one the Richmond
department has had. The city OF New York
has now one Sll,by rotary IN the fire-patrol
department operated by the insurance. men,
and the prejudice against this class OF ma
chimes seems to be gradually giving way.
Our new engine was bought by NessrS.
King tcharman), Rankin, and Taylor, pur-
chasing committee, at q cost less than the
appropriation made by the Council, and
Will be put into service at once.
! 1t should be specially mentioned that the
Old Dominion Steamship Company ofwhich
Messrs. George w. Allen d Co. are the
agents in this city, brought the steamer
from New York by James river to Rich
mOnd free Of all freight charges.
The members Of Company No. 5 met last
night and rendered vote Of thanks to the
committee for the new steamer, which Cap
tain Wingfeld appropriately delivered.
The agent of the manufacturers who sold
the engine to the city is Mr.. B. Bosch, who
superintended the trial Yesterday, and the
engineer who operated the steamer so sue
cessfully is Mr.. Charles E. Vessel. They
will leave Richmond on Monday.