Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-05-28
ssFre.. :,

EpTroR CITIZEN: As a resident of of Tucson and feeling an interest at all times in its progress and improve 1 ment, desire to suggest the following to the property owners of the ancient pueblo" A few day since as we all know; the large store of Mir. Leo Goldschmidt was entirely destroyed by fire, and other property in the immediate locality was greatly endangered owing to the volume of fire and consequent intense heat produced by the combusti- ble nature of the goods with winch the store,was filled. Had the adjoining build ings been of other material than adobe there would not now be a material amount of the business portion of our town left standing, and indeed had the roof of Goldchsmidts store been covered with shingles instead, as it was, with sheet tin, the result might have been equally disastrous, as the rising wind Calways produced in proportion as the volumne of fire increases) would have scattered the burning shingles on to other property, thus increasing the destruction, and we could have only looked on and seen it consumed by the all devouring element, being powerless to stay it. lacking even the most primitive means to do SO. The great danger we have just passed has awakened a geneIal desire among our people for some adequate means of sue cessfully fighting fire, at the time of it's starting, or before it has time to spread and become unmanageable, and those means in my judgment are not Babcock Extinguishers, nor hooks and ladders, though these may be classed as auIiharies to regular fire department; but what is really wanted (without de- lay) even though 1t be necessary to levy a special tax to produce the money re- quired to make the purchase, is a first class double-decker, or what IS known by the Pacific Coast fireman as Phlla- delphia fire engine. Such engines were used for years by the old volunteer fire department of San Francisco, and while I had the honor of being an active mem- Der we could always rely upon them to do quick and powerful work. They are SO constructed that three streams can be played on the fire from the same ma chine, at one time, and an additional ad- vantage they possess over the side lever engine, is, that they are longer stroke and keep up a continual solid stream without tiring the men at the brakes as in the case of the side lever machines, which are short stroked and necessarily quick in movement to keep the stream solid in the hose, and to effect thls men soon become exhausted and drop away from the brakes, and unless others stand ready to take their places the side lever cannot do the work required. In sddi- ton to the double decker, a reel or hose cart is required to carry say, JO0 or more feet of rubber hose, and with such a machine properly equipped as stated, in the hands of company of young, active men, and water from the incoming water works, supplied at hydrants on the al- ternate corners of the principal business blocks of the town, I will pledge my experience as a fireman to the property owners and insurance companies ti at no bailding need be materially injured by fire, if by timely alarm the engine is on the ground before the fire has had time and "opportunity" to gam any size be- yond merely starting.
 A double-decker, or Philadelphia Fire Engine, believe can be bought from the San Francisco Fire Department, as at the corporation yard, there is, tor was) stored the most of the machinery of the volunteer department, and as the pres tls- uorua ia.sipes are not neSaen. 4 good machine can be bought for reas- onable figure, by addressing Dave Scan- nell, Chief of San Francisco Fire De Dartment. Yours Truly.
 EDw. CoKER, Remember of California Engine No. 4,
 of San Francisco, and ex Chief of
 Victoria B. c. Fire Department.
 Tucson, May 26th.