The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-11-22
New Fire Engines for the District Oi
Columbia.

TO he Editor Of The Ereninq Critic:
The two new steam fire engines ordered by
the Commissioners have arrived and have
been tested.
II the work accomplished by the snglnes
had compared favorably with that of other
engines, or had been such as to 1ustify the
for them, we ehould have said 3nothing,
although the circumstances attending their
purchase were such that, to say ting least, In
The ire duty capable OF being performed by
these engines las demonstrated at the triaD is,
however, of such an inferior chsractsr that
the facts in connection with their purchase
become significant. In July lastthe District
Commlssioners wrote to hre-engiEe builders,
inviting them to submit sealed proposals -
furnish three steam fire engines OF certain
capacity and style, according tospecihcatlons
given, said builders to take In part payment
three Amoskeag steamers.
Chief Engineer Cronin at nHt drew up tine
specifications In n manner thai barred every
maker In the country except Clapp jones
Manufacturing Company irom bidding: Ihe
called 10 this attempt to fsvor one maker,
while inviting bids from az, they caused the
nniIasr 70 IaSt ps bi6 al invita-
Ii was well known, however, that ohief Engl.
neer CroniD, although foied In his ilcst at
appropriation made for new engines to Clapp
a Jones without regard u merit or compeu'
tom would use his innuence and interest for
olapp Jones, Ignoring NE merits aud claims M
were received from several builders aud
opened in the presence pf committee consist
Ing OF Captain HoXie, Tbir. Dodge and Chler
Engineer Cronin, and Notwithstanding tue un-
| filness OF MIR. Cronin Is mako an impartial re-
| port, and in face op his manipulating the
| original specifications In the interest ot Olapp
n Jonee, strange to gay, the committee ap'
| pointed Mr.. Cronin assubcommittee OF ono -
| report on the bids.
whole amount OF the appropriation, which was
made when Cronin's original specifications
| would have securet them the contract aud
| one for 5000 less, made after the specifca Ions
| were changed, letting In other builders,
| The bid OF the bilsby Company was by far
| the lowest, and aathis company hl5 n world
| wide reputation ,ftheir engines Doing In sue
| cessful service, II not In all, with nut few eX-
ceptions in all Che largest and best nre de-
| partmenta In tht country, II was a matter OF
Interest and Gu hosity to lookers.on 10 SEQ IN
what manner Nr. Cronin In his capacity Oi
subcommittee, fould Induce the Commission'
| ers to purChasdClapp Jones' ongines Rt th0if
| pricea, especltHly as the frequent failure al
Bres Of the Chpp 4 Jones engines already
owned by the District were we'll kuown.'
| Mr.. OrOnin made his report, As was ex pect sd
entirely In fdvor Of olapp 4 Jones, but, un
fortunately Or him, he had overstepped the
mark, and the statements In his report were
90 at yarianSe with the truth, that something
The next blove was TO have out Ma. 4 (5ilsby,
al No b (elapp Jones) engines for t-ial.
This cOuno was unfair rcom the start as tho
tiial was 20 bo conducted by Chief Cronin
who was 10 consultation with the representa-
| lives OF up Clapp Jones company More
over, 30. 10 an old style Sllsby engine which
has bten{ In sorvlce here for number Of
years, wlplst No. Is a new Clapp Jones on
gino which has been In service loss one Year
and whikh before the trial had had new
pump pJt on, also new set OF wheels.
II theIe had been any doubt as TO the un
fnlrnesq OF the trial, that doubt must have
soon bekn dlasipated by the manner In which
II was dhnducted. No one was allowed neat
the Stliby engine. One, person at least was or
dered fway by Mr.. Oronin. The sllsby repre-
sertatke was warned not 20 cay or do any
thing, On the other hand, tho Olepp ~ Jone'
onPind was run under the eyes OF Mr.. Colller
secretary OF Ulapp Jones Company. Mr.
Densob, their expert engineer, Mr.. Nj. II
ClapH the Inventor of the engine and mechan
| ical 81 periDtendent OF their shop, Mr., Cront1
ana fher friends In sympathy with them,
Thk old Silsby was brought on the ground
IN ablsabled condition, and It was discovered
thaYthe pin holding the exhaust lever was
mi5ipg, so that tho machine was practically
uDAble to make and hold steam. This might
' perhape, have been the result OF accidents bu