The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-04-29
A NEW FIRE ENGINE
nY THE FIRE COMMITTEE
" Cornell Last NIsht-The Purchaso OF A sihby
Rotary 10 b, Rtcamm.ndsd-la food Points,
and the Easinu In Competition Ii.
fore Tho Committee Lat Might. i Il

Tho Committee on Fire Department met at
the City Building last evening for the rur.
OF deciding on the bids from various
manufacturing concerns making steam Are
sngiueu, for furnishing tho city With n
third slzs fire engine. 1t will DO remembered
TINT about three weeks since the committee
hold a meeting and opened bids from the
firms making the Silsby, Amoskeag, Ahrens,
LaFiance and Button engines. Since thRt
time nearly oil the members have been busy
investigating the inertia OF the various Gu.
rInes. At Tho meeting last night all the
members were present except Mr.. Zoeckler.
The bids were ngAin read, and then by mu.
tual consent the LiFranco and Button bids
were dropped. They were the lowest, but
the engines are not In favor with frenlon, to
any extent, very few Of them being In use.
Aftvr considerable discussion q vote was had
on the remaining three. MIR. Happy voted
for the Ahrens, which was the highest bid.
Mr.. Hoffman, voted for the AuloskeDg, which
was tho next highest, and the other five gen.
tlemsn voted for the silsby. It's bid was
$1,000.
This engine Is made by the silaby company
at Benics Falls, N. Y. More OF them arc In
use In the country than those made by any
other firm, and more arc being sold every
year. The company has been mskinE md
improving them ever since. 1856. The engins
made to-day, however, Is as near peifscths u
rotary engine can well DO. Its simplicity,
reliability, durability, strength. power, econ.
omy and beauty OF finish are all points in ita
favor. 1t will draw water In % feet and does
not need pumping to do this. 1t will pump
sandy or gritty water, sawdust or leaves In
| tho same, without injury or interruption.
It will, It Ia claimed, throw moro water and
force 1t further than any Of the other engines,
according 10 the ssatemeniso OF agents OF other
| companies. 1t throws a steady stream and Is
easy on hose. 1t 10 economical in 'the use Of
fuel, costa very little TO keep in repair, ssner'
| ates steam rapidly and with ease and has thu
quickest steaming boiler Tor practical fire
purposes. Taken all in oil, 1t Is the beat
engine for use in Il city like Wheeling, ex.
cepting possibly the AmoskeRg, the only
difference In the two being that ono Is &
rotary and the other q piston engine. Mr..
Elliott, the agent OF tho Amoskoae, when
before tho committee, said that next to his
own engine he would prefer tho SilBby. The
Silsby was the choice OF Chief Duaning, and
he was very much pleased last night oyer
the selection. @ .r... q
One great advantage possessed by the Sils
by Is, that it, suction hose is always attached
to tbs engine and this in q department like
VIII iing's. where only three men arc In The
house, Is y great point. The Amoskeag and
Ahrens engines at a fire hive TO have the
suction hose first attached to the engine and
then to the plug. which, Of course, takes
moro time. Mr.. Happy urged the Ahrens
strongly because OF It's quick steam making,
1t raises steam in Az minutes, but II, re,
quires an extra man 10 work the pamrs, and
il Is absolutely necessary for All experienced
aud very skillful engineer to be always with
It, and TOO much wafer pumped into tbs
boiler runs tho steam down very fist. The
Silsby generates so lbs. OF Steam In " min.
utes, and a guarantee with bond Is giysn ior
ton years.
Chief Dunning was called on 10 stale the
necessity for a now engine. 'Heshowed very
conclusively that practically the city had
only two engines capable of services and they
SO Of small capacity. The Quilted in a very
| short tine will need numerous repairs if KEEP,
in service. liza new engine is purchased and
she Is kept as a rssetye engine g few hundred
dollars will H1 her. The committee viii
show these matters to Council and urge tht
adoption Of lis recommendation.