Wichita eagle., 1889-04-07
A GREAT SUCCESS.
The Test Of the Iindgren-Smith Chemical Fire
Engine Entirely Satisfactory-Favorably
Considered by the Committee on Man.
fac;urers-Negotiations Pending.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
According to the announcement in the
EAGLE yesterday a test Of the Lindgren-
Smith chemical fire engine was given near
the corner of Market and Williams streets
Yesterday afternoon at O'Clock It WAS
witnessed by the committee on manufac-
turers of the board of trade, which is
composed of Geo. L. Rouse, Mayor-elect
Geo. W. Clement, William Mathewson, o.
Martinson and c. r Miller; also by City
Fire Marshal Walden and several thou
sand citizens, including nearly all our
prominent business men and capitalists.
To make the test box building fourteen
feet square and fourteen feet high, with
close roof, was constructed OF soft pine
boards which had been under cover in a
lumber yard for three years, one.side being
left open a large number Of the same
sort of boards were split into fine kind
ling and placed around the inside of the
building. A wagon load Of shavings. and
another wagon load of barrels ana boxes
were then piled inside the structure, and
the whole thing most thoroughly saturat-
ed with nearly half barrel of coal oil. A
more thoroughly combustible edifice
would be difficult to construct. After il
was ignited it was but q moment when an
immense volume of fame and smoke rolled
out into the faces of the spectators, driv-
ing them back pell nell at least hundred
feet from the fire Mr. Smith, the COM
pany's fireman, in attempting to approach
it with the hose to apply the stream Of
liquid from the engine was so badly burned
in the face and on the hands that he was
obliged to retreat and dropped the noz-
Zle. The latter was promptly seized by
Fireman Armstrong OF the Wichita fre
department No. l, who, by using a small
aperture which had been cut with an axe
in the side of the building, succeeded in
getting stream of the liquid on the fire,
after the boards composing the structure
were two-thirds burned through and it
was about ready to fall in. The action of
the fluid was almost instantaneous, and In
less than one minute, before ten gallons of
the chemical had been used, the flame was
practically extinguiShed and the she'll OF
the building left standing. 1t was con-
vincing to all those who saw it.
Mr. Walden, the efficient fire marshal,
was seen afterwards and his opinion solic-
tied concerning the test.
He said he had not hesitated in pronounc-
ing it complete and unqualified success
That the machine is practical and effec-
tive, and the extinguishing fluid most
powerful. NO fire can live when the gas
from the fluid can reach it"
The object of the test was to prove the
value and efficiency OF the engine, and
endeavor to interest the board of trade and
capitalists of the city in its manufacture.
The territory east of the Mississippi river
is supplied by Fairbanks, Moorse 81 Co.,
of Chicago, and that west has so far been
supplied from the mandatory at kingman
More capital and better facilities
are found to be necessary by the company
and it is hoped both will be supplied by
Wichita The works, when operated as
they should be, will employ large num-
Der of skilled workmen.
A member OF the committee on manu-
features of the board of trade was interro-
gated on the subject and stated that since
seeing the list, which TO him was satisfac-
tory, he was ready to hear from
the company exactly their proposition.
If that should be such as to invite further
consideration the next thing logically ac-
cording to his mind would be, examine
INTO tHe patents, CoSG VI ZIG LAaCuihe, 4eo
utility and the demand for such over
other fire apparatus. He seemed to think
the committees disposed to give the mat
ter careful consideration and if 1t is good
thing on the whole Wichita is entirely
able to appreciate it.
Mr.. Bion Hutchins, who has been in the
city a few days in the interest of the move
ment leaves today for kingman and will
probably return in few DAYS with a def
mite proposition from the company and
get hearing with the committee having
the matter under consideration.