The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-01-19

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makes it impossible for a more ponderous
engine 10 60 without Drawing the
danger of being stuck In the heavy
roads,
Columbia No. 3. which now covers the
district in the vicinity Of Sixth and Coles
streets and is the present No. 5, was also
bnllt at Anloskeag in the same year in
which No. 8 was built. They are both old
engines, the latter having been repaired
by the insertions OF new boiler, which is
the portion of the machines most liable to
wear out, by the Dennisson Company in
1875.
One of the first and most imposing look
ING engines in the service is the present
No. Z, in the engine house on Summit
avenue, near st. Paups.
1t was purchase of the old Hudson
City Fire Department and was known
when owned by that municipality as
Hibernia No A. At the annexation of
changed to Hibernia No. 10, Jersey City,
and IL was known by that title until the
organization OF the present department,
when it took its present designation.
1t was built by Clapn e. Jones, of Hud-
son, n. Il, about twenty-five years ago.
1t is second class engine. with the old
horizontal action of the Clapp * Jones
early manufacture and weighs between
three and four tons. When it was pur-
chased by Hudson City its cost was about
So 300, but better and more modern ma
chine could now be bought for probably
$1,000.
The old boiler was replaced about q
year ago by new one which the original
manufacturers supplied.
NO. 3 is FIRST CLASS.
The only first class engine in the service
is No. 3, which is stationed on Mercer
street. near Grove. 1t is an Amoskeag
machine and is claimed to be the best
working engine in the service. II was
built in 1873 and rebuilt, which is the
usual term employed to indicate that a
new boiler was put in, in 1887 by the
makers. and is good for great many
years of service.
The one engine in the service for which
remodeling is said to have resulted in an
injury to the machine is number 2,
which is now near the corner of Morgan
and Warren streets. This engine was
originally built by the Amoskeag Com
Dany in 1870, and is second class ma
chine. In 1888 she had q new boiler put
in and was provided with turning plat
form, by Clapp & Jones. Whether the
lengthening of the frame that was made
necessary By the remodeling, or the fact
that the running gear is too light, it is
certain that the engine at fire varies the
monotony to the onlookers by dancing a
Jig on the cobble stones. The engine was
sold to the Volunteer Fire Department
and was known in that organization as
as Arresoah, No. 2, Jersey City.
Henwood, No. s in tie volunteer
service, is known at present as No. s, and
is second class Amoskeag built in 1870.
A new boiler has been placed in it and its
machinery has been thoroughly over
hauled. She is located away down in the
lower section of the city near the river
front on Henderson street, near Twelfth.
The only engine that is laid up as
oil 1u mt for. fc old n
which was built by Clapp & Jones in 1873.
This is the substitute engine that is held
in reserve to replace any engine that the
Fire Commissioners may be obliged to
haul off for repairs.
The engine is lying at No. Truck
House IN an utterly useless condition.
This is the machine that Chief Farrier
appealed TO the Board of Finance week
ago for funds to repair. The impression
among the force seems to be that the IN
equal weight of the engine as compared
with its running gear is responsible for
its present condition.
There is no arbitrarily defined limit of
time fixed as the actual life of an engine.
The usage and service it has seen is the
supreme test of age. 1t is pretty gener-
ally regarded, however, that an engine
that has seen an average of hard service
for twenty-five years is pretty much in
the condition OF horse that has been
turned out to die.
Chief Engineer Farrier was alb
semi when | called, but Assistant Chief
Denmead, who said he and the
Chief were of the same opinion in the
matter, gave me this Information
IF confiagration broke ont we could
only put eight engines and four trucks at
work We have ten engines, such as
they are, but we always reserve two of
them to cover the city on an occasion of
this nature
"How is the hose, Chieffn
THAT Is all right and we have plenty
Each engine is supplied with 500 feet for
use and has in the house the same
amount as reserve. 1t is in good
order"
GLOW about your water supplys"
THAT is not SO good, especially in the
lumber district. Water generally is
scarce"
THE Jersey City Fire Department has
thus far been considered very successful
in the suppression of fire. What is the
secret OF it2"
HOW 1T DOES 1T.
1.-THE secret has been in getting to the
fires quick and mastering them before
too late for the fight. 1t would not do
for me to say the department is ineffi-
Gent, but if we did not get TO fire
promptly we would have less success"
What do you think OF the buffalo sys-
temp
Its humbug," exclaimed the Chief
with. emphasis. What we want are eight
paid men to each company. We have
now but four, although we are entitled to
five. We can never have first class de-
partment until it is paid one and the
Buffalos are dropped. We are much
crowded for apparatus, and If an engine
or truck breaks down we have nothing to
substitute for it,"
s'What is the condition of the enginess'
Bad, very bad. Engines Nos. 5, s, o,
10 and II are but third class, harp tank
engines. and they are not powerful
enough for the demands made on them,
for the buildings being erected now are
usually very high"
NO FIRE BOAT.
I'VE are hampered in battling with
fires along the river said Mr.. Denmead,
''for we have no fire boat, bat the rail-
road companies help us as much as they
can by placing their fire tugs at the dis
posal OF the city. The worst district in
the city for fire to break QUITS on Newark
avenue. between Warren and Henderson
streets In the rear of these buildings. on
Railroad avenue, there is but one hydrant
for fire purposes, and this must supply
water for at least 600 feet. 1t is q
curious fact that we have less apparatus
and men now than we had in 1871 and the
city Is third larger"
Tho Man netinhrIo mask
The secret that bothered ages