Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-07-11


their play.
"Yale," of Wakefield, of Rhode
Island. This engine, fine double
decker of the Jetiers patent, with 10 by
IL inch pump was well worked, and
took first reteran prize, by playing 169
feet l inch.
Among the actire fire companies,
the first prize was won by the " Watch
ernoket," a 1Ox7t inch double-decker
Of Jeffers make, by playing 1916
stream IT'S feet 4 inches. The second
prize by the Nameaug," also Jeffers,
by playing 169 feet inches. The
Hancock" Cowing & Co. engine,
9x1O inches played 16l feet l inch.
The Blackstone" by Howard & Davis,
of Boston, 6x16 inches, threw 152 feet
p inches. The" Niagara" fine Hum
55x16 inches, 155 feet 5inches.
The "Narraganset." a Jeffers, 9xlO
inches, 142 feet y inches.
DISTANCE PLAYS OF HAND FIRE ENGINES.
Now few words in regard to modes
of morking a fire engine for distance
plays. By record herewith, you will
notice that there was only about
twenty feet between the maximum and
minimum plays OF about twenty en-
gines of nearly equal excellence. l
talked with the various foremen taking
part in the tournament, and was
somewhat surprised by finding in each
company quite general feeling of
confidence in their engine taking the
first prize. The smaller engines were
handicapped by the conditions of the
play, which allowed an unlimited
number of men on brakes OF engine,
which were each required to play
through equal number of feet of hose.
You are doubtless surprised, rs l con-
fess / was, at the unsatisfactory dis
tances of play, the greatest being but
It's feet Z inches. saying truthfully,
that you can come out any day with
the Columbia" and with same con-
ditions Of play, beat that record.
Where engines are of nearly equal
capacities, the careful attention of the
foreman in command, to the little de-
tails of the working Of the engine,
oftimes gives final success. / care
fully watched the workings of these
various engines and endeavored to
note their several causes of success or
failure. Primarily, the reason for the
short distance plays, was that the men
by long marching with heavy engines,
were so completely tagged out" that
when they were called upon to exert
their strength at final trial, they we're
but in very indifferent condition to do
so. The wind, though not strong,
was across the line of stream, and con-
sequently somewhat detracted from it..
In many instances, to my mind, the
pipes were poorly held. The firemen
in charge of pipe should be able to
judge at about which elevation it
should be held, which in still weather
will be found to be an angle some
what less than one of As degrees, and
having established it, to hold the pipe
with such unrarying steadiness as is
possible; never varying it, and above
all things, never trying to throw rater
further by up,sard jerks. Now, l know
that this practice is pursued and en-
dorsed by most pipemen, but if you
doubt, experiment with hydrant
stream, where pressure is uniform, to
doubt no longer, and to discontinue
thereafter, a practice so fatal to dis
tance stream. Supposing ourselves to
be surrounded by wall of air at rest,
by steadiness OF continuously unvarying
stream create q current of Dir to move
soith your stream, thereby retarding it
less than when air is at rest. Hold
your hand near to, not into, an en-
CINE stream when playing steadily
and noting the air currents passing
with it think of the great resistance
to be overcome by directing such
stream into and through solid spaces
of air not in favorable motion with
it.
In working engine, make very slow
stroke until she has entirely ceased
passing air, increasing stroke slowly at
first, always bearing in mind the
thought that the stroke should invari-
ably continue still to increase in rapidly
to the end of the trial. Therefore do
not overwork or wind your men at the
beginning of the trial, and at no time
permit stroke to slacken. At first,
when pumps and air chambers are
comparatively empty of water, do not
strike springs-a disagreeablc engine
practice noise-but during the middle
of the trial, bring brakes down to
springs as long as possible, but should
the back pressure be too great for
your force, and you are sacrificing
speed of stroke, drill your men to let up
quickly, so that rapidity of stroke is
continued, and by short quick strokes
continue the pressure at greatest pos
sible tension. 1t is well to strike
springs at this time if possible but do
not insist upon it as by 50 doing the
men will momentarily dwell upon the
stroke at that point and speed of
stroke and distance of stream are ia
tally sacrificed thereby. Work an en-
gine long enough. Note an engine
stream when playing. These fans and
jets OF water are curious and oftimes,
under apparently same conditions OF
stroke, reach more distant points.
Continue stroke at II minutes at
highest pressure, and if with sufficient
reserve force 24 minutes will be found
better.