Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-16
THE TEST WILL BE MADE.
SIlsby People Said to HIVE Examined Their
EnRtne-It Will be a Standard Test
Regulations at Stake.


SIlsby People Said to Have Examined Their
EnEine-It Will be Standard Test
Regulations at Stake.
The test of the engines will be made, as al
least some sort of an agreement has been
reached to get things in working order. A
member of the Board of Underwriters said
the test was as to the capacity of the fire
protection equipments of the two cities and
in the interest of the insurance companies.
A judge would be chosen, he said, within
this week by the board, but no announce.
ment would be made of his name until ii
was definitely ascertained that he would act
in that capacity. Then the name would be
mentioned.
Chief Brown said that he did not recede
one inch from his original position. He
wanted to find out which was the better en-
gine, and end the controversy. He was
willing to concede everything that could in
fairness be granted, but still put faith in the
Pittsburg engines. He was glad to hear a
test would come of, and indeed, said that
the gentlemen on the north side of the Allie
gheny were, in his mind, desirous of having
the question settled without delay.
A number OF stories were current yester-
day to account for the delay in the test
One was that private test had been made
OF the No. Silsby engine in Allegheny,
and it did not come up to the scratch. This
was further borne out by statement last
night that three of the Silsbv Company eX-
perts had arrived in Allegheny, and were
taking the engine to pieces and searching
out every flaw that could be remedied, salts
fed that the reputation of the company de-
pends upon the result OF test which will
come off within about ten days.
Mr.. Vandeveldt, of Cleveland, the judge
appointed to represent Pittsburg at the con-
test, said last ght: 'This will be the most
crucial test ever applied to rival fire engines
and it will be fairly administered, 1 am
sure. The public expectations for long or
high throwing of streams may be somewhat
disappointed, the amount of water thrown
being a large factor in determining which is
the better engine. We will have boards
planted every 25 feet up to say 800, and the
distances marked in plain figures on each,
so that anyone can tell at a glance what dis
tance is being thrown. The people must
remember, however, that the nOzzles decided
on are very large, so that long distance
throwing need not be looked for.
"Yes, was told to-day that some experts
from the Silsby Company had arrived, and
were engaged in fixing up the engine. L
do not know 1t to be a fact, and 1 do not
care, as few people can do any good to an
engine after she is mounted and finished.
One thing l was emphatic in refusing, al
though 1 bad not been officially asked
to permit it, and that was to al
low the experts to run the
engine, or even to permit them
within the ropes on the day of the trial.
Each engine must be run by its own men.
There is one point in connection with this
which think the general public does not
and that is as much depends
upon the stoker as the engineer. The man
who shovels in the coal has a responsibility
which experience and skill alone can en-
able him to sustain.
"The meeting we held to-day was devoid
Of many interesting features. You have
seen Mr.. Armstrong; letters to me on the
test question, referring to the equal class
argument OF the engines. Two days ago he
objected to the No. Amoskeag engine, at
the Duquesne engine house, On the ground
that it was one of LOO gallon capacity.
Knowing both engines thoroughly, as do,
[ pledged him my word that it was No.
md not an extra engine. Its capacity is
about 900 gallons, while that of the Silsby
If equal class is about $50. Still claim
hat this difference of gauge would not affect
The test. as allowances would be made for a
lighter draught engine, thing easily dis
,ernable from the water suctions through
which the tanks supplying each will be fed.
Another thing that is insisted upon is
he inspection of gauges and measurements
very five minutes. which makes the test a
ar more difficult one than the four davs one
If Philadelphia's. / would not allow a
hree days test OF nine hours each, with
line between to fix things, but the contin-
lous work for nine hours with water meters,
distance posts and five minutes inspec-
ion of gauges will pretty nearly tell which
S the better engine