Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-08-05
THE NEW FIRE SYSTEM,
Chief Engineer Ramskill Getting
it in Read mess.
The New Engine House on Flatirou
square. and How tt il Arranged
More wa,er Force
Needed.

Have you maue visit to the city's
new engine house on Fstiron souare2
If not you do not realize how RAPIDLY
the arrangements for Rock Islands new
system of fire protection are nearing com
pletion. One who is possessed OF pride
in the city cannot be otherwise than
gratifed at the work in progress there,
and the visitor will realize that he is re-
paid for his time. as TIE ARGUS man did
the other day. Chief Engineer Ramskill
is putting in his time to good effec. in
completing the building which the city
erected on the square last year. and ar
ranging the interior details for the &C.
commodation of the new equipment.
The building itself has been described
in THE ARGUS. Suffice is it now 10 say
that it is two stories and half high, and
was designed with particular reference to
the needs ola paid department. Chief
Ramskill has had the approaches to
the building on Fifth avenue and Six.
teenth and Seventeenth streets nicely
filled and graded, so that the hose and
hook and ladder teams may get good
start and run to any pat of the city. OF
course the first floor will be used for the
hose, and hook and ladder wagons The
latter is already in the house and will be
stationed on the west side. The new hose
wagon which is expected in day or two
Will have the east side. In addition to
carrying 1900 feet of hose, 500 feet o.
new hose OF which is already on hand, the
hose wagon will carry 20-foot extern
sion ladder. The hose wagon will be
painted dark blue, and lettered Hose
House. No. Rock Island Fire Departs
lnent.
Back OF the truck and hose wagon are
the stalls for the horses, five in ali, the
two outer on each side for the teams for
the respective apparatus while the centre
is for the chiefs horse, as he will no
doubt be provided with rig of mis- own
next season. In front of the wagons is
steel pole which will be the means of
descent ior the firemen in responding to
alarms when they are in their quarters on
the second floor. The front doors to the
engine house and also to the stalls will
al open automatically and by means of
the same electricity which sends in the
alarm.
From the little hsll n the front of the
building handsome oak stairway leads
to The second floor. To the right as you
reach the upper landing you find the
sleeping apartment for the fremen, a
commodious room. pleasantly lighted and
ventilated. Back of it, is a harness,
feed and general store room, while off
from it to the west is the battery room
for the electric alarm apparatus. I'm
mediately in the rear Of this-spd it is
provision Of.which the chief feels parli>
culsrly proud-is the oath room for the
bremen. This is convenience which
the ladies will appreciate. The closets
are also in this room.
On the west side of the second floor of
the building is a fine reading room and
library for the fremen, while the front
room Will be the chiefs Office and Sleep
ing apartment. Chief Ramskill has been
very careful TO preserve the sani-
tary conditions in the mater of sewer
age etc, and the build ng will always be
kept as neat as pin from roof to bases
ment.
In view Of the fact that The city's aim
is to secure the creates efficiency in its
fire department service the suggestions
contained in Superintendent of Water
Works Murrln ; message to the council at
Monday nights session are very proper.
The superintendent thinks the pumping
capacity Of the wsterworks should be in,
creased to 5000, 900 ga Ions per day He
favors compound con 1ensing pnmp of
the Holly or Worthir gton make. The
council. will, it is probable, carry out his
recommendations so that the increased
capacity may be secured the coming fall.
Inc "orks are now pumping at the rate
OF 270O, COO gallons a day, while at
times during the day the works are
pumping at the rate of 8. 5000, 90. whereas
the guaranteed capacity of the pump is
only 3. 100000 gallons. The city, in the
absence Of reservoir, IS in great need Of
duplicate reserve force, and this is con.
templated in Mr.. Murrin's recommends
tions. The present pump has been run,
ming nine years. night and day.
NOTES
Ex-Chief Noe of the Daven port paid
fire department came over yesterday and
inspected the new engine house He
congratulated Chief Rsmskill on its ar
ranpement