Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-06
SILSBY SUITS THEM.
Another One of That Make Of Fire
Engines Chosen in Allegheny.
1T APPARENTLY WINS IN A TEST
In Which None of the Other Competing
Machines We're Given Show.
HOT WORDS PASSED IN THE COMMITTEE

After TWO meetings OF the Allegheny FIRE
Committee, and a test Of one of the engines
interested, the committee last night recon-
mended to Councils the purchase of Silsby
engine for 81, 200. The only people who
voted against the measure were William NJ.
Kennedy, James P. Gregg, Jr., and George
1. Rudolph, who will present a minority
report to Councils. AS usual, there were
lively scenes. but prior to the meeting
the test had been given rs agreed upon
Wednesday evening. The test commenced
ut o'clock and lasted until after 6. The
engines were second class Amoskeag and a
second class Silsby. The former was the
Hope" engine, which is claimed to have
seen 13 years of service, and has been in use
in Allegheny since 1882. The Eureka
was the name of the Sllsby engine. 1t was
the one specially built for tests, and was
presented to the city six years ago by George
Westinghouse This engine was much
heavier than the Amoskeag, had larger
boiler, and had onlv recently been fitted out
with new set of cylinders. The entire
test was under the supervision OF
Chief Jones and Assistant Chief Clarke.
Elmer Loomis, the general engi-
neer of the department, and Clayton
Springer had the running of both engines.
The test was only on distance, and the
Silsby won, but the Amoskeag showed
greater water pressure with less steam than
did the Silsby.
Much Interest in the Test.
The scene of the test was on Market street,
near Greenwood. A large crowd of people
had collected, and among them were f. L.
Pitcher, representing the Clapp q Jones Com.
pany: A. w. La France, representing the La
France Company; T. ]. Wakeman, of the
Button Engine Company. and Barney Bosch, of
the Silsby Company. There were also num-
Der of Pittsburg fremen present. Andrew
Armstrong took the steam and water pressure,
and Councilmen Vogler and Emerich measured
the streams
The Amoskeag was tested first, the main con-
dition being that the steam pressure should not
exceed 100 pounds. 1t first worked for 10 min
utes with two streams from l-inch nozzle. the
stream and water pressure being taken every
five minutes. The tests were as follows:
First test. l-inch nozzle; steam, 100 pounds;
water pressure, 20 pounds; 10 minutes; steam,
rs pounds; water pressure, l5O pounds; Is min
utes, steam, 50 pounds, water pressure. 1IO
pounds; length of streams, 205 feet.
+. One and one-Quarter inch nozzle, Siamese
connection; steam, 100 pounds; water pressure,
0U pounds: length Oh stream, 20 IeeI.
One and one-half inch nozzle. Siamese con-
nection; steam, so pounds; water pressure, $50
pounds; length of stream. 200 feet
One and three-quarters inch nozzle Siamese
connection; steam 100 pounds: water pressure,
IS pounds; length of Stream, 1872 feet.
In the next three tests not five minutes were
given to each. The Silsby engine was then put
to work with the following result:
One-inch nozzle; steam, lU0 pounds; water
pressure. 80; ten minutes steam. 80 pounds;
water pressure, 100; 15 minutes steam. l09
pounds; water pressure. l65; length of stream,
2I7 feet.
One and one-quarter. inch nozzle, Siamese
connections steam lG0 pounds: water pressure,
100 pounds; length of stream 26l feet
One and one-half-inch nozzle. steam 100
pounds. water pressure lS0 pounds. length of
stream $40 feer.
One and three-quarter-inch nozzle, steam 80
pounds, water pressure 130 pounds, length OF
stream 30 feet.
There was also lsz-inch nozzle test with the
following result: Amoskeag, steam 100 pounds.
water pressure 60 pounds, length OF stream 22S
feet; Slsby, steam Jos pounds, water pressure
I70 pounds; stream 26l feet
Some of the Featur IS of the Trial.
During the test the SIlsby consumed about a
half more coal than the Amoskeag, and while
the stream from the Silsby was thrown
at angle OF 45 degrees by the fremen,
the stream from the Amoskeag was only in
clined about 30 degrees. While the Amoskeag
was playing there was an enormous amount of
leakage for each joint OF the hose, while when
the Silsby was at work there was scarcely any.
The Silsby made great deal more noise than
the other engine. ;t-'..
One of the peculiar features of the test was
that there was no bid in from the Amoskeag
people and none of the real competitors were
gwen an opportunity to show the workings of
their respective engines
Last night the committee met again at City
Hall, and Mr.. Hartman at once moved the con-
tract be awarded to the Silsby Engine Com
hoity no.
ing matters and declared that if such recon-
mendation was made to Councils he would see
that it was defeated in the Select branch. Hav-
ing delivered himself of this he withdrew
to take his seat with the Gas Committee. Mr..
Hartman had stroked his beard and was wan
dering OFF into dissertation about the merits
of the Silsby when Mr.. Rudolph interrupted
him with:
You Councilmen are afraid something will
get away from you"
: Arthur Hunter-Whats that?
Mr.. Rudolph-There is no hurry. This could
rest until the Board of Awards could choose an
engine under the new government. These
Councilmen who have to step out seem awfully
perQuisites.
Mr.. Hunter-That's an insult.
Mr.. Rudolph-1t is simply the truth.
Mr.. Hunter-l guess could have come back
if had wanted to. 1 did not want to run
again.
Mr. Rudolph--IIeard that before.
By this time vote was called, and Messrs
GREGG, Rudolph and William Kennedy voted
in the negative. When The motion was an
as carried Mr.. Rudolph declared the
intention of submitting minority report and