The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-11-17
FIRE ENGINE TRIAL.
The macnIgonne Throws Water
2z5 Feet 10 Inches.

Socbiponne engine No. 1 was given a
trial Yesterday afternoon before the COM
mittee on fire department and citizens gen.
orally on Portland street at the foot of Mel
len. The affair was in general charge of the
Chief Engineer assisted by Engineers Long
and Ray. The engine was run by Engine
man Porter assisted by Engineman Wig
gin of Cumberland 8, and stocked by Mr.. r.
A. Springer. the regular stoker of the conn
pany. Besides the engineers there were
present Aldermen Lewis and Stephenson
Councilmen Little, MCGOWAN. Pennell
Monroe and Leighton, with several man
bers OF other fire companies, ex- Chief Geo.
5. Willis of Pittsfeld, Mass, and others.
Water in the boiler was drawn down tn
Il notches on the glass. The match was
lighted and the fire touched off at 9 "a ex-
actly. For five minutes and 20 seconds
there was mo sign Of steam on the gauge
although the engine commenced tn blow
off at the whistle In five minutes. at On
there were two pounds. The steam rose
rapidly measuring seven pounds in five
minutes 80 seconds; 81. 5.45; Is pounds in
six minutes; Is pounds In 6.15; 20 pounds
in 81 minutes. Six minutes and 40 seconds
the hydrant was opened. and in 10 seconds
more the engine was started with 80 pounds
OF steam pressure. The steam pressure
rose rapidly as did the water pressure, the
latter going to 142 pounds when Mr.. Porter
open the feed water and the engine stopped
short. In second it began again and the
steam crawled up In good style, ranging
from 40 to 65 pounds. This first test was
through $50 feetof hose with II inch noz.
zle. The first length of play measured was
251 feet. After short breathing spell
steam was raised to 70 pounds and the test
repeated. giving length of play 242 feet
A Il inch nozzle was put on the pipe and
its direction changed slightly SO as to
bring it nearer In front of the wind. AL
though the nozzle was larger the stream
was much better covering the magnificent
distance of 275 feet 10 inches. The fourth
test was with two lines 500 feet each with
an inch nozzle. The engine was driven at
top speed in this test, and the steam which
was at 108 pounds ran down to 70 and hung
there during the whole of the terrific
humping. This distance was 231 feet on
both lines.
The fifth test was with siamesed
line, two 200 feet lengths being Joined to.
gether with 80 feet beyond and IL nozz e.
Before this test commenced Mr.. Porter
discovered that some of the nuts on the
piston rod were working loose and he
stopped to tighten them. When the engine
started they.again worked loose. The dis
lance covered however was 244 feet two
inches. At this point it was decided to
stop the trial. the committee expressing
themselves pleased with the result, to
allow Mr.. Porter to set the nuts up tight
and to ensure their staying so.
Therepairs on the engine which practi-
cally amount to a rebuilding of the whole
except the steam cylinders and pump were
made by the Portland Company under the
direction of Mr.. Frank d. How, the relief
engineman of the department.
During sthe progress of the trial, sparks
set fire to the grass in the Oaks but the
flames were extinguished by stream from
the hydrant schuck carefully steered by
Engineer Ray and Mr.. Springer.