Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-15
WANT A FIRE BOAT.
Chief Brown Believes 1t Would Be q
Good Implement of Safety.
OTHERS WHO FAVOR SUCH AN IDEA,
Evan Jones Says 1t Is Only Matter Of
Time Until 1t Will Come.
HOW THE NEW YORK STEAMER WORKS

AT all hours yesterday large crowds gath
cred about the ruins of the Wednesday
night fire, watching the men at work clear
ing away the debris OF the once fine business
structures. The dangerous walls have
nearly all been razed without any accident,
and the workmen are beginning to feel safe
in their movements. The upper floors OF
the NJ. & NJ. insurance building and Rob-
inson Bros bank building have been
cleared of rubbish, and the danger of fore
ing out the front walls was averted. To-day
no work will be done, but fire lines Will be
put out to keep the public from getting into
dangerous places.
The subject of the destructiveness of the
fire is still matter for discussion and yes
terday numerous owners of large buildings
stood on Wood street, and noting the differ
ence in size of the Weldin building and
many others in the city, wondered what
would become of them if a fire in that
building could not be controlled with the
present fire engines. That there must be
some improvements in fire fighting imple-
ments is admitted by everybody, but in
what shape is yet only discussed by those
more nearly interested.
Chief Brown Favors Fire Boat.
While Chief Brown believes that the
standpipe idea brought out by the under
writers is good one. he still favors a fire
boat and has for the past two years. Chief
Evans is of the same mind and the
after the safety of the city have dozens of
supporters One of these is Evan Jones,
who brings forward a number OF logical
arguments in favor of fire boat. which, ne
says, must come in the course of time just
the same as the police telegraph system did
after it was fought so long.
Under the present svsten of fire manage
ment, when there is fire in the heart of the
city, net work of hose is spread all over
the streets, stopping cable and street car
travel and choking up business OF all kinds.
This is all important item, and the question
arises, can a city doing the amount of busi-
ness as does Pittsburg afford to virtually
suspend work for few hours on account of
a fire? Had the city owned fire boat last
Wednesday night, it is agreed, it could
have been stationed at the foot OF Wood
street and five lines OF hose run to the scene
of the condagration, which would have
thrown more water than all the steamers in
L06 CITY COuUlucu. Out HOSe LuIOWS d hLIeam
from 81 to 6-inch nozzle.
Advantages of the Fire Boat.
More powerful engines can be used on
these boats than can be dragged about the
city, and as consequence more water can
be thrown onto fire. Mr.. Jones says that
q fire boat would do efficient service In the
entire lower part Of the city. 1t would be
able to reach all the business portion as far
up as the hump. Further up buildings will
not be erected so high, and the present en-
glnes can be depended on. The owners of
The large business blocks pay the big share
Of the taxes, and should, OF course. be pro-
tected from fire.
A fire boat could be stationed at the
Point, and move up either the Monongahela
pr Allegheny river to the most advantage
ous point from which to reach the fire. There
would then never be any trouble from a
shortage of water. ItwouId give the South
side mills the needed protection, while at
present there is continual cry on account
IF the scarcity of water in that section of
.he city in case of fire.
1t has also been suggested that such boat
would be alike advantageous to both Pitts
burg and Allegheny and as they have nearly
an equal river frontage the boat could be
made a partnership concern to do duty on
whichever side of the river necessity might
dictate.
A Most Successful Experiment
There is, of course, considerable argument
advanced against the fire boat idea. It is
declared by some to be inefficient, but the
,ase of the New York boat proves contrary.
At recent fire it threw six streams of water
varying from three and half TO six inches
with all but irresistible power into the fire