Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-07-29


and Calais.
Portugal was represented by a
delegation from OportO. Ghent,
Brussels, and Liege represented Bel
gium, and there were a number of
Italian firemen there.
"The fire appliance department of
the congress was complete in all de-
tails.
Il studied aud saw their methods
of operation.
For the general public a small ad-
mission fee was charged, for the ben
eft of the widows and orphans of the
firemen of Great Britain.
"The congress took up about four
days and spent all my time there.
Then for two weeks | studied in
ALL ITS PARTS AND DETAILS
the work of the London fire brigade
"Then | went to Paris for ten days,
and made like examination.
Through the courtesy of the
American Minister, Mr.. Eustis, |
was taken in charge by the French
colonel who commands the Paris de-
partment. There was very little
about the service that did not see
81 went through the larger Eng
lish cities, Birmingham and Liver
pool, and then went across to Ireland,
and took ten days of pure unadulter-
ated pleasure.
Il didn't inspect the fire depart
ments in Ireland, for they have none
to speak Of.
Il travelled in jauntiny Car and
on the tops of coaches, so l was a
great deal in the open air.
Through the courtesy of the Sec
retary of the London County C1uncil
l inspected their buildings and bui d.
ing laws, and | tried to do it thor
oughly, and fiatter myself | succeeded
as we'll as was possible in the time at
my command.
u also inspected the buildings and
builders laws of France.
"My own knowledge of French is
not very perfect, but with the aid of
an interpreter | got along very well.
at will be some days before | am
ready with my official report, which
will deal in detail with all / saw.
Il consider that have great deal
of valuable information, especially in
regard to construction.
81 regarded very favorably some of
the French machinery and apparatus,
but the most we have to learn from
the foreigners is in regard to con
Struction.
But in regard to the relative eff
cheney of
FIRE FIGHTING IN ENGLAND
and France and those methods in
vogue here, the Europeans are not to
be for an instant compared with us.
"You see, the buildings there are
all built of brick and stone, so it is
/ more their construction that save:
them than their efficiency after a
fire gets started.
"Our buildings, which we so proud
ly call fire proof, are regarded in En-
gland and France as pretty poor.
They particularly object to the
use of iron and stone bu jldings, be
cause of the tendency of iron to ex
pand.
a do not wish to be understood rs
saying that the European lack of ef
ficiency is due to any inherent weak
ness or stupidity in the men, but il
is due more than anything else to
lack OF practice.
"A man becomes a good architect
/ by the mistake he makes and cor
rects, and so it is in any other bust
ness.
England and France have no fires
that give practice, but England has
more than France.
The French buildings have all
brick or stone partition walls, or they
are made OF something which look,
like brick covered with plaster.
"Thc building stone is Of that kind
that is soft in the quarry but har
dens with exposure to the air-thC
longer IL stands the harder 1t gets
"For five weeks, day and night,
studied these things closely wa,
present at two fires 10 London, and
they were large fires, too; also "a.
several little ones Ia Paris,
The people OF these countries are
zIoV AMI dellhtrats In all their hu4I.