Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-05
RolLER uNsAFE.
After sixteen Y@ars' Bse So I's steanaer
 Springs . Leak: sr

After sixteen Years' -Use So 1's Steanter
 Springs q Leak. tsr
 The fire commissioners have matter to wrestle with just now whied will tax their power of thought to its utmost capacity and give them lots of oppoEtunity to show how they can best serve the public and not put the taxpayers to any unnecessary expense. -~-
 On the morning of the fire in the Law Tor and Hiatt buildings it was noticed that the boiler of No Is steamer leaked little and it was decided to remove the old pipes and put in a new set James J. Duffy was employed to do thejob. and after the old pipes had been removed State Inspector LaForge was called in to examine the boiler and pronounced it undt for further use. This will certainly necessitate the purchase of a new steamer and it is the hope of all good citizens that the board of fire commissioners will be able to see its way tc purchase n more modern steamer Indeed it is the opinion of all who have spoken on the subject that the most mod ern steamer the board can secure would be the best bargain.
 The old steamer has been in use for over sixteen years and has done good ser vice for the city. but from all that can be learned it has long since outlived It's use tulness and should have been replaced long ago.
 through the boiler this morning and while he does not claim to be much of a judge of these matters. yet it was plain to him that it stands in need of immediate re- pairs; either that or it should at once be exchanged for a new one. The interior of the boiler presents a strange sight There are thirty-six large smoke hues. | fourteen inch and a quarter braces and over 300 water tubes. The expense of re- placing the defective pipes would be quite a large sum. and it must be plain to | all, that 1t would be advisable to make a l trade with some company, getting what | the city can for the old machine, and pay | the difference for a whole new outfit l Boilermaker Duffy holds that the boiler will be all right after the necessary repairs have been made and claims that the ap. paratus will be good for the next fifteen years when the new pipes and hues are put back.
 The reporter was informed this after noon that an expert from out of town will be brought here to examine the engine and that the whole matter will rest on his decision. A man who has been connected with the fire department said that the wheels of the steamer are too light tor a steamer of that size and thought that the whole business should be disp snsed with at once. He said unless something should be done to disabuse the public of the mo- ton that the Waterbury fire department was not in good condition to successfully combat fire. there would soon be some serious losses resulting to property own srs through increased demands ot the fire in- surance companies He also said that the boiler of No Is steamer WAS not the only part of the apparatus of the department that needed inspection. and he hoped that the fire board would see that a committee was appointed to inspect the property of the department and throw aside what was useless and replace it with the best the market affords.
 The old engine was of the Silbsy pattern and was purchased for the sum of 8. 200. The firm has since been consolidated with other fire engine companies. all of which are now located at Seneca Falls and CIn- cinnati.