Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-07

The inspection Of the fire department
was resumed and completed Wednesday by
Messrs. Tyre, McNulty, Kirby and Meaney
of the lire committee of City Council, The
Liberty, Reliance Washington, Delaware
and Phoenix houses were visited, and, as
on the previous night, when the West side
companies were inspected, everything ut
the houses of the several companies was
found in excellent condition.
The inspecting committee and repre-
sentatives of the press were well received
and the whole affair was very pleasant
and the result was gratifying.
At the Phoenix and Liberty engine
houses the guests were given refreshments,
which were very much enjoyed. At the
Phoenix engine house some informal
speech-making was INDUCED in, during
which the qualification of the committee
and the hospitable feeling of the tiremen
were expressed.
The inspecting delegation, accompanied
by City Solicitor Elliott, was first driven to
the home Of the Liberty Co., in South
Wilmington. Some quick time was made
in hooking up the horses to the apparatus,
and the members demonstrated their
agility by repairing to the bunk room
in the second floor and sliding down the
pole in the rear of the building at the
sound of the alarm. The man1uvres of
the men and horses were very interest.
ing and the members of the company were
compGmented on their excellent exhibit
ton. The report of the secretary was as
follows: Value of real estate, $4,000; a
one-third size La France engine, $4,000;
hose wagon, 800; 1000 feet Of good hose
$500; 500 feet of new hose. 800; three
horses, 500; harness, S225; furniture,
$500; total. Sl7,175. The parlor of the
company is very handsomely furnished.
The weight of the horses is 800, l,IO5
and 400 respectively. The company also
owns an improved hose tower, which is
used for drying the hose. The patent trips
for the stable doors. the invention of the
engineer, John Bunting, are quite labor.
saving arrangement. They are operated
by an overhead wire. The appearance of
the engine house was very neat. There
are 80 active members in the company.
The Reliance house was next visited.
The apparatus was found TO be in first
class order and the horses acted remarkably
well when the gong was sounded. The
company has patent boiler i'll the base
ment Of the building which is used solely
Tor the purpose OF keeping up steam in the
engine continually. The Reliance has the
distinction of putting in the first regua-
ton boiler for this purpose. The heating
apparatus is an excellent piece Of mcchan.
ism and fills its mission admirably
1t works automatically and when the
steamer leaves the house and becomes de-
tached from the connections the valves
are closed and damper is put on the fire in
the cellar. The boiler is complete in every
particular, having been built solely for the
purpose Of keeping up steam in the
engine. The average pressure is about Is
pounds. On the hose carriage is "a nozzle
support that will assist the pipenem in
supporting the hose in time of fire II is
adjustable, according to the size desired
and is so made, with a sharn end that il
will hold either on the ground or on II
roof. Abraham RittenhousG, Il member of
the company, is the inventor. The sup.
porter has been in use by the COMPANY
about three years. The value OF the COM
pany's property is as follows: Real estate,
100000 second size Silsby steamer $1,000,
one hose carriage, with n carrying capacity
of Loo feet of hose, 500; three horses,
5000. The company also owns 100 feet of
llrst-class hose ana 300 feet of medium
hose, the value of which was not esti.
mated. The active membership list mum
bers Ga.
From the Reliance house the inspectors
drove to the home Of the Washington co.
The placing Of a chemical engine in the
building has neCcssitated the stabiing Of
two more horses, which crowds things a
little in the rear of the building. rwouew
horses were found to be i'll, but the other
health by their actions when the gong was
sounded. The new chemical engine was
the centre OF attraction Ut the Washington
house. Those who had not seen il
We're very curious to understand il, and
the members mace a full explanation
OF the manner of using it al a fee
Although the new piece OF apparatus has
been used it is still Us bright is u new dol
lar and is none the worse for the wear il
has received. II has the appearance Of
being quite durable. The engine ana host
carriage were in good order also. a state.
lnent of the effects Of the company il as
follows: Value Of real estate, Sl5.UuO per.
sonal property -, OOUuue steam lire engine
me chemical engine; one mock ana ladder
ruck; one hose carriage, with d CARRYING
capacity OF ] 200 feet OF hose ami six men,
1,2O0 feet of cotton hose and 900 feet OF
- medium hose, and five horses. There are
ITO active memb ers in the company.
The Delaware Co. was next visited. Al
the TRUCK house, as AT the engine houses
everything worked like clock work. rNt
work OF hooking up three horses abrcas
was very interesting, and the amman
seemed to take as much pride IN the wa,
the thing was done as the members. IN,
company has to active members and own
one tirst-class Hayes extension truck. wit
numerous ladders OF various sizes and tuu
chemical extingushers, Three horses ar
estate is rated at $500, and the persona
property at So, $40 The last place yisitet
was the engine house Of the Phoenix Co
where tirst-class steamer and hose Gitl
rage we're found. There were 90 pounds q
steam on the engine boiler when the del,
CATION arrived, and their appearance was
signal for several Shrill blasts from IN
whistle on the steamer. Here, as at tn
ltellance house, the water in the boiler
Kept heated continually and pressure q
- to 20 pounds of steam is kept upall tn
time. A small furnace in the cellar serve
10 Keep up the steam. The connection
work automatically. There was suilicel
pressure OF steam on the engine last nigh
from the boiler 70 allow the macnIGery t
be run the same as At q tire the work E
the horses WAS excellent. Webster, III
Oldest animal, has quite pedigree On
of the new horses, which is five years ole
weighs l,603 pounds and is very strOn
and intelligent looking animal. The re-.
estate of the company is valued al 81 20.
and the personal property at -, 50, IuakIu
total wealth of SlI,SZ5. Euc members nj
numbers 81 active and ~ honorary. III
effects OF the company comprises oil
engine, one hose carriage. three horse
1000 feet OF good hose aud one new hui.tg
beside the building. Tue house was il
spected all over, and the guests wc
pleased with their visit. After the hu
pitality of the PhOeniS bows hal b.,
partaken OF literally the cOunct!men W
reporters thanked the members OF ii
company and took their departure. 4
were very well satisfied with the result
the inspection
Next May the entire department will
put to thorough practical test, an uutiii
Tor which has not yet been made
-
Brother of Letter.carrler DuiTy Killed.
Frank Duffy, d brother OF l.uttcr-carri
Duty OF this city, was killed By AN expl
sion In the laboratory Of smith kim
French & Co, Philadelphia Tuesday wee
He was AZ years Old.