The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-12


order TO facilitate work of the pipeman
ell slut-offs should be in the hub OF
the pipe, tips should be kept free from
heavy protubeG'ances.
All movable fire apparatus that cam
be extended upwards should be, when
constructed, we'll grounded with copper
| wire running from the hub TO the tire
on the wheel to prevent shocks from
overhead wires. 1t seems to be of lit
tie use to kick against the wires; they
! put them up instead of taking them
down. Inside wires should always be
| placed in plain sight in some sort OF
tubing, and never be allowed to rum
beneath floors or above ceilings or in
side of Walls.
Every appliance for protection Of
! firemen against smoke should be given
a fair trial until some device is invent
! ed that is not cumbersome, is perfect
ed. Then there should be a corps. of
smoke firemen attached to every de-
pertinent fully equipped to do inside
work, when they arrive at the fire.
These men should be small of stature,
young and carefully examined as to
their ability to stand smoke, and as
to their nerve when called upon to per-
form dangerous duty. Tail buildings
should have small fire elevator so ar
ranged that fire could be fought from
it in the upper stories. The first four
or five stories OF the elevator TO be fire
walls with no openings except the en-
trance at the bottom and TO be used by
the firenren only. and the top fire proof
small case stand inside with fireproof
top.
The chemical engine should be given
a better chance. Our greatest losses
are by water. When you just think
that an ordinary fire engine can pump
q. building, and that often more than a.
dozen engines are pumping water in
the same building, one may we'll be APP
palled by the loss from water. 1t takes
great quantities of water to reduce
heat to a. temperature that villa cause
fire to cease to burn; and until you
have SO reduced the temperature you
cannot eXtinguish the fire. Now the
gas from a chemical eXtinguishes fire
without the necessity of lowering the
temperature.
Then why not try the experiment of
having a larger number of chemical
engines at a fire than steamers, and
instead of abandoning the chemical on
the first sfirmish line, bring out TWEEN
ty more chemicals as you do of steam
ers, and eXtinguiSh the fire without loss
by water? I tried it twice with aston
isdliflg success. have two eighty gal
hose connections TO each machine, and
l always use one tank to hold the fire
until l get the wafer department into
service, and if that did not eXtinguish
the fire [ gave it the water. I rugged
over my machines so had four
streams, and pitched la with both ma
Chimes; and in the two cases referred
to, anyone would have been justified
in using water, but 1 CHANGED it and
NO Urn
only times that have had a chance to
try the experiment., but I am almost
persuaded that if I had three more
chemical engines a. fire would have to
get a very great Roadway before I
should be compelled to USE water (put
this arm Of the service in charge of
the smoke brigade). When [ smoke at
Augusta l did not intend TO express
more than my opinion that legislation
upon the subject Of fire proof buildings
was useless. as a mercantile building
OF today cannot be fire proof when oc-
cupied. 1 do not think that what I
have said ito connection of much value
as nearly if NOT all my suggestions are
already adopted as far as is possible
for chiefs to get their cities to bear the
expense.
DRILLING FIREMEN.
Topic No. II. Benefit of drill schools
Tor hremen," was next taken up.
Chief Hale, of Kansas CITY. smoke
flrst on the subject. He said that nf
United States soldiers were benefited
by drilling. he should think that fire
men, who ought to know tileir, bust
ness as we'll as soldiers, should be
drilled also. He said in his department.
a room, 125x5O feet, was established, with
gymnasium and fire department appli-
ances, and his mem were all required
TO become proficient in the regular
drill. From his experience, he said he
knew drill schools were a great benefit
to firemen.
Chief Redell, of Omaha. said he had
done q great amount of drilling and
was an earnest believer in it. He de.
tailed his method of drilling, and said
that while some men were opposed to
drilling, but that when orce they get
into it, it becomes a. pleasure and they
find it great benefit when an emergen-
cy arises.
Chief Pearce, of Denver. was also an
earnest advocate of drilling, the pom
pier ladder drill, i'm particular, which
did more than anything else 20 make it
easy for a fireman to go to amy height
without the trepidation which causes
accidents among novices.
Chief Dickinson of Cleveland. spoke
briefly ON the topic, reiterating the
views of the preceding speakers and
DEBATING the method followed in his
department.
At the conclusion of the discussion
the stenogThptlic report was ordered
spread upon the minutes.
The discussion Of fine subject of hold
ing the next convention at Baltimore
was laid over, to be taken up this
morning at 10 O'Clock
ON LEGISLATION.
After information concerning state
laws requiring the inspection of build
ings in cities to be done under super
vision of the fire department had been
furnished informally to the delegate
from the Vermont state association,