Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-05-20
FOR FIRE PROTECTION!
Meeting of Citizens--Vote
Recommending the Common Coun-
Gil to Take Early Steps toward
Providing Fire Protection.


/. City Clerk We'll was elected seere-
tary of the meeting.
/ Remarks and comments were Of
fered by various citizens, all agree
ing that something must be done
and that promptly, to insure against
such holocausts as that of May ith
/ What should or can be done was the
only question upon which opinions
varied. Mr.. Penney Il representative
of the Chicago Pneumatic Water
works Go. was present and addressed
the meeting. He estimated that a
complete and effective system of
waterworks could be put in for $40-
600. He figured on piping, horizon
tai reservoirs with pressure from
compressed air and water supplied
from wells in the vicinity of the de-
pot. Would guarantee IA satisfactory
service, with hydrants located so as
to afford protection to almost every
building in the city, and would ac-
cept city bonds at par in payment.
A gentleman representing hand
and chemical engine company ex-
planned the advantages Of protection
by such means. A fourteen-man en-
gine seemed to be his idea of "about
the thing" for us With such an en-
gine he could throw q inch stream
l25 feet from the nozzle. 1t could
take water from cisterns available
for fire in any part of the city. Such
an engine complete. with 1000 feet of
two-inch hose could be furnished for
$1,000. Estimating $500 for public
cisterns, to be put in at different
points along High street, IA service
able protection could be secured for
about $1,000. His plan contemplates
a large volunteer fire company, not
less than 50 active men. He would
have go men to man the engine pump,
divided into reliefs of % each. Re-
liefs to work two minutes each and
rest four minutes. TO handle hose
and for other service 20 additional
men is not high estimate.
From the remarks of citizens it
seemed to be general opinion that
a system of waterworks is not OBJ
tainable at this time, and some inn
mediate protection should be had.
Expressive of this sentiment mo-
tion was carried by "A unanimous
standing vote, THAT we recommend
the common council TO promptly
procure protection against fire by
engine, with water to be supplied
from cisterns to be constructed
With such authority the common
council should, and no doubt viii,
take early action on the line pro-
posed. The council is at liberty to
purchase such engine and hose as
the members of the body deem best,
after proper. Investigation and to have
such cisterns constructed they find
to be necessary. Suggestions, how
ever, are in order, and will doubtless
be accepted kindly, therefore we
take the liberty of urging that a.
good modern steam engine be got.
The expense over hand engine of
course will be considerable, perhaps,
$1,000, but that should not influence
the decision if it appears that the
advantages of steam over hand
engine are proportionate, as we firm
~ believe they are. With first
class steam engine Ga Sibley for in
stance) water can be taken from any
place that a hand engine can reach.
A steam engine Of the right kind can
be in order To pour water upon a
fire within five minutes from the
time it is started from the engine
house. 4 steam engine can be han
died by 20 men easier than a hand
engine can be by 80 men, and the
work required by the men on the
steam engine is not so eXhausting
that they cannot continue II Tor
hours if necessary instead Of two
minutes. a steam engine Will send
water through a much longer hose
than hand engine and send it from
the nozzle with greater force and to-
a greater distance if necessary. Three
different streams can be thrown at
the same time by a steam engine,
each az large and a. strong az the
one stream from hand engine. The
cost Of keeping steam engine III or
der and having it constantly ready
for use i no greater than the same
service on a hand engine. Requiring
one-half less men to operate steam
engine than a hand engine, the pros
pect Of always having a sufficient
force to man il il an important feat-
ure for consideration. These points