The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-11

dwellings. without compelling the busi-
ness man TO take Sabbath day Jour-
ney twice a day going and returning liohi
his worl-.
BETTER THAN THE OLD.
But the trouble with the sky scraper
has been its inaccessbility I'm case OF
arc No fire ladder that was ever con-
structed would reach above the hfth
story of q building and the fire ladies
had 10 depend upon the precarious al
Tentative of hitching ladders from win
dow sin TO window SILL gradually work
ing upward or rushing up inside the
oollapsing building.
The Irving ladder threatens TO do away
with all embarrassment 1t is compact
and can be taken 10 a fire by the usual
fire team of broad backed horses. II Is
heavy. but no more 50 than the IRE
engine nor much heavier than the old
hook and ladder. OF cumbersome lame
one mighty advantage Tor the new
ladder Is that it takes up much less space
than the hook and ladder and can turn
corners where the other would come 10
a standstin Everybody has seen tire
"hook and ladder dashing wildly up
g. street looking for a side street wide
enough TO turn In.
This fire ladder is an electric one IN
Roston worked by a dynamo, but IN
smaller places it IS run by steam or by
a storage battery. IT also has a very
nice hand attachment by which II can
he unwound where there is neither steam
nor dynamo. This makes it available for
the summer hotel. 10 aid in the escape OF
the inmates upstairs.
The plan is In simple language. this.
A great spool is wound with ladders
that are fastened together with joints.
A big rope connects with the end Of the
ladder like coil. When needed. a pole
AT the back lifts the rope which lifts the
end Of the ladder. The ladder mean
wbila Is being unwound by windlass
a, the other end OF the ladder wagon.
That is the way VI looks 20 those who
see the firemen working at the cranks
that unwind il.
ITS ENACT PLAN.
The wagon upon which the fre ladder
Is taken 10 the scene IS about 10 feet long
and about 1 IL feet wide.
on IL is a drum or reel feet in diam
oter. 1t sets down into the body of the
wagon II feet. and there is a handle
so arranged that IL can be attached al
any time FOR winding or unwindng.
Upon the reel there is a series or lad
der sections. or small ladders. with one
or two rungs AT each end. toggle or knee
iointed and scarfed or mitred, so that
when unwound. they VIII M into each
other creating a rigid ladder when sup
ported by the guide ropes.
On the top OF the front OF the carriage
shere Is double guide rope derrick.
very strong. the shears or ends OF which
are capable OF being raised TO a vertical
or adjusted TO any angle 20 support the
ladder when raised The derrick IS upon
one end OF the waisn. the ladder upon the
other. When both are raised they support
each other by the guide ropes.
Al the foot OF the derrick Is geared
double rope drum. attached 10 the lower
part OF the derrick. TO carry. two guide
ropes which run TO the top Of the shears
and other friction pulleys TO the eyes in
the TOP section OF the ladder.
At the back OF the ladder there Is
windlass. or hosting frame consisting OF
two unriehts snd htted on top OF with an
adjustable ladder carrier The under
side is slotted 70 admit a seared sprocket.
the teeth OF which are made TO take
each rung OF the ladder and unwind the
same by hand or electric power.
SIMPLE IN ACTION.
~ the unskilled mind the mechanism