The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-24
KNOW YOU.
WhenFirenlen
Will Move
TO NEW QUAR- TIERS?
A Batch Of Very Interesting
News For the Fire Boys.

When are they going to move into the
new fire department headquarters?
rms is a question that has been asked
time after time during the last few
weeks. The invariable answer from
members of the department and those
who are supposed to have a knowledge
OF tie matter, is a mysterious shake of
the head, and doleful you've got me;
l don't know"
The building is completed with the
exception of a few minor details that
can be finished in a few days at most.
Inc new central office fire alarm system
is in place and could be put in use at
comparatively few days notice
The iron bedsteads, with their coats
OF black enamel and brass trimmings
are stored in the basement of the build
ing waiting for some one to place them
on an elevator and convey them to the
realms above, where they are to form
such principal feature in the furnish
lngs OF the dormitories of the different
companies.
An official of the department was
asked why the fixtures had not been in
stalled. He stared at the questioner and
with a hopeless look in his eyes, re-
pied, If you can find out, you will do
| better than l can" Heads of the fire
| department are unable to say what
causes the delay and have long since
gwen up trying to figure out a plausible
theory.
The passenger elevator, which is To-
Gated in the front part of the building
has been placed and but for slight
hitch caused by the discovery of a leak
IN the water pipe, would have been in
running condition several days ago.
Some of the Worcester papers have
had considerable to say about the loca-
ton of the plunger, the criticism being
That It was located at one corner of the
car. John A. Dean, who has charge of
its installation, thinks that the man
who saw this defect must have some
thing the matter with his vision I'm
the first place." said Mr. Dean, cases
are very rare indeed when the plunger
is located exactly in the center of the
bottom of the car. Even if it was To-
Gated at one side the elevator would
! operate exactly as well. The space left
at the side of the elevator well for bal
ance weights may have been what de-
luded some as to the location of the
plunger but by a singular coincidence
the plunger in question comes exactly
in the center of the bottom of the car.
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES.
] In a recent issue of Fire and Water
the pertinent question is asked, How
can the fire waste of the United States
be lessened, at least, if not stopped 2"
Its yearly average for twenty-three
years has been over 800 600 900 a fear
full drain on the resources of any ma
ton, however rich. These losses dur
ing a period of twenty-three years al
luded to amounted to $2,454, 592 ,481
which in the fall of 1865 exceeded the
interest bearing debt of this country
by over 100000000. The loss ? on
which no insurance was paid during
that time, the undistributed loss
amounting to $1,O15, 500, 033, is less than
the interest-bearing national debt on
June 80, $685. by about 100000, 600
The average yearly fire loss, nearly
$107, 900, 900, exceeded the war expendi-
ture of the nation for the u months
ending June 30, as above by almost
$15, 00O, 900. On December 81, 1897, the
population of the United States was es-
! timated at 73,725,000;~ the circulation of
money per capita was set at 1884. But
to $116.S 1854, $40, making the loss per cap
tia $1.5S. The insurance loss for the
same year was $50, 722, 140, making the
] loss per capita 81 cents and the undis-
tributed loss per capita So cents. These
figures point out their own moral. -
AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER CITIES.
A plan that is worthy of adoption in
every city and hamlet in the country
that supports a fire department, has
i been recently adopted and put into ex-
ecution by Chief McAfee of Baltimore,
Md. Each of the wagons of the fire,
police and fire patrol departments has
been supplied with restoratives, ban
dages, iodiform gauze, surgical scissors
and needles, stinlulantS and medicines
for instant application for the relief
of fremen overcome by heat and
smoke. These men are often injured
at distance from a surgeon or hospi-
tai. and have suffered simply for the
lack of a stimulant or bandage. This
material packed in waterproof covering
is kept in the wagon at all times so as
to be ready for possible necessity at a
moments notice.
ARE NOT WHOLLY SAFE.
The incandescenti electric lamp is not
altogether safe, as 1t is generally sup
posed to be. The risk is not as great
of course as when naked lights are en-
ployed, but London expert has
found by experiment that not only is
the danger from lamps of this sort very
} much underestimate, but the popular
to gain over-confidence in the lamp in
question.
4 sixteen candle power lamp 200
volts pressure) immersed in half pint
of water, causes the water to boil
within an hour, and in proportionate-
ly less time when a 32-candle power
lamp is used.
If the lamp is buried in cotton WOOL
the wool begins to scorch and ultimate
ly bursts into flame. In one expert
ment the ignition into flame was ac-
companied by loud report, due to the
explosion of the lamp. The lamp in
contact with celluloid, fires in less than
five minutes. The danger is partieu-
larly obvious in the case of toy stores
where ineandescent lamps are often
suspended in the midst of celluloid ar
ticles of various descriptions.
A COMBINATION WAGON.
new combination chemical hose
wagon, with water tower attachment
has recently been tried in ST. Louis
! meeting with the highest approval of
the officials at the head of the fire de-
paatment in that city. This wagon is
thoroughly equipped for action either
as a chemical engine or water tower
or both.
MANY WEIGHTY QUESTIONS
Settled for All Time in Minds of Aguilar
Club Debates s
At the regular meeting of the Aguilar
Debating Club, Saturday afternoon, the
: following program was carried out:
Essay What should we do with the
a ntsirr