The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-26
FIRE CHIEFS AT ST. LOUIS.
SUBJECTS ON FIRE FIGHTING ABLY
DISCUSSED.

lions DOings-Speazers Gave Prac-
ticaI Illustrations During Their
talks, and Recent improvements
in Fire Apparatus Were Also Ex-
btbited-savannahS should Have an
Ipsuector of Electrical Appliances,
chief Mcguire Thinks, as Care
1essIy Installed Wires Are Dam
scTOUs.
Chief Mcguire gives an interesting ac-
count yesterday of the topics discussed
at the recent fire chiefs convention in st.
Iouis. which were made interesting by
exhibitions and experiments to prove the
correctness of the statements of speakers.
contrary to the usual run of convention
napers ne said the papers at st. Louis
we're interesting to every one.
The address OF Chief Roberts of Denver
IN the Practical Benefits of the Gymna-
sium to Fire Departments was ably de-
uvered, and convinced every one that the
fremen should be provided with gymna-
Sums. if efficient service is to be expected
The address of Chief Hale of Kansas City
was also listened to with great interest.
1t was technical in character, and treated
Of the methods of fighting fires under diff
ferent circumstances. Chief Swingley Of
81 Louis spoke of the value of the auto
matte sprinklers, and his address was of
much interest. Chief Devjne of Salt Lake
CITY rendered an excellent address on the
subject of fire horses and their requisites.
The subject of auxiliary water pipe lines
operated by fire boats or stationery pumps
on the river front was ably handled by
Chief Dickinson of Cleveland, o.
Inspector McDevitt of the insurance
patrol of Philadelphia, spoke on THE
Innammable and Explosive Properties of
Smoke" and his address was interesting
from the several exhibitions given. In the
course of his address Mr.. McDevitt Illus
trated the danger attending the work of
entering buildings filled with smoke He
exhibited a miniature house which he Lad
filed with smoke from dry wood, burnt
grain and heated iron. The compressed
smoke in this house being without air
gave the hydrogen and carbon in the
smoke chance to form a gas which sud
denly exploded and blew out the windows
of the building. He gave several inter-
esting exhibitions with smoke from heated
be communicated on the several floors Of
building almost simultaneously.
His discourse was very instructive and
added materially to the success of the
convention.
The methods of preventing fires from the
vitascope and other machines for exhibit
ing animated pictures was explained by
a paper prepared by w. P. Brophy.
The exhibits were said to have been the
best ever shown at a convention. Every
known appliance for fire fighting was
shown, many of which were new, while
others showed improvements, denoting the
advance made by inventors during the
past year. Among the most interesting
exhibit was that of the ribbed-w wire glass.
which is intended to take the place of
iron shutters on upper floors. This glass
is made of a composition of glass and
wire, and it is claimed it cannot be broken
by heat and water. A test was made
which attracted a great deal of attention.
Rubbish was heaped up against a win
dow made of this glass, and it was heated
until it was white hot. Then a stream
was turned on and the glass remained in
tact.
Several styles of automatic sprinklers
were exhibited, and various kinds of noz-
Sles were tested, all of which were deemed
highly satisfactory. Basement fires, oil
tank fires calcium lights, plans for mu
tual ihutHuuily ana many other iHdlltIS
of interest were discussed
Lawrence Clark, editor of the Firemen's
Herald, presented an amendment to the
Plat bill recently before Congress which
stipulated in effect that the tax against
insurance companies be lifted in all states.
Mr. Clark thought the measure in itself
inlquitous, but said the amendment pro-
Vlding for a uniform rate of taxation in
all states, with the clause that the fire.
men be allowed a percentage of same for
their respective pensions, would meet with
general satisfaction.
a committee of three was appointed to
watch the bill and take necessary steps
70 prevent its passage with the obnoxious
features, If resurrected in Congress.
Ian Malcolm, assistant chief of the fire
department for London England, was the
next speaker. He said the firemen of the
Hfush Isles were in hearty sympathy with
the OBJECTS of the International Associa-
uoh Of Fire Engineers. He was warmly
applauded.
Col. Stevenson of the Montreal fire de-
pdrtment then told of the methods for ex-
unsulshirg fires in vogue in Canada.
~ ne EXHIBIT of the Gamewen Fire Alarm
Ltegraph Company attracted much atten-
uoh' especially the multiphase cable and
we auxiliary fire alarm boxes. The aux
mary nre alarm, or private fire alarm
Jokes are placed in stores or other build
-79 dHu connected WITH the nre alarm
street box, thereby enabling the occupants
70 send in an alarm without leaving the
Uu'a}hg in which the fire is discovered.
IAese boxes are all right in the day time,
""en Inc occupants are moving about, but
al night, when the place is closed they
are OF little value. The object of the null
.pnase cable Is to set this box working by
.ne neat or fire, much the same as the
automatic sprinkler is opened. The null
Iphase cable is a success, and viii be a
valuable assistant in enabling the f1remen
70 hoid down the fire loss. The cable will
ue the means of having the fire send In
~ own alarm, and the invention is a nota-
O'e advance in the alarm service.
=, one thing 1 have noticed" said Chief
Maguire, by reference to the statistics
81 me Electrical Bureau of the National
podrd of Fire Underwriters, which is
poIAe out by the comparisons made by
me is that Savannah is the only city in
Ie United States of 10000 population
MHch does not have an inspector of cleo
ulcai appliances. There are more wires
oEer the streets of Savannah, and more
e,eclric lights, fans motors, and other
eIeclrlcal apparatus in use than there is