The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-01-26
A. NEW ENGINE
Chief Hunt Reviews the
Fire.
More Hydrants Necessary Cor Sue
cessful work-.The Question OF
Hose Praise for Men.
lFrom rhuraday,s pallyl


In speaking OF Honolulu Are depart
ment and the work done. Chief Hunt
said last night that In order to ensure
successful work 1t is necessary that
more fire hydrants throughout the en-
tire city and districts be put in.
"Hydrants should never be more
than 500 feet apart" said the Chief,
"and the mains should be at least fif-
teen inches in diameter With our
present system sometimes a four-inch,
and again an eight-inch main will be
found, and when, say. 1000 feet of
hose is run out, even when we do get
decent water supply, the pressure at
the nozzle is useless for any but
small blaze This matter should be
looked into because 1t Is most impor-
tant in view of the new wells at Kalihl
being connected with the present sys-
tenn"
AS regards the abandonment of No.
l engine during Saturdays fire, Chief
Hunt said the fact was due in large
way to the absence of any other hy-
drant near by from which to control
the fire Eva of the church.
ut was absolutely necessary that
the engine be kept at work till the very
last moment, in view of another change
of wind, which, with the assistance of
the engine, would have saved Block
from destruction; but the wind rather
increased, and perfect whirlwind of
fire suddenly swept through the alley
ways on Block 10 and enveloped the
engine and corner buildings of Block
in a mass of flames.
THE actual cause OF the connagra-
ton was the waste of time in endeav-
oring to seave the church. but primar-
lily the sudden rising of the wind
which carried the burning ember to the
church steeple and out of the reach Of
water. Our men worked throughout
like Trojans, and | am more than sat
isiied with them for their work.
After Block / caught II was be-
yond human power to stay the progress
of the fire" said Chief Hunt. I'VE could
have done no better II three times the
number of engines and men had been
would have prevented success. AS re-
CARDS hose. we lost about ten lengths
last Saturday, but have quite sufficient
on hand to meet any ordinary out
break, although we should have a good
reserve, in view of an emergency like
the burning of Chinatown. Here Is
sample of cotton hose, which meets
with great favor on the Mainland. You
see, 1t Is rubber with two coverings
of woven cotton. 1t Is cotton-jacketed
and does excellent work, and, although
1t requires considerably more attention
than rubber hose, the wagons can car
ry over $50 feet more cotton than rub
Der hose and save weight In doing so.
Engine No. l will soon be at work
again, and our new engine, ordered
several months ago, is on the way and
should arrive any day. The new en-
CINE is an "Amoskeag," built by the |
Manchester Locomotive Works Com |
pany of Manchester, N. H. and Is sim !,
liar in appearance to Nos. and 4, but |
Is lighter and has less power, having 4,
a capacity of 600 gallons minute
against the others ESQ.
mos. 2 and 4 have been in continual
use for over fourteen years, and have !
given excellent satisfaction. The new |
engine has several improvements and |
was selected for use at the Plains sta
ton. No. will then be brought to |
town and another station built for her |
elsewhere. We will then have five
first-class steam engines and the chem
ical engine"