The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-25
A NEW ENGINE in RELIEFCAMP
Chief Hunt Reviews the
Fire.
More Hydrants Necessary for Sue
cessful Work--Tne Question OF
Hose-Praise for Hen.

in speaking of Honolulu fire depart
ment and the work done. Chief Hunt
said last night that in order to ensure
successful work it 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 if
teen inches in diameter. With our
present system sometimes a four-inch.
ard again an eight-inch main will be
found, and when, say. 1000 feet Of
hose is run out, even when we do get
a decent water supply, the pressure al
the nozzle Is useless for any but
small blaze. This matter should be
looked into because it is most impor-
tant in view of the new wells at Kalihi
being connected with the present sys-
tenn"
AS regards the abandonment of No.
engine during Saturdays fire. Chief
Hunt said the fact was due in a large
way To the absence Of any other by
drant near by from which to control
the fire Eva of the church.
1T was absolutely necessary that
the engine be kept at work till the very
last moment. in view of another change
or wind. which, with the assistance of
the engine, would have saved Block /
from destruction; but the wind rather
increased. and a perfect whirlwind of
W ont -.
ways on Block 10 and enveloped the
engine and corner buildings of Block
in mass of flames.
THE actual cause Of the conhagra-
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 I am more than sat
isfied with them for their work.
After Block l caught It was be-
yond human power to stay the progress
OF the fire" said Chief Hunt. I'VE could
have done no better if three times the
number of engines and men had been
engaged, because the water supply
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, ii is rubber with two coverings
Of woven cotton. 1t IS cotton-iacketeI
ard does excellent work, and. alInough
10 requires considerably more attention
than rubber hose, the wagons can car
~ over 250 feet more cotton than rub
Der hose and save weight I'm doing SO.
Engine No. l VIII soon be at work
?eain, 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 bv the
Manchester Locomotive Works Com
pany Of Manchester. n. H.. and is sim
liar in appearance to Nos. and 4, but
is lighter ard has less power. having
n capacity OF 600 gallons a minute
against the others $50.
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
frst-class steam engines and the chem
zeal engine"