The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1902-04-30
FIRE ENGINE BUYING
THE LATEST SCANDAL
sp,rd Of Public Works Contracts for Two Me-
ropotans, Notwithstanding That One OF
the Same Make Has Not Proved
Satisfactory Whole Subject
Will Bear Investigation

led. The engine was run into the
shop. and new manlfolds telegraphed
FOR. These have just been put IN and
the engine Is now being reassemhled
and rcpainted.
Rut while waiting for the new
manifolds. the mechanics OF the de-
partment took the interior tnoes %
the boiler apart and made the start.
ling discovery that every manifold
taken out and examined showed
signs Of pltting Even the wrought
iron tubes themselves were attacked,
IL ~ said.
The machine had been In charge OF
one 81 the best engineers In the do
partment and had had very careful
handling and treatment. and the
only explanation that could be found
Cor the pittlng was that the circula-
ton IN the boiler was defective.
Laying the blame
A feeble attempt 10 lay the blame
Tor the pltting upon tho hardness Of
the Cedar river water used In the
boiler has been made In the depart
ment; but Il Is diecreditsd by the
fact that no other engine % the sew
en- owned by the FIRE department has
ever given more than triniuK boiler
trouble. Notwithstanding some OF the
older ones have been tn service al
most since Seattle was a sawmiu VII.
laEe.
The big In France engine purchas-
"a hy the city at the same time "a
the Metropolitan. and which IL now
taking the Metropolitan place at
the Pine street engine house. Ia still
IN the finest condition. but she has
not the FOX water tube boilers. Roth
big s-horse machines are otherwise
very similar In SIDE and appearance,
The simple truth OF the matter Is
competent engineers claim. that the
Fox boiler IL more or less ~ an ex-
pertinent. though REPRESENTED 70 Be
the acme OF perfection when sold 20
years ago.
cAisf Geek Iu Frisna
Yet In spite Of the radical defects
the boiler seems TO have. Chief Cook
IN stlli It's strong friend.
The Fox boiler iS the best ever
put into n FIRE engine" said he 70 a
Star reporter last night. II cant be
beat. and l am willing 20 80 on rec
ord as TO that
Isn't Il fact, nevertheless. that
you have had some trouble with u
IN the department was asked.
s-froubiaf haven't heard Of any
4 nuble," answered the chief.
The reporter thereupon repeated
the story that had been circulated
~ garding the Metropolitan engine on
Pine street.
WELL admitted the FIRE chief.
I'VE did have come trouble with
bard water pitting the mRnifolds
This water eats out all boilers We
are going to have copper manifolds
IN the boilers In the new engines"
The chief was asked whether any
% the ler engines In the depart
ment had given a. great boiler
trouble as the big metropolitan. The
answer was evasive.
very Emphatic
but the trouble Il not with the
circulation" he concluded. Any
one who says the circulation In the
Fox boiler is defective, "a a liar. and
you can tell him ! said 50.
Notwithstanding Chief COOKS
apology for the Metropolitan en-
giue'H SHORTCOMINGS. u II probable
that action will b. taken 10 prevent
the signing % the contract Tor the
purchase % two more engines Of the
sarns make. pending an Investigation
by the city council into the merits
and dement's u the Fox boiler.