CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1902-01-30
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

llne idteiy. a new wagon mas Deen
purchased, and one of the best fire
alarm systems in the world has been
established in this city.
The new alarm. as many know, is
the Gamewell. Each box contains a
little glass plate in the door which
can he broken and an alarm sent in.
The action is instantaneous, and no
sooner is the box pulled than the
number of the box is indicated in the
fire house. The alarm repeats itself
three times. Another good thing
about this system is that two boxes
can be pulled at once; that is two
alarms sent in az once. One of them
will not interfere with the other.
There is shut-off which holds back
one instrument from recording the
number OF the box until the other
has finished ringing. 1t rarely hap
pens that two alarms are sent in at
the same time, however.
At night there is a weight arranged
in such manner that when the alarm
is sounded the weight drops upon a
switch which connects an electric
current This current releases the
horses and turns on the lights. The
men who sleep in the rear room are
awakened by the sound of the gong.
The alarm boxes are located at the
following places: No. 10, Fifteenth
and Harrison; No. 2l, Second and
Macon; No. Al, Fourth and Main; No.
81, Fifth and Rudd; No. II, Seventh
and Macon: No. So, Ninth and Wal
nut; No. So, Tenth and Harrison: No.
l23, Eleventh and Main; No. 4l2,
state penitentiary.
A paid fire department has recently
been formed, which is composed of
the following: George K. Cassidy,
chief; Charles Chapman, engineer;
Thomas Lloyd, driver; Walter Rich
ards and Frank Towers, hosemen.
Outside of the chief these men have
lust been put on tine paid list. The
city council will decide Monday even
ing whether or not they are kept on
the department.
Chief Cassedy in speaking of the
test made by the new wagon last
Saturday, said that it was very salts
factory. 1t was just 2 minutes and
10 seconds from the time they left
the engine house until there was a
stream from the chemical upon the
FIRE This run is quite remarkable in
that the horses had but little train
ing, and the streets were not in a
very good condition The horses are
learning very rapidly, however, and
as soon as they are turned loose run
to their places under the swinging
harness.
The new FIRE wagon is called COM
bination chemical hose and ladder
wagon. 1t weighs $500 pounds, and
is the highest and strongest of its
kind in the state 1t is equipped
with two portable chemical tanks,
containing three gallons each. These
are carried on the iremen's backs,
and are used for small fires and for
the purpose of getting into small
places where there may be FIRE, such
as in a closet, for instance.
The large tank is under the drivers s
seat, and holds 50 gallons about Z
pounds of acid and 20 pounds of bi-
carbonate of soda. A leaden bottle
containing the acid is suspended in
the tank containing the soda. When
it is desired to use the chemicals a
crank is turned which makes the
bottle turn upside down, thus mixing
the acid with the soda, and nature
does the rest.
An extra charge for the large tank
is carried along to be used in case OF
an emergency. If all the chemical
should be exhausted before fire is
subdued, the wagon is made so that
hose can be attached TO it from a
1 fire plug and water can then be sent
into the empty tank and out through
the same hose.
The wagon is equipped with two
Segrave ladders, one 19 feet and the
other 81 feet long. The chemical
hos is l5o feet long, and loo feet
more can easily be carried besides
l, 200 feet of larger hose.
The wheels of the new wagon are
ball bearing. and the axles of solid
steel. The brake is one of the best
things about the wagon. 1t extends
clear across the front of the seat, and
two men can operate it together.
There is double purchase on it which
enables two men to bring it to stop
! in very short time without any dan