Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-04-17
MODERN FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
Machine Guns and Distinguishing
Powder Take the Place of Steam
Engines and Water.

|"
Engines and Water.
Rapid firing machine guns instead of
steam engines, and eNtinguishing pow
der in place of water, may sOon mark
the advance of the fire departments of
the world in their methods of fighting
fires. Before the century is a year
older, modernly adapted and applied
artillery may have begun to super
sede the steam fire engine and its APP
p%urtenances in New York, Chicago,
Philadelphia, and other large cities of
this country and Europe. Human in
genuity has virtually already worked
out this new problem of converting the
engines of warfare to this novel and
more peaceful function of battling
with flames. 1t is said to be feasible.
practical, and its realization is almost
at hand, says the Chicago Tribune.
More than half the problem has al
ready been worked out by a New York
man, who is now manufacturing. I'M
der government patent, a chemical eX-
tinguishing powder by a secret for
mula. He has also worked out the
principle of molding this powder into
balls of any size and of constructing
them in a way that will make them ex-
plode when shot into contact with a
burning building. This much accom-
plished, he, together with others in
New York, Philadelphia and Chicago,
has employed some of the most en-
inent mechanical engineers and gun
makers in the country to fashion a
machine gun for throwing the balls in
question on and into buildings as high
as 80 stories. In fact. several inven-
tons to accomplish this purpose have
already been made and patented, but
the promoters are not yet quite salts
fled with the result obtained. That a.
modernly adjusted and practical gun
will be evolved for the fire fighting,
however, there is not the slightest
question.
Behind the enterprise is more than
enough capital to exploit it success
fully. 1t is being worked out quietly,
though a year has already been spent,
chiefly in experimenting on the artil-
lery phase of the project. So far but
the merest outlines of the great pur-
pose of the promoters have leaked out
to the public. They are guarding their
secret, and will continue to do so I'M
t~ileverything is perfected and in read
mess to spring upon the world. 1t is
only recently that one of the most
eminent expert mechanical engineers
of Chicago was asked and agreed to
take up the work of perfecting a suit
able and practical machine gun to SUI
persede the fire engine in the function
of doing battle with fires.
Instead of the roaring and sputter-
ing fire engines stationed about a big
fire, throwing thousands of gallons of
water a minute in many streams to O.
height of 200 feet or more, instead Of
the thousands of feet of hose strewp
and tangled along the streets, like
huge snakes. blocking traffic of all
kinds and congesting the thorough
fares for squares, instead of a hundred
and one familiar scenes incident to the
burning of a large building in a big
city-there will come with the new
methods scenes more novel and inter-
esting at first.
Contemplate the modern fire depart
ment of artillery bombarding a burn
ing structure in New York, Chicago,
Philadelphia from every vantage
ground. Twenty or more rapid fir
ing machine guns, propelled and op-
Grated by electricity, and a detail of
Is gunners r shooting extinguish-
ing chemical powder balls into the
windows and on top of the building.
The balls explode on contact, dis
seminate owe the blaze zone and
drop like a sheet over the flames,
~smothering and snufling them out
like a breath directed against a can
die light. There will be little chance
for the fire to gain Roadway, so ef-
fectiveiy will this pulverized powder
accomplish its purpose. The noise
from the decorating guns will have
been reduced to a minimum less then
that incident to the firing of an or6i-
nary pistol of small caliber.
The powder which is now being
used in a small measure for the same
purpose as it is proposed to use it
on a greater scale is made of chem
ical with a charcoal, as harmless to
breathe as the impurities that now
pervade the atmosphere. In fact,
those who have experimental with it
and tested it say that it's effect upon
the air is to purify it, as charcoal
does water drai1ed through it. The
modern fire ;Sachine gun will be
mounted upon pneumatic tired
wheels, supporting a carriage, and in
stead of the numbering noise of the
fire engine and the like over cobble-
stone %pavements and car tracks,
which is familiar to the average citi-
zen, fire runs will be made with