The Washington times., 1902-01-15
WANTS NEW
FIRE ENGINES.
Chief DuttOn Says Three
Should Be Replaced.
ARE AN ANTIQUATED PATTERN.
Commissioners to Ask Congress to
Appropriate $4,000 for the Pur-
posc-Recommcndn That En-
Eines No Longer BE Used to Pump
Out Cellars or COnduits

Chief Engineer Dutton, of the Fire. De-
partment, yesterday forwarded to the Dis
trict Commissioners a report from the
machinist concerning the condition of
three steam engines in the department
that are practically worn out.
Mr.. Dutton says that the department
may at any time be seriously crippled by
the breaking down of these engines, and
he asks the Commissioners to secure from
Congress an appropriation to be immedi-
ately. available, with which to buy three
new and larger fire engines
Nearly Twenty Years Old.
The engines referred to are those of
Companies II, II. and Is. Mr.. Dutton
states that they are nearly twenty years
old and that they have to be extensively
repaired after use at fire. Mr.. Duttcn
estimates that the cost of the new en-
gines would be 5000 each, and he urges
the Commissioners to ask Congress to ap-
propriate the sum of SIS 600 for the pur-
pose named.
Mr.. Dutton also recommends that the
engines of the department be used no
more to pump out cellars, manholes, or
condufts, as the wear of the muddy water
on the valves of the pumps is serious
matter, one or two engines having been
seriously injured by such use.
Report of the Machinist
The report of Thomas NJ. Robinson, the
machinist is in part:
These engines are OF an antiquated
pattern, single pump, horizontal make.
When built. nearly twenty years ago. they
were supposed TO displace or throw 40
gallons of water per minute, but today
their capacity is not more than 300 gal
Ions per minute. To do even that they
have to be run much harder than an en-
gine of their make should be run, and
are, therefore, likely to break down at
any moment. Their running gear is also
in bad condition, and about every time
they have a run some part of the appa-
ratus or running gear has to be repaired.
while these engines are in action they
oscillate to such an extent as to chafe
the hose and render il useless. Upon
cne occasion l saw No. II engine chafe
out in this way four sections of hose, the
damaged hose costing S45 a section, a
loss OF $3.50 in all. Not only is the hose
chafed, but also the suction sleeves of
the sleeves have to be placed on wooden
blocks. When enc of these blocks be-
comes misplaced a hole is quicly worn in
the sleeve and it is then rendered use
less.
These sleeves are from 10 to Il feet in
length. and cost not less than So foot.
This oscillation the builders of these
engines endeayored in every way to over
come, but they found it impossible. and
therefore. changed the make of their en-
gines 10 upright, doubie-pump piston ones.
Are Heaa-Receiving Engines.
Another great fault with these three
engines is they are what are known as
head-receiving engines, the water from |
the street plugs entering them through |
a pipe directly in front of the drivers |
seat. Therefore in making connection to
plug the horses drawing the apparatus |
have to be taken from the engine before !
the connection can be made. In tie side |
receiving engines this is not the case, and |
while the driver is taking his horses /
from the apparatus the engineer and fire
man are making the connection to the /
plug. enabling them to give the pipemen |
the water as soon as required.
mo Is engine badly needs safety |
valve the one on it being a safety and |
throttle valve combined. The cost of |
new one would be at least $l5e, an ex- |
pense that the engine in my opinion, is |
not worth incurring. About the same |
thing is true of engines II and u. No. |
II is located in Mount Pleasant, No. u in |
lexington, and No. 15 in Anacostia, sec
tions which should be provided at the ear
liest possible day with more modern and /
more powerful engines. Therefore l |
most respectfully and earnestly recon-
mend the permanent retirement Of these
three antiquated, worn-out engines, and
their replacement by engines OF larger
size and modern make.
Injurious to the Pumps.
TN this connection ! deem it my duty
to respectfully recommend that under no
circumstances shall any engine in the de-
partment be used for pumping water out
OF cellars or conduits. In pumping out
cellars, especially those wherein are To-
Gated steam boilers. there is always a
quantity of coal, cinders, and splir:ers,
which are highly injurious to the rubber
valves in the pumps of fire engines.
In pumping out such places, not only rs
serious damage done the valves Of the
pumping engines, but also TO the pump
cylinders and plungers, which are made of
brass The plungers are solid, with rings
cut i'll them to form water packing, and
are easily injured by the introduction of
foreign matter, which it is impossible TO
avoid in pumping out cellars. When so in
ju~ed ii requires an expenditure OF about
$500 tc place the engine in good working