The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-23
BEDDING

Bedding, Feb. PA humorous side
 of the trial of chemical engines at the
 Ridge last Saturday afternoon was
 the idea on the part of some of the
 spectators that the exhibition was in-
 tended to show that the impregnation
 of water with carbonIc acid gas great ly increased the waters fire quenching
 qualities, just as if this were not a
 tion. And even after the trial some
 of these doubtful ones were still sE1ep- tical on that point, arguing that the
 proof was not conclusive because the
 bonfires were not larger. The real object of the trial was to determine
 the relative efficiency as working ma
 chine of the Ajax and Badger make of engines A decision on this point is yet to be made, and both machines
 are to be left here for 30 days in or der that there may be abundant time
 for deliberation- When verdict Is
 reached three of the machines, in
 stead of two as originally planned, will be ordered The larger order will bring conSidera ble concession from list prices. While the originators of the scheme for local fire protection are more enthusiastic than ever, there are decrierS and knockers who see no good in the project. They argue that
 put out barn fire. Undoubtedly. and so would any other size or type of a machine They a so maintain that in
 the case of house fire the fifteen minutes which would probably elapSe
 before the machine could be brought
 to the scene would enable the blaze
 to get beyond control and that is an assumption not at all to be granted
 It is the usage whenever a fire occurs for the citizens generally to turn out
 and do what they can toward saving property. Anyone not disposed to lend a helping hand in such an emer- gency would be considered an urde- sirabIe citizen. They would of course
 do the same thing after engines are l IaI r-Ix- fTaG saf command their lahors would have the advantage of vastly superior facilities with which to do service. Further more these facilities would be handled by organized effort instead of by hap hazard methods. Recent instances in which barn fires were only just pre- vented by the hardest kind of work from involving in destruction the ad- jacent houses were the Jesse Sanford
 and the Mcdonald fires. The preven- tive work done on these occasions would have been performed much
 more easily and effectively with the
 aid of one or more chemical machines.
 It is also well enough to remember
 that on a few decades since the oEly fire protection possessed by cities were little engines for which men supplied both propelling and pumping power. With the chemical the stream is
 thrown by gas pressure. As soon as the Ridge engines are in commission it is planned to effect an arrangement with the telephone company whereby : as soon as an alarm is reported to s.CentraI' the wires in the Ridge section will simultaneously be set to jingling the bells so as to arouse those within hearing. Within a minute or so the alarm would be widely spread and a much prompter response follow than has occurred in the past. No,
 the engines will afford no guarantee against the breaking out of fires. nor insure the speedy extinction of all fires, hut in the line of protection ana salvage they will provide a measure of protection worth all their cost. The organization of the Ridge fire depart ment will be effected within few days.
 The contract for building the addi- tion to the main building Of the San ford School has been awarded to H. ] against a large number of other bid ders. The structure is to be 70 by 40 feet, four stories and Of wood except the first story. the stone work for lam's contract does not include plumb ing and painting. The figures, aI- though not made public, are under stood to be not far from s10,00o. The
 building will have dormitory accom-
 modations for forty and contain class
 rooms, a dining hall, kitchen and liberal equipment of baths An ef- fort will be made to have construc- . tion work completed by June 1 in or der that upon the close Of the school term the structure may be made ready
 for summer hotel uses.
 Charles NJ Day, for many years a
 resident of Bedding Center, died at his home there on Sunday, from grip
 Nearly all the members of the family . have been down with the same malady and the aged wife of the deceased is
 still very ill and not out of danger.
 NIT. Day was S6 years of age. He leaves two sons, both boat captains,
 one of them being. in command of an ocean-going tug in the government service. The family also includes a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
 Harry Saunders, formerly Of the
 Center, and now of Torrington, has
 sold to Henry Grasnut of New Jersey
 T5 acres in the GaIows Hill locality. The price is said to be about S1 ,0OOI
 A few years ago MT. Saunders paid
 about $E00 for the property, which comes under the general description of
 pasture land. The new owner will at
 once build on the tract a bung galow for
 his own occupancy and is sa d to have
 in view the erection of two others.
 The poultry raising enterprise of At
 torney Herbert s. Barnes has attained,
 after many early vicissitudes mostly
 of discouraging nature, the high tide
 of success. A Sso the fact