The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-01-20
NEW HOSE AUTHORIZED.
Continued from Page -

cellar either hit the board shields or,
II depressed enough to miss them,
merely served to flood the floor of the
cellar without hitting the fire that was
working on the ceiling and which
eventually worked up through the par
tions and Quilted the building.
The fremen did all that possibly
could be done under the circumstances.
Some of them remained at the cellar
windows with glass falling on and
about them and never gave up the
fight for a second. But they were
handicapped. They did what could be
done with what apparatus they had in
spite of those who, after the flames
had worked up through the partitions,
boldly declared that anyone should
have known that the way to fight that
fire was to have turned streams in at
the windows of all the floors and flood
ed the building. They fail to state
how that would have reached the fire
in each partition.
Hose a Good Investment
/ One other important matter in this
connection. The Grange building was
|
fore the fire there were many in town
that would not have believed it could
have been so completely destroyed in
such short time aud under favorable
conditions. Favorable. because there
was no wind, which alone prevented
the spread of the flames, IN the opin-
ion of many.
Yet the department used every foot
of hose it could muster and Il. Crosby
L. Co. loaned new hose for the use of
one of the steamers. 1t was not i'm
possible that the front wall might have
fallen. Had it done so at least 90
per cent of the hose in use would have
been rendered useless and the handi-
cap would have been fatal TO many
more business interests than were in
voived. Hose is a good investment.
Next to water it is the most vital
thing IN the proper equipment of any
department. Better have a few hun
dred feet rot i'll the course of 20
years than to have the lack of il cost
someone $4,000 in fire that burned
because of the lack of sufficient hose
few years ago the board of bailiff>
were criticized because they purchased
1000 feet of hose. Possibly none OF
it was used until Sunday evening, but
there was no criticism heard Sunday
because it was on hand to be used.
VS. Also Desirable.
Just one thing that sometime might
help and this requires no more addi
tional equipment. \ "Y which at
taches to u hydrant gives opportunity
for two streams from one hydrant out
let. If the water main feeding a two
way hydrant is large enough it means
t that three streams, or, If two . Us ;
n were used four, could be availabl,
a where without them only two ar,
y available from the same hydrant Ii
g most departments each cart is equip
o ped with at least one ''Y'f which j
d ready TO be attached to the first hos
+ line to be used. Each section of tn
:" is equipped with a handle shu
e off. The ~ = is attached to the nv
g tlrant and the hydrant opened. Whe
the hosemen are ready for the waite
( the gate in that section Of the ''Y
. to which the hose is attached is opene
in much less time than the hydrant il
= self can be opened. Some hydrant
require Il full turns before the waite
flows. IT a minute later another lin
{ is wanted, it is clapped on TO the III
= opened part of the "Y' and yet
third and fourth line may be use
from the other opening Of the hydran
Little Coal for Steamer.
One other feature develops tn
y morning. There is not enough cam,
coal, such as is used for fire steamer
in town to keep either of the loc;
steamers going any length of tim
- The department supply is low. beeaus
OF the fact that the engines are seldo
used, and +. Il. Barrows the coal dea
er, said this noon that he had none G
g. hand, but could get some soon if an
at one needed it. Like other items ,
he ire department equi pment, coal for Il
ce steamers is an urgent necessity wht
It. it Is wanted at all. Coal will not spc
e. by storage. There should be an amp
NJ supply on hand at all times.