AUTOMATIC APPLIANCES FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT.

AUTOMATIC APPLIANCES FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT.

近年来关于自动售货机,已经说得很多了ic Sprinklers for fire extinguishment. These consist of a series of iron pipes attached to the ceilings of buildings, having at intervals small sprinkling arrangements which, when opened, permit the flow of water in jets covering large areas. The sprinklers are made water-tight by a soft metal that melts under a moderate degree of heat, thus opening them and permitting the water to flow. Thus, if a fire breaks out in a room where these sprinklers are located, as soon as the temperature is raised sufficiently by the heat, the sprinklers are released from the solder that closes them, and the water pours out upon the fire without the aid of watchmen or Firemen. By this the flames are thus made to supply the means for their own extinguishment. That these sprinklers have rendered invaluable service in the mills and cotton factories where they are mainly used, is certified to by the New England Mill Mutual Insurance Companies. Indeed, if the owner of a mill or factory desires to become a member of the Mill Mutual Companies, he is first required to put automatic sprinklers in his premises, and provide such other means of fire protection as the companies may deem necessary to make his property as nearly safe as it is possible to do. This usually costs from $15,000 to $20,000. When these arrangements are perfected, the owner of the property is charged a fair rate for his insurance, but at the end of each year the companies return to their members so much of their premiums as was not required during the year to pay losses and very modest expenses. The dividend thus paid to members averages nearly 70 per cent of their premiums, and has run up as high as 90 per cent. This gives to the members of the Mill Mutuals their insurance at a much lower rate than they could buy it of the stock companies. And the secret of it lies in the fact that the members, being their own insurers, have an incentive to provide the best known means of fire protection, and also to employ every possible precaution to prevent fires. It is made to their pecuniary interest to do so. It is in this connection that the Automatic Sprinklers have proved themselves of such great value. Whether or not the principles of automate fire extinction can be generally applied for the protection of property of all kinds is a problem to be solved in the future.

We have frequently affirmed that the science of fire extinguishment is yet in its infancy. The appliances now available were sufficient for the conditions that existed ten years ago, but lately, propertyowners have taken to erecting such tall buildings, covering great areas, and filling these areas with goods of such immense value, that the Firemen are placed at a great disadvantage. There is a limit to which Steam Fire Engines can force water; there is a limit to the height at which ladders can be successfully used, and there is a limit to the endurance of Firemen. Upon this subject, Chief Bates, of this city, recently said : *• A fire is dangerous according to its area. The twenty-five foot two-story-and-attic dwelling is giving way to towering tenements and apartment houses, and the four-story business houses are being elbowed out by gigantic structures, in some cases a block in length. This explains the heavy losses by recent fires. These great buildings are s’ored with hundreds of thousands of dollars', perhaps a million dollars' worth of stock, and a fire need not burn over much ground in order to pile up the losses. Across the street where that enormous new building has been put up by the Astors, there were eight houses a few months ago. A fire in that block would have attacked but one of those at a time. But now a fire in one of those great lofts, especially if it were a loft packed with inflammable goods, would not be restrained with an end or a corner. In a few minutes we might have 400 feet of flame belching out on all sides. Such fires are dangerous as well is costly.” This is the secret of the numerous disastrous fires that occur of late years, and of the increasing fire losses year by year.