消防部门的化学引擎。
圣路易斯的通讯员表明，应该在国家国家以及所有国有消防员大会上进行充分讨论的话题是使用化学引擎。他认为，每种化学发动机都应该是单坦克品种的，其中包含不超过100加仑的水，并产生了非常轻的速度，以便迅速移动；除100加仑的坦克外，他还会有每个发动机的一两个手灭火器。他的想法是，化学引擎主要用于快速动作。被轻轻起来，应该将其迅速运输到火上，当一旦在地面上构造时，就应该迅速采取行动。在大城市中，ioo-gallon单坦克发动机将毫无疑问地履行这一职责。大城市中的蒸汽机通常如此之多，因此位于警报响起之时三分钟内将在三分钟内到达火灾的现场。该化学物质同时收到警报，尽管它的轻度亮度将击败发动机，但会击败几秒钟。如果它是通过化学设备可以控制的，那么火灾是良好而良好的，但是如果它取得了超出“ ioo-gallon坦克灭火器的能力”的进展，那么该是时候从蒸锅上打开溪流了。必须在火灾的最早阶段迅速完成化学物质。这是他们的目的，当它们变得笨重而沉重时，他们在这个特殊的情况下失败了。我们同意我们的通讯员，对于大城市而言，单身-tank, light made engines are better than the double-tank engines, because the latter are so quickly supplemented at a fire by the steam engines that when more than 100 gallons of water are required to extinguish the flames the steamer is there ready to supply it. With the relief valves and the controlling nozzles now in use upon all steamers it is not necessary even for this apparatus to deluge the premises on fire or to use more water than is requisite to extinguish a small body of flame. The chemicals are to the steam engine what light cavalry in the army is to a battery of heavy artillery. They can do the preliminary skirmishing, but when the hard fighting commences must fall back to give way to apparatus of heavier calibre.
But the double-tank engines, carrying from 200 to 500 gallons of water, have their uses. There are many small places where such engines constitute almost the entire fire department. There are no heavy steamers to supplement their action. When they go to a fire they need to be so thoroughly equipped as to be able to maintain a prolonged fight with it if such be necessary. They must, therefore, be of greater capacity than the light, flying apparatus that may be sufficient in the larger cities. It will not do in these days for anyone to attempt to depreciate the value of chemical engines, or even of the hand extinguishers. They have made a record that cannot be ignored. Not only do they check many fires in their incipiency, but the larger engines have done most excellent service in stubbornly fighting fires that would have been worthy of the mettle of a first-class steamer. Yet with all the improvements that have been made in the means of extinguishing fires, nothing has yet been discovered that will equal plain water in putting out a fire of any magnitude. When flames have once got a hold upon any kind of combustible material, water, in greater or lesser quantities, is demanded for their extinguishment. Nor has there been very material improvements upon pumps for throwing water in many years, although the means of operating those pumps have been greatly improved. An illustration of a pump used for fire extinguishment by the Egyptians 200 B. C. embodies the same principles as those in use to-day. Pumps have been increased in size and capacity, but the original principle is still preserved.
