THE EFFICIENCY OF STEAMERS.
在一个通信火和水工程Chief Engineer O. J. Marjcnhoff, of Charleston, S. C., says: “The testing of steamers I consider one of the most important duties of every chief. Our city is just the same as every other city in running its fire department. That is, so long as an engine can play a stream, no questions are asked how much more effective that stream would be, if the engine were in perfect order. When 1 took charge, t found things just as they are today in most cities, AH steamers played what all uninitiated would call fine streams: but I considered most of them nothing of the kind. I had nearly every steamer overhauled, because they were not up to my views of efficiency, and the result has been that, whetc we formerly worked all night to put out fires, we have succeeded in putting out every one that looked threatening in a few hours, and most of them in less than half an hour. The terrible driving stream of 150 to 200 lbs. water pressure puts out fires more effectively than 90 to too lbs. may be expected to do. The result speaks for itself, for our losses during the last thirteen years have been about $35,000 average, as against $89, orx> average the first twelve years of the paid department. This year our losses are not yet $13,000. It disgusts me to read alxiut the immense fire losses and all the noise that is made as to how to overcome and reduce them, when the insurance people and politicians, as well as many firemen, I am sorry to say, seem to have only one object in their lives -namely, to graft all they can out of the taxpayers, without giving proper returns for it; and this is done by the constant cry for more money.’’
A Chambersburg. Pa., incendiary burned six stables and a carriage-shed. Three horses were burned to death and a fourth was shot as it galloped madly about, with both its eyes burned out. Ten horses were saved from the other stables, but as many wagons and carriages were destroyed. 1 he loss was $10,000 with but little insurance. I he firemen extinguished several fires that broke out in adjoining bouses.
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