THE REPUBLICAN

June 4, 1880

 

A Fire Steamer

 

            To satisfy ourself of the practicability of the plan which has been somewhat discussed, of using the engine in Hanson’s shops, north of the court house, for fire purposes, we took occasion the other day, to look it over.  It has been proposed by some to build a track and platform so as to run the engine out, but we see no necessity for this.  The fires we are likely to have to render pumping power necessary, may be said to be confined to the business portion of the city.  Beyond this limit, where water is at all available for fire purposes, we have our present fire apparatus.  The main necessity is for protection to the business part of town where fires are most likely to occur and where the loss would be greatest.   To get a pumping apparatus as efficient as any ordinary fire steamer, it is only necessary to procure a pump of sufficient capacity and attach it to the engine where it stands; then cut a trench from the river, a distance of 18 or 20 feet, to let the water in near enough for the suction, run a pipe from the pump to the street to which the leading hose could be attached, and in from five to eight minutes after an alarm an efficient fire steamer could be at work.  In this way the cost would be comparatively trifling and so much quicker than to attempt to run the engine out.  It might be necessary to procure some more leading hose, but this could be done without much cost.

            One of the greatest difficulties in fighting fire with a hand engine is that it requires muscle, and lots of it, to get the water to the fire, and a set of men on the brakes tire out in a few minutes – soon get so exhausted that the stream has no force and cannot be made effective.  Unless you have a big crowd of able bodied men at a fire, so that fresh men can drop in every few minutes to fill the places of those exhausted, the hand engine is poor apparatus to depend upon.  By using Mr. Hanson’s engine, as suggested, our city can, at a cost of $200 to $250 for a pump and connections, get as good a fire steamer as can be bought separate for $6,000.  the engine runs at about the right speed, has a flue boiler capable of making steam quick and has all the power needed for fire purposes. It does seem to us that here is an opportunity that our city authorities ought not to neglect.  While cities around us – Grand Rapids, Stevens Point, Appleton, Neenah, etc. – buy steam fire apparatus at a cost of $5,000 to $6,000 each, and maintain them at heavy cost for fuel, repairs and supplies, Waupaca has the opportunity of securing equally efficient appliances at almost no cost at all.  We hope those in authority will give this matter consideration and do something.