CINDERS AND SPRAY

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CINDERS AND SPRAY

—Fire Department officials and contractors for apparatus and supplies will find more items of interest to them in these columns than in any similar class paper published in the country. Subscription $3 per year, $1 for four months.

—The Mystic Rubber Company of Boston has assigned.

—Shenandoah, Neb., has ordered a 1000-pound fire bell,

—Westfield, Mass,, is asking for a $2500 telegraph system.

—Pittsburgh, Pa., had another fire loss of nearly $100,000 on Friday of last week.

—Holyoke, Mass., has contracted for a La France steam fire engine, to cost $4000.

—Captain J. W. T. Schott writes FIRE AND WATER that Salem, N. C., needs a better alarm system.

—Captain Cowan of the fire-boat Chicago, it is said, will receive the Tree” medal for bravery this year,

—The nomination of John Goetz, Jr. as fire commissioner of Cincinnati, O., to succeed MrDoherty, has been confirmed.

—The city council of Kansas City, Mo., has ordered all telegraph, telephone and electric light wires placed under ground.

—Richfield, Mo., has procured in Chicago what the press dispatch calls a “ complete fire protection apparatus.” Happy Richfield 1

—It is reported that the New England Insurance Exchange will raise rates at Westerly, R. I., owing to poor protection against fire.

—The city engineer of Wichita, Kan., is making maps of the city show, ing the location of fire plugs for the benefit of the hose companies.

—Owing to the frequency of fires at Port Jackson, N. Y., insurance rates have been raised twenty-five per cent, and many policies canceled.

—The Hamilton Rubber Company of Chicago reports its sales of fire hose and fire department supplies as being exceedingly large thus far this year.

—John A. Post, a young jewelry clerk, has been fined $75 and costs at St. Louis for sending in false alarms of fire. He had lots of fun for a while.

—Four women were killed and sixteen persons injured last Saturday during a panic caused by a false alarm of fire in a synagogue at Warsaw, Poland.

—The Gamewell Fire Telegraph Company of New York has put in a system of fire alarms in Frankfort, Ky., the work being completed within the last few days.

—Louisville, Ky., will have a new Ahrens crane-neck double pump steam fire engine, to replace an old engine. The cost of the new machine will be $4650.

—The Town of Lake, Ill., has awarded the contract for two new fire engines—one rotary and one piston—to the La France Fire Engine Company of Elmira, N. Y.

—The Lewis Fire Extinguisher Company of Chicago will furnish one hundred of their new automatic fire extinguishers, known as No. 3, to a Jackson, Mich., manufactory.

—The members of the fire department are not taking kindly to the Covert fire ladder, claiming that the stand-pipe is no material advantage and that the ladder is inferior to the Chicago and New York makes. There is also a criticism because only the extension is carried, no small ladders being included.—Indianapolis News.

—An incendiary recently attempted to burn the Sprague Mowing Machine building at Providence, R. I., in which there were at the time over 200 operators, mostly women.

—A fire which broke out early Wednesday morning at Salamanca, N. Y., destroyed a number of business structures and residences. The losses are put at $75,000 ; insured for only about $35,000.

—We have received from Secretary Henry A. Hills of the National Association of Fire Engineers, a copy of the proceedings of the fifteenth annual convention, held at Atlanta, Ga., in September last.

—The fouith annual ball of the Volunteer Firemen’s Associalion of New York, took place on the evening of Washington’s Birthday, at the Metropolitan Opera House. It was an exceedingly brilliant affair.

—•The fire losses in the United Stales reported last week aggregated, according to The Standard, $2 036,000, making the total since January 1, $21,285,000, at which rate the loss for the year will be $143,870,955.

—Last Saturday, in Buffalo, three men were seriously injured by an explosion of gas in the subway of the Bell Telephone Company. They had lighted a fuse in a manhole, ignorant of the accumulation of gas.

—E. A. Taft, Western agent ol the Boston Woven Hose Company at Chicago, has at his offices models of nearly all the appliances handled by that firm, and is always pleased to exhibit their workings to anyone interested.

—Mrs. Jule Belanger of Haverhill, Mass., was sentenced by the Superior Criminal Court at Salem last week to seven years in the Woman’s Reformatory for setting fire to a house in the former place in which she was a tenant.

—Major Jacob of Loulsv.lle, Ky., president of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Kentucky, was in New York recently studying the fire alarm and hose system of the metropolis, and taking notes on general fire department matters.

—Escanaba, Mich., has a new Button steam fire engine, weighing 3000 pounds and with a capacity of 400 gallons a minute. It was tested last week to the complete satisfaction of Chief Engineer McCutlogh and the municipal authorities.

—A new hose cart and hook and ladder truck was forwarded to Ft. Riley yesterday by the Kansas Manufacturing Company of this city. Ft. Riley Is now supplied will all the necessary apparatus to successfully cope with fire.—Leavenworth Times.

—The chief engineer and a member of the Toronto city council were last week authorized to go to Buffalo with the object of inspecting an aerial truck there in use ; If found satisfactory there will be a recommendation to purchase one for Toronto.

—Chief W111. W. Farrier of Jersey City, N. J., writes respecting the new Silsby heater, placed recently in No. 3 engine-house, that it works like a clrarm, keeping the water in the engine hot and heating the large house to sixty-five degrees in zero weather.

—John McLaughlin, charged with arson in setting fire to his dwelling and grocery store in Germantown, Pa., recently with intent to defraud insurance companies, pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to four years and six months in the Eastern Penitentiary.

—Tolbut Rollins, who is described by the press despatches as “ a crazy prominent citizen’’ of Perry county. Ark., wishing to shutHe off this mortal coil emptied a tlask of powder into his mouth and deliberately placed a lighted match to it. He gained his end.

—The three sixes were sounded in New York on Tuesday evening for a fire at Dutch and Fulton streets, the flames spreading with such rapidity that Chief Shay thought the precaution needful. The fire was extinguished, however, with a loss of under $20,000.

—The National Board of Fire Underwriters of New York has offered a rewatd of #500 for the arrest and conviction of the incendiary who set fire to the dry-goods store of Epstein in New Albany, Ind., on January 9. The offer of the reward remains open for one year.

—The Button Fire Engine Company delivered a fifth size engine to Gladstone, Mich.; also an extra first size to Grand Rapids, Mich., last week. The firm also shipped an engine of 5000 pounds to Key West. Fla., in the latter part of January. The engines proved highly satisfactory at the trials.

—Chief Shay of the New York Fire Department has been investigating the mixed fire signals for the recent fire at the piano factory of Kranbauer Brothers, 701, 703 and 705 First avenue. Six engines and two hook and ladder companies were sent from where they were greatly needed at the fire to the extreme western side of the city.

—The injunction obtained by the New Orleans Gas Light Company stopping the erection of the Star iron towers in that city has been removed, the writ now being refused, and work is proceeding on the towers. Colonel Flad of St. Louis claims the idea as his, however, and says that M. J. Hart is infringing his patents in carrying out the plans of the New Orleans Tower Company.

—The Singer Fire Alarm Company of Buffalo is putting up a closed circuit automatic alarm system in that city, and expects to have three circuits finished within a week or so. The company is chuckling over the action of the New York Board of Underwriters in withdrawing its approval from the open circuit systems, theirs being approved by both the New York State and city boards of underwriters.

—At Wilmington, Del., last week, bids were opened for placing a fire alarm box at Fifth and Adams streets. L. B. Jervis, for the Stevens Company, offered to put in a Stevens striker for $75, guaranteeing it to give satisfaction or taking it back. The Gamewell Company, which furnished the boxes in use here, offered to put in a box for $125 with all improvements. The bids were referred to the fire committee.

—Buffalo, N. Y., suffered from another disastrous fire early on Sunday morning. It broke out in a building on Exchange street, occupied by the manufacturing firm of James E. Curtin and Bickford & Francis, and, spreading, destroyed or damaged several other buildings, the tenants of the upper stories narrowly escaping with their lives. Some 600 persons are thrown out of employment, and the total losses are estimated at $370,000.

—William H. Bliss, executive officer of the Board of Health of Newport, R. I., died on Thursday’ in that city. He many years ago invented a hose coupling which had an extensive sale. He brought suit against the city of Brooklyn for infringements and obtained a verdict, but the case was appealed and he lost it. He lost a fortune in defending his rights. At one time he received an offer of $100,000 for his patent, but refused it. He died a poor man.

—An Austin, Tex., dispatch says: “Since the city council contracted for the use of the fire alarm system for one year from the Union Fire Alarm Company of New York, another fire alarm company has sent an agent here. Last night one of the local fire companies prepared a petition to the council requesting that the contract be investigated, and stating the adopted system is defective. As the contract has been consummated, and the Union system is on trial, it is likely to stand for the y’ear.”

—John P. Fuller, a call member of Steamer No. 8 of the Providence (R. I.) Fire Department, was arrested last Sunday morning on a charge of arson. He was seen on Saturday running from the scene of a small incendiary fire by persons who at first supposed that he was running to give the alarm, but he went to the engine-house and to bed without reporting it. Chief Steere interviewed him, but found him unable to give an intelligent account of himself and it is supposed that his mind is deranged.

—Henry Vollmer, the last of the trio of firebugs arrested last fall for setting the many fires in the lumber yard district of St. Louis, has been removed to the insane asylum, there being no doubt of his insanity. When he was arrested, together with Guy Dibb!e,and a third party who has since died, he showed unmistakable signs of a diseased intellect. About a week ago Circuit-Attorney Clover consented to his removal to the asylum, and then nolle prosequied the case as to Dibble, as the witness whom the State relied upon to convict him was dead.

—The woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Paterson, says The New York World, has many plans for usefulness, and the latest project is one for the benefit of the firemen. The organization holds that something more than preaching is necessary to inculcate total abstinence principles, and accordingly desires to supply every man with all the coffee he can drink after a hard fight at a fire. The ladies want to raise money for a cart in which the beverage is to be made and wheeled around the streets, and have advanced so far as to display a picture of the sort of vehicle on which they have set their hearts, duly’ labeled •’ W. C. T. U. Coffee Cart.”

—At a meeting of the fire and gas committee of Toronto the chief engineer reported that it was absolutely necessary he should have a supply of hose. His present stock was limited and was being damaged owing to the fact that there was not time for it to dry after use. The chairman explained that the difficulty in the matter was that a contract had been awarded, but that owing to certain troubles which had arisen between two of the parties tendering and the council, that contract had not been executed. A committee appointed to investigate the matter had not sent in their final report. It is to be trusted that the committee will see fit to make its report before Toronto has its next big fire.

—A fire broke out at one o’clock Tuesday afternoon on the top floor of the Morton House, over the Union Square Theatre on Fourteenth street. New York, and burned its way down into the theatre. The theatre was gutted and the hotel badly damaged by fire and water. The play, “ The Henrietta,” was running at the Union Square. Its costumes and scenes that were entirely destroyed were worth $7000 or $Sooo. J. M. Hill, the manager of the theatre, had expended a good deal of money fitting it up a year ago. It is probable that $50,000 is a fair estimate of the loss on the theatre property. The Star Theatre was saved. The total loss will amount to about $150,000. The guests in the hotel were promptly notified and escaped without injury, but six firemen were caught under a fal’ing gallery in the theatre and more or less severely injured.

—A fire which broke out shortly after noon on Thursday in the Pottier & Styraus building at Lexington avenue and Forty-second street. New York, destroyed that immense structure and several adjoining buildings, comprising the greater part of the block between Lexington and Third avenues and Forty-first and Forty-second streets. The “ three sixes” were sounded for the third time within a month. There were between 200 and 300 persons employed in the burned buildings, but no lives were lost. The falling walls broke down the Forty-second street branch of the elevated railroad. The fire was got under control by four o’clock, but the destruction was complete and the losses will reach nearly $600,000.

—The secretary of the National Accident is a jolly fellow, who knows how to fringe the edges of a thumper with sparkling fun. His name is Barnum—Joseph I. is the first part of it. Not that he is exactly Jacob’s Joseph, who preferred to keep his virtue and lose his coat, but he is so funny and original. One of his circulars (a “folder”) is headed by a cut of the Capitol at Washington, under which is “National Accident Society Home Office : Stewart Building, Broadway and Chamber street, New York.” Another circular of his places the cut of the Capitol between the lines “National Accident Society ” and “Stewart Building,” etc. If people who haven’t visited New York suppose that this big building with a dome on it is the “ Home Office,” that isn’t Mr. Barnum’s fault, is it? Certainly not; and, to crown the fun, Joseph I. calls his circular “ the greatest show on earth.”—The Insurance Age.

—At a recent conference between Mayor Hewitt and the beads of the different departments, the bills now before the legislature which affect the city of New Yoik were considered. Among otheis these were approved : Giving the Board of Estimate and Apportionment power to pass on the expenditures of the dock department; authorizing the fire commissioners to appoint at every place of amusement two persons, either members of the uniformed force or retired members of the force, for which the owners or lessees shall pay $2 for each person so detailed for each performance to the fire department relief fund. Not approved were the bills: Providing that the aqueduct commission may increase the salary of the president to $10,000 per annum ; repealing the act passed last year providing for a viaduct in 155th street from St. Nicholas place to Macomb’s dam bridge ; making all departments single-headed.

—Chief Engineer Steere of the Providence (R. I.) Fire Department, said recently to a reporter that he regarded the present supply of steamers as sufficient for the needs of the city, and when the new reservoir at Fruit Hall is completed the pressure of Pawtucket wa er at tide level will be increased from seventy-two pounds to the square inch to over 100 pounds to the square inch. This will be pressure enough to meet all demands. He said that he should ask the committee on fire department for two or more “Jumbo ” pipes right away, as he would rather have them for use at big fires than a water tower, such as is used in some of the larger cities of the country. The chief in speaking of the ladder service said that he wished the department was stfjrplied with three more Hayes trucks, as they are available at all fires, being supplied with various-sized ladders in addition to the extension. He was not in favor of increasing the steamers and had faith in Pawtucket water. With the ” Jumbos” and Hayes trucks properly managed, he said he had no fear of fires getting beyond the control of the department.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

CINDERS AND SPRAY

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CINDERS AND SPRAY

—Fire Department officials and contractors for apparatus and supplies will find more items of interest to them in these columns than in any similar class paper published in the country. Subscription $3 per year, $1 for four months.

—Hartington, Neb., will have a fire alarm system.

—Boston had last month 101 alarms of fire. The losses were $49,709.

—The appointment of John R. Murphy as a fire commissioner of Boston has been approved.

—Worcester, Mass., had last month forty-seven alarms of fire, with an insurance loss of $4558.

—The Union Fire Alarm Telegraph Company of New York will erect a system at Austin, Tex.

—J. R. Campbell, town sergeant of Luray, Va., would like prices and descriptions of chemical engines.

—At Palmer, Mass., J. S. Holden & Co. have had a set of automatic sprinklers placed in their woolen mill.

—It is likely that the Rogers auxiliary fire alarm system will be placed in the public schools of Providence, R. I.

—Woonsocket, R. I., will imposea fine of $20 upon anyone maliciously interfering with or injuring the fire alarm system.

—The net loss to the insurance companies by the recent big fire on Broadway, New York, is something under $900,000.

—Providence, R. I., will spend $30,000 in placing electric light and telegraph wires in the “ close fire district’’ under ground.

—E. B. Preston & Co. of Chicago lately received an order from Nashville, Tenn., for three of their four-wheel Challenge hose carriages.

—Samuel Eastman & Co., Concord, N. II., have made large sales of their Deluge pipes, which have been found very effective in handling large fires.

—Chief Engineer S. S. Elfreth of Camden, N. J., reports for last year sixty-three alarms of fire. The total loss was $125,221, and total insurance $157,650.

—E. A. Taft of Chicago has supplied Milwaukee, Wis., with a Boston extension ladder, and Carthage, Mo., with a hook and ladder truck and extension ladder.

—The Firemen’s Benevolent Association of the Town of Lake, III., held its third annual ball on the 21st inst. FIRK AND WATKK returns thanks for an invitation.

—At Green Island, N. Y., Chief Toner has arranged a new method of giving fire alarms, providing for a different number of taps for various parts of the village.

—We acknowledge with thanks receipt of an invitation to the annual concert and ball of the Lynn (Mass.) Relief Association and Fire Department, to be held March 2.

—The law creating a Board of Fire Commissioners for the city of Richmond, Va., has passed the State legislature and gone to the Governor, and will probably be approved.

—The Sixth ward of Lincoln, Neb., is clamoring for protection against fire and asks for a chemical engine until, at least, the water mains can be extended to that part of the city.

—The question of strengthening the fire department is under consideration at Providence, R. I. It is proposed to build and equip an extra engine-house in the Wanskuck district.

—The Veteran Volunteer Firemen’s Association of Baltimore, Md., received invitations from New York, Washington and Philadelphia to attend festivities Washington’s Birthday.

—The Haverhill (Mass.) Firemen’s Relief Association has elected officers as follows : President, Edward Chariesworth ; vice-president, Horace A. Thompson ; secretary and treasurer, Fred A. Cheney.

—The fire losses reported last week in the United States are estimated by The Standard at $2,739,000, making a total since January 1, of $19,249,000, at which rate the loss for the year will be $149,366,845.

—At the burning of a packing box factory in East Twentieth street. New York, on Saturday night, three firemen fell with the roof of a shed, and one of them, John Berrmger, was seriously injured in the back.

— New London, Wis., is discussing the subject of fire protection. Our correspondent writes that the people are talking about water-works or a steam fire engine or a chemical engine, but don’t quite know what they want.

—In New York on Monday evening fire destroyed the large building Nos. 546 and 548 West Twenty-third street, occupied by two manufacturing firms. The next building was also badly damaged and considerable lumber in adjoining yards consumed, the total losses looting up about $200,000. Chief Shay and thirteen engines were at the scene.

—The appropriations lor the fire department at Richmond, Va., lor 1888 are: Expenses, $19,000; pay roll, $43.926 fire insurance, $3,888.74; fire alarm construction, $1500; expense, $2500; pay roll, $1890.

—The grounds, building and fire committees ol Richmond, Va., have been instructed by the city council to inspect all places of amusement in the city and report the means possessed for preventing and extinguishing fires.

_The director of public safety of Philadelphia has annulled a contract with George Rickard, for the construction of two steam fire engines, because, it is alleged, they were not delivered at the time called for in the specifications.

—C. P. Konu, foreman of the fire department of Ligonier, Ind., writes us : “ We have very desirable plant for water-works, but we need a fire alarm system very much. The council will put in one as soon as it can decide upon what is suitable.”

—At Rochester, N. V., the Eastman Dry Plate Company has presented Chief Engineer Bemish with a check for $100 for the use of the fire department, in recognition of the excellent work of the firemen at the recent burning of the company’s establishment.

—John McLaughlin, charged with arson in setting fire to his dwelling and grocery store in Germantown, Pa., recently with intent to defraud insurance companies, pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to four years and six months in the Eastern Penitentiary.

—Chief Engineer Hughes of the Madison (Wis.) Fire Department reports for last year thirty-four alarms of fire, with losses of $6613. The chief recommends the purchase of 1000 feet of hose and a new set of ladders, and the establishment of a fire alarm system.

—At the burning of Gantzberg’s frame theatre andan adjoining building at Hoboken, N. J., early on Monday evening, a man jumped from a window and was killed, and the proprietor’s young son was fatally injured. The rest of the inmates were rescued with great difficulty.

—The Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania, at its recent meeting at Pittsburgh, elected officers as follows : President, Alexander Dempster ; vice-president, W. L. Scaife ; directors, T. P. Roberts, Chas. Davis; secretary, S. M. Wickersham ; treasurer, A. E. Frost.

—By an explosion of natural gas which had leaked into the cellar of Joseph Franklin’s house, near Meadville, Pa., the building was last Friday badly wrecked. Mrs. Franklin, who caused the explosion by entering the cellar with a lighted lamp, was probably fatally injured, and three other persons badly hurt.

—The Providence (R. f.) Journal of February 18 says that the appreciation of the services of the members of the fire department in saving the city from great destruction of property by their courage and skill at the fire on Wednesday night, is very properly taking the substantial form of subscriptions to the firemen’s relief fund.

— Boarding bouses in the United States have, according to The Chronicle Fire Tables, burned during the past twelve years at an average rale of about thirty-eight annually. In the three years ending with 1886, there wete 455 such fires, the chief reported cause, aside from exposure, being defective flues, incendiarism following, a good second.

— At Westboro, Mass., last year the amount expended for the fire department was $1,802.12; amount appropriated, $1800 ; the number of fire alarms during 1887 was six, and the total loss was $10,700; the fire engineers ask for $2200, and recommend the appropriation of a sum of money to provide better accommodations for the fire apparatus.

—The six children of Lester Singletary, a colored man of Clarendon county, were burned to death some nights since. The parents locked them up in the house and went oft’ to a negro church where a religious revival was in progress. During their absence the house caught fire and was burned to the ground, the children perishing in the flames.

—Four firemen of the New Brunswick (N. J.) department—Wyckoff Voorhees, Joseph Gowan and William and John Faulkner—were seriously in jured at a fire in that city last Saturday. The department has a relief fund, from which injured members are paid $10 weekly during disablement, and a movement is on foot for an entertainment for its benefit.

—When Chief McCabe was forced out of the New York Fire Department by Commissioner Burroy, Foreman Peter H. Short, well known for his many acts of bravery, was promoted to the rank of battalion chief. When McCabe was reinstated by order of the Court of Appeals, Short was moved back to the position of foreman. He now sues to force the commissioners to restore him to the rank of chief of battalion.

—Charles T. Holloway of Baltimore is building a hook and ladder truck, a crane-neck hose carriage and a jumper for the newly-organized file department of Coney Island, N. V. It is expected that the departmint will be fully equipped and ready for service by April 1. W. A. Vanderveer is chief of the new department, and the president of the board of trustees is C. Stubenbord, who will give any further information desired.

—Adam Wirt, living with his son near Burlington, la., the other day attacked his daughter-in-law with a corn knife, injuring her badly. She managed to escape with her life. After an unsuccessful attempt to murder two of his little grandchildren, who also managed to hide from him, he fired the house, which was burned, together with his other two grandchildren, and then hanged himself. He is naturally supposed to have been insane.

—The reflection of the large fire at Providence, R. I., on Sunday evening was plainly visible from the wharves at Newport, and when dispatches were posted on the bulletin boards announcing that another big blaze was in progress at Pawtucket, and still another at Olneyville, considerable excitement ensued. Chief Cozzensheld himself in readiness to call out the Newport Fire Department, until he was notified at midnight that his aid would not be needed.

—The Volunteer Firemen’s Association of Philadelphia will start March 1 for a two weeks’ visit’through the South, the objective point being New Orleans, where they will remain four days as the guests of Irad Fire Company No 12, and participate in the parade of the fire department of that city. They will stop at several prominent cities on their trip both going and returning. The association will take about forty equipped members, among whom will be ex-Mayor Smith and a band of twenty-two pieces.

—Mayor Goodwin and Chief Steere of Providence have written to Chief Brierly of the Pawtucket (R. I.) Fire Department thanking him aid the members of his department for their quick response to the call for assistance at the first big fire at Providence last week, and complimenting them upon their efficient work. Chief Brierly was also holding himself in readiness for a call to Providence to help at the second big blaze, when the whole force was summoned to the fire in the great Lebanon mill, near Pawtucket.

—After the burning of a barn at Etna, N. Y., tracks in the snow about the barn were traced to the fields and woods, and after ten miles of traveling. an investigating party found the supposed incend’ary in a house drying his clothes. He had tried to evade the searchers by doubling on his tracks, by creeping along fences and by walking backward in the snow. He was arrested and taken in a sleigh to the county jail, the excited farmers who had chased him, escorting the conveyance until the prisoner was safe behind the bars.

—Prof. Urquhart has recently invented a portable electric lamp, which he calls the “ Sun,” which is said to give a good all-round light for ten hours. It is fed by an accumulator with electrodes of “ zinc and metallic alloy,” which can be charged for a ten hours’ supply in four hours, and maintained at a cost of three pence for six shifts of ten hours each. It is absolutely safe for use in an explosive mixture of gas and air, and hence well adapted to be used by miners, plumbers and others who are brought into contact with explosive gases.

—The recently elected officers of the Southern Society of Civil Engineers are : President, H. S. Duval, State engineer of Florida; vice-presidents, Louis J. Barbot, city engineer, Charleston, S. C., J. E. Bozeman, M. L. Lynch, J. G. Mann and T. R. Dunn; treasurer, J. V. Bushnell, chief engineer Florida Railway and Navigation Company; secretary, T. S. Moorhead, Jacksonville, Fla.; directors, R. N. Ellis, C. F. Smith, J. G. Gibbs, P. W. O. Koerner and A. Bauer; committee on national public works, Louis J. Barbot, N. E. Farrell and T. S. Moorhead.

—The report of Chief Engineer Nevins as to the provision of means of escape in case of fire in the hotels of the city is reassuring. The law requires that such buildings shall be supplied either with ropes or with better facilities. The chief engineer submits a list of the hotels of Brooklyn and says that upon inspection he finds that all of them have complied with the statute. His suggestion that its terms be applied to large boarding houses which, while they lack ’the transient conditions of a hotel, are exposed to like dangers, is worth considering.—Brooklyn Eagle.

—Chicago now has 650 miles of water pipe for fire service. During the past year 42^ miles of pipe were laid, ten miles of which was in the annexed district, known as Jefferson. Of the pipes laid, 2 miles were 4inch, 3 miles 12-inch, 24^ miles 6 inch, n% miles 8-inch, 3miles 16inch, mile 24-inch, and 106 feet of 36-inch ; 577 hydrants were placed, r34of which were single, 434 2j^->nch double, 9 4-inch double ; 5 cisterns were constructed in the business distiict. Chief Swenie cannot receive too much praise for the efficient manner in which his work is performed.

—Chief -Link of the fire department of Covington, Ky., in his annual report recommends the sale of two broken-down horses and the purchase of new ones. During the past year there were sixty-four alarms, and the total losses were only $2224, while in 1SS6 the losses were $24,024, with thirteen less alarms. Twelve new fire hydrants were erected, making 152 in all, and six street-sprinkling plugs. The 500 feet of hose in use is in fair condition. He recommends the purchase of new ladders. One of the reels is not fit for use, while the others are sadly in need of repair. There are twenty-four fire alarm boxes, and he recommends the purchase of two additional ones. He also asks that two hand extinguishers be placed on the ladder wagon for use at small fires.

—The losses by the big fire at Providence, R. I., on Thursday of last week were not as large as at first reported, the sum being now fixed at $360,000 ; but on Saturday the Theatre Comique burned to the tune of $35,000, and on Sunday a big business structure was consumed, with a loss of about $250,000, altogether making the heaviest fire loss for one week which the city has ever known.

—The Baltimore Sun of February 21 says: “ The council committee on the fire department, J. M. Berry, chairman, met yesterday and had under consideration the ordinances providing for the improvement of the department at an estimated cost of $80,000, as follows : Two building lots, $ro,ooo; two buildings, $25.000; one fire-boat, $35000; an engine and hose carriage, $10,000. A number of gentlemen representing the different commercial organizations were present, and advocated the ordinances. The committee did not come to any conclusion, and will hold further meetings.

—The funeral of Charles Bentley, the fireman killed at the burning of The Advertiser building at Elmira, N. Y., last week, was one of the largest ever seen in that city. The procession was thirty minutes in passing. The whole fire department, the common council, staffs of the various newspapers and heads and employees of the several city departments took part in it. Companies of frremen were present from Waverly, Corning, Bath and Iforseheads. Two thousand dollars of the firemen’s fund will be given to Mrs. Bentley and her children, and a subscription has been slant d for their benefit.

—While Druggist George Shields of Broadway and Twelfih street, New York, was engaged at work on Monday morning, agallon bottle of alcohol fell from a shelf, striking the steam radiator. The alcohol exploded with such force as to shatter every pane of plate glass in the show window. In a few momen’s the drugs and chemicals near the exolosive were in a blaze, which Mr. Shields hastened to extinguish as well as he could by throwing water on them and stamping out the fire on the floor. An alarm brought a hook and ladder company to the scene and the fire was extinguished promptly, but the druggist was badly burned.

—It is believed that the pa ers of the original plot of land that the proprietors of the Providence plantations, headed by R ger Williams, received from the Indians, and all of the changes in real estate and of deeds down to 1834, were destroyed in the fire at Providence last week. The papers were in the possession of Henry Staples & Co., in whose paper warehouse in the Chase block the fire started. A movement was recently set on foot to secure these valuable documents for the State, and on Thursday, the day after the fire, a resolution looking to that end passed the Senate. The chest containing the papers has not yet been found in the ruins.

—A patent has been recently issued to Professor George H. Thompson of Reading, Pa., for a novel fire escape and aid to firemen in fighting fire. The invention consists of a steel brick mad • hollow and painted to harmonize with the color of the front of any brick building. These bricks are constructed so as to contain a steel arm or ladder rung, which is sprung into place by the slightest touch on the surface of the brick. The bricks are to be firmly fastened and anchored in the front and rear walls at a distance of every two feet, running from the bottom to the top of a building, thereby forming a continuous ladder. It is stated that a company will be formed at Reading to manufacture and introduce them.

—Captain Shaw of the London Fire Department when visiting Chicago was impressed with the manner of “hitching up,” which has made the Chicago Department so famous. The lethargic Briton in his capacity as commissioner opposed any innovation however, and Captain Shaw has been compelled to “hitch up” only in his dreams. During a recent visit to London by Joseph Arthurs of the “Still Alarm Company,” he gave Captain Shaw the details of the fire scene in the play, and how it caught on in America. Captain Shaw was delighted with the story, and said that he now had a chance for the London commissioners to adopt his idea. He would take them to see the play when it came, a thing which tickles the commissioners of London immensely, and when they saw a hitch-up on the stage he was confident that they would permit him to adopt’the system. So Arthurs says.—Chicago Mail.

—Hose.—The purchase of hose is contemplated as follows : Lancaster, N. Y., 500 feet; Chief Huber …Pine Bluff, Ark., 1500 feet ; Chief H. K. White-Holly, Mich., 500 feet; Chief J. Bensett_Brattleboro, Vt., Chief C. C. Turner-St. Johnsburg, Vt., 500 feet ; Chief A. L. Bragg… .Winooski, Vt., rubber-lined hose; Chief R. J. Stoddard_ Marion, Va., leather ; J, H. Francis, recorder… .Kingston and Rondout, Ulster county. N. Y.; 1300 feet cotton… Waxahachie, Tex., 500 feet; Chief J. B. Wilson… .Charleston, W. .Va., 500 feet; Chief J. L. Fry …. Berea, O.; 1000 feet; Town Clerk C. F. Lane… .Georgetown, Tex., 400 feet; Chief E. Taylor… .Iowa Falls, la., 500 feet; Chief E. P. Soule-Kyle, Tex.; Foreman W. E. Roach… .Staynor, Ont.; Chief R. E. Bingham. . . .Findlay, O.; Chief W. H. Cowles… .Nebraska City, Neb, 500 feet; Chief M. Bauer. .. .Cicero, Tex., 1000 feet ; Chief A. F. Palmie.

—One of the most amusing things in the fire service, says The New York Sunday Mercury, is the practicing of the new men in the life-saving business. All men on probation have to go through a regular system of training before they’ are competent to enter the ranks as firemen. In the rear of fire headquarters is a training school for men who are anxiously expecting to become firemen. The arrangements are different from the old sugar house where the first life-saving men of the department had to train. The old-timers had the hard ground to fall on in case they made a mistake, but now the new men have a netting stretched across the back yard at fire headquarters, where they do their training. Notwithstanding this advantage the new men are exceedingly timid for fear they will get a fall. Last week four men quit because they were obliged to go through this mode of training. It is an easy matter to pick out the men that will make good firemen from the interest they take in their work. New men are apt to be a trifle fresh, and it is great sport for the old hands to put them through a course of sprouts.

-FIRE Apparatus.—From special reports received during the past week, we note that the purchase of fire department equipments is contemplated as follows : Knoxville, Tenn., two hose carts ; Chief P. B. Shepard… .Wheeling, W. Va., chemical engine; Chief J. A. Dunning. ….Malden, Mass., rhemical engine; Chief Hough… .Great Falls, Mon., steamer; Chief Ilurst… .Eureka, Cal., new boiler for one of the steamers; Chief N. G. Lind-ay…. Pine Bluff, Ark., two hose carts and a hook and ladder truck; Chief H. K. White….New Richmond, Wis., possibly a steamer ; Chief J. II. W. Lewis_Wausaw, Wis., Richmond alarm system ; Chief J. C. Gebhart.. . .Mauston, Wis,, buckets and uniforms ; Chief H. S. Spaulding…. Lancaster, Wis., hook and ladder truck ; Chief J. M Hurley.. . .Cadotte, Wis., bell ; Chief Clark Watson. ….Berea, O., steamer; Town Clerk C. F. Lane._Georgetown, Tex., hook and ladder truck; Chief E. Taylor. .. .San Antonio, Tex., four four-wheeled hose carriages ; Chief G. A. Duerler…. Kyle, Tex., hose can; Foreman W. E. Roach… .Stayner, Ont., hose reel and parade suits; Chief R. E, Bingham…. Brenham, Tex., tower bell striker; Chief W. A. Wood,… Findlay, O., hook and ladder truck, two hose carriages; Chief W. II. Cowles. … Nebraska City, Neb., hose carriage and harness; Chief M. Bauer… .Columbus, O., aerial truck ; Chief I), D. Tresenrider.

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