The exertion necessary to work fire engines, by hand labour, is so exhausting, that it is very desirable steam power should be used, if possible. To be really useful, however, with us, Steam Fire Engines should be portable, and constructed on such a principle, as not to be easily put out of order. From the Report of the Special Committee appointed to make trial of Steam Fire Engines in Boston, last year, it appears, that of 4 Engines—the best that could be procured—one weighed, 7,330 lbs., another, 7,480 lbs., another, 9,330 lbs., and the fourth, 9,415 lbs. The shortest time occupied in raising steam to 60 lbs. pressure, from cold water, was 10½ minutes. The greatest horizontal distance thrown of a single stream of 1¼ inches, through 200 feet of hose, was 163 feet, and the greatest vertical height 110 feet. This does not seem a very wonderful performance, but the advantage is, that a Steam Engine would continue to throw such a stream as long as it was supplied with fire and water. On the other hand, the weight, being three or four tons, would require, at least four horses to move one of them on a level, and six horses, when it would be necessary to ascend a hill. The cost of one of these Engines, in Boston, is about three thousand dollars.
As a Steam Fire Engine would be of comparatively little use, until the city is better supplied with water, and as it is highly probable that a cheaper and lighter class of steam machines will be introduced before long, the Committee think it would be wise to make further enquiry before purchasing a Steam Fire Engine, and suggest that His Worship the Mayor shall take such steps, by correspondence, or otherwise, as will put the Council in possession of the latest information on this point.
This brings the Report to the discussion of what is after all, the real difficulty—the obtaining of a more abundant supply of water.
The Directors of the Halifax Water Company, in a statement recently submitted to the public, complain of some want of courtesy, on the part of the City Council, and of this Committee, in reference to their proposition, previously described. The Committee regret this slight misunderstanding, as they are very sure the omission adverted to, was accidental, and was not intended to be disrespectful.
There is, however, an inconsistency in the statement of the Water Company. The document sets out by shewing the anxiety of the Directors to give an additional supply of water, and to make such arrangements as would ensure the city against the recurrence of terrible visitations by Fire; thereby intimating their opinion, that a better supply was required.—In the concluding part of the same statement, they undertake to prove, very confidently, that on the night of 9th September last, there was an ample supply of water in the pipes; some of the plugs being so full as to burst the hose; and that the alleged inefficiency was not in accordance with the facts. If such was really the case, the Committee cannot understand how the Directors of the Water Company can expect the city to pay three hundred and fifty pounds yearly, for an additional supply of water, for fire purposes, when, it may be inferred from their argument, an additional supply was unnecessary.
Apart from this discrepancy, the Directors of the Water Company, now propose to lay down a 12-inch pipe, by the Ball Court to Brunswick Street; thence south by Barrack Street to Sackville Street, with 6-inch pipes down all the intermediate streets; and a 6-inch pipe in Hollis Street, from Sackville to Buckingham Streets.
The Committee have no doubt this would be an improvement as far as it goes; though it differs, very widely, from the views of Mr. Stone, the gentleman sent out from England to enquire into the cause of the late Fire. According to Mr. Stone’s notions, as detailed by him, in a memorandum submitted to the Committee, there should be a main pipe of not less than 3 feet, from the Long Lake to St. Andrew’s Cross; then a 2 feet main to the south end of Barrack Street, and another, to the north end of Brunswick Street, with 12-inch mains in every principal street of the city.
It may be said, these are merely the opinions of an Agent of the Insurance Offices, and that his views are extreme; yet it should be remembered that Mr. Stone has had very large and long experience in such matters, which ought, in justice, to give his opinions great weight. St. John, New Brunswick, is supplied by a 12-inch and a 24-inch main; the 24-inch main being, of itself, equal to five 12-inch mains. These two main pipes empty into a tank, which again supplies 6 mains of 12 inches each, which, with other main pipes, chiefly 10-inch—and none less than 4-inch—are distributed over the city.—There are 93 fire plugs in St. John, exclusive of 18 in Portland,—while we have but 43.
But even supposing the proposed additions of the Water Company to be sufficient for the central part of the city,—it is evident, that after the additional pipes are laid, the north and south districts of the city will be quite as badly provided as before. The offer of the Water Company, in fact, proposes to protect a part of the city, in consideration of a certain sum, which must, of course, be derived from assessment levied upon the whole; with this additional disadvantage, that were a Fire to break out in the part unprotected,—which is chiefly of wood,—it might gain such headway, as to endanger every part alike. It does not affect the argument, that the new pipes are to be laid down in the most valuable business portions of the city; inasmuch, as the north and south districts include vast numbers of houses both of rich and poor; and surely, it must be admitted, that the lives and dwellings of, at least, one half of the population, most of whom would pay their proportion of the fire tax, are as much entitled to protection, as the warehouses and merchandize of the other half.