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Steam Fire-Engines.

[Book III. vere that few can continue it above a minute or two at a time, when if relays of men are not ready, buildings on fire are left to fate. The jars or concussions produced by the violent contact of the levers with the sides of the carriage at every stroke, is a source of waste of firemen's energy, and want of uniformity in their movements when at work, is another. In the 29th vol. of the London Mechanics' Magazine, a contrivance is described for diminishing the shocks consequent on the contact of the levers with the carriage. It consists of three spiral springs enclosed in cylindrical cases secured on each side of the carriage; pads rest on the springs and project above each case, and upon them the levers strike when pulled down. Blocks of caoutchouc were previously tried, but the violence of the blows soon rendered that material useless. The velocity with which engines are sometimes worked also occasions a useless expenditure of their strength; we have seen some drawing water through long suction pipes, and the pumps worked so quickly that the water certainly had not time to pass through the hose and fill the cylinders, ere the pistons began to descend.

If some mode of making the carriage immovable, and the pumps were worked by long cranks on each side, the firemen could not only perform fifty per cent more labor, but they could do it with less exertion, and consequently endure it longer. A modification of the plan adopted in the Ypres engine, page 325, would be still more effective; in addition to which ropes might be attached to the bars, and any number of spectators could then assist.

If we review the progress of fire-engines in modern times, from the simple syringe to the splendid machines of the present day, we shall find that every important improvement in the apparatus for raising the water, was a nearer approach to the engine described by Heron. Previous to the 16th century, syringes or squirts only were in use, and not till the Spiritalia had been translated and printed do we meet with the application of pumps. At first a single working cylinder was employed, and the piston moved by a single lever as in No. 144; then two cylinders, each worked by a separate lever, were united to one discharging pipe-next the double lever, as figured by Heron, by which an alternating movement of the pistons, and a more efficient application of the force employed was secured; then the goose-neck, also mentioned by Heron-and lastly, the air vessel made its appearance. If the beautiful and philosophical device last mentioned, be, as some persons have supposed, a modern invention, why is it that no one has ever rose up to claim it? Is not this a tacit admission that it was derived directly from the Spiritalia, or from Vitruvius's description of the machine of Ctesibius! To the ancients, then, we are indebted for the most valuable features in our fire-engines, and it is not unreasonable to conclude that those used in ancient Egypt and old Rome were as effective as ours. If they were not, it is very strange that Heron should have hit upon that construction of them and that arrangement of their parts, which we have only acquired after a century spent in experiments.

Of late years steam fire-engines" have been introduced with success in some parts of Europe: a small horizontal steam-engine with its boiler, being arranged on the carriage of the fire-engine. One large pump cylinder only is used, and its piston and that of the steam cylinder are attached to the same rod. Mr. Braithwaite, a London engineer, was, we believe, the first who made one of these machines. The steam cylinder was seven and a half inches diameter, and the pump six and a half; the water was forced through an ajutage of seven-eighths of an inch, to an elevation of

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American Fire-Engines.

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ninety feet. The time of getting the apparatus into play from the moment of igniting the fuel, was eighteen minutes. When an alarm of fire was given, the fuel was kindled and bellows attached to the engine were worked by hand. When the horses were harnessed to drag the machine to the fire, the bellows were worked by the motion of the wheels. (See London Mechanics' Magazine for 1830, and in volume xviii, for 1832, there is a figure and description of one made by Mr. B. for the Prussian government, being designed to protect the public buildings of Berlin.)

One or two of these machines on an improved plan by Mr. Ericsson, are now being constructed in this city.

FIRE-ENGINES IN AMERICA.-The first use of fire-engines is an important event in any country, and may be considered as constituting an epoch in the history of its useful mechanism: moreover, wherever they are made, they indicate a certain degree of refinement in civilization and an advanced state of the mechanic arts. To their introduction into this continent, future historians may, and probably will, have recourse for data respecting the state of society in the early days of the republic, and the still earlier times during which the country was subject to Europe; for the circumstances which precede, and eventually lead to the adoption of fireengines, invariably reflect light on the manners and customs, the police and other municipal regulations of the times, as well as on many of the arts, particularly those connected with building. The following extracts from official records in the clerk's office, respecting their introduction into the city of New-York, will be found to illustrate some of the above remarks. It does not appear that either squirts or engines were used during the time the city remained in possession of its founders; viz: from Ă. D. 1614 to 1664. The volume of Dutch records preserved in the clerk's of fice, to which we referred, page 299, contains several enactments relating to fires and fire wardens, but no mention is made of instruments for extinguishing fires until 1648, when ladders, hooks and buckets were ordered from Holland. As these records have never been printed, a few extracts from the "Ordinances of the Director-General and the Council of the New Netherlands," will be acceptable to most readers. The first one is dated May 29, 1647: it cannot, perhaps, be strictly considered as related to our subject, although it was designed to remove a fruitful source of fires, viz: inebriety. On the above date the Director-General, Petrus Stuyvesant, issued a proclamation, addressed to certain of the inhabitants "who are in the habit of getting drunk, of quarrelling, fighting, and of smiting each other on the Lord's day of rest, of which on the last Sunday, we ourselves witnessed the painful scenes." It appears from this and other edicts to the same effect, that the governor had considerable difficulty in keeping a portion of his people sober; and from following a practice which he denounces as the "dangerous, injurious, and damnable selling, giving out, and dealing out, wines, beers, and ardent spirits to the Indians or natives of this land."

"Whereas it has come

Another proclamation is more to our purpose. to the knowledge of his excellency, the Director-General of New Netherlands, Curacoa, &c. and of the Islands of the same, and their Excellencies the Councillors, that certain careless persons are in the habit of neglecting to clean their chimnies by sweeping, and paying no attention to their firès; whereby lately fires have occurred in two houses; and whereas the danger of fire is greater as the number of houses increases here in NewAmsterdam; and whereas the greater number of them are built of wood and are covered with reeds, together with the fact that some of the houses have wooden chimnies, which are very dangerous: Therefore, by the

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Extracts from old Dutch Records.

[Book III.

prompt and excellent Director-General and their honours the Councillors, it has been deemed advisable and highly necessary to look into this matter, and they do hereby ordain, enact, and interdict, that from this time forth no wooden or platted chimnies shall be permitted, ... Those already standing shall be permitted to remain during the good pleasure of the fire wardens. . . . As often as any chimnies shall be discovered to be foul, the fire wardens aforesaid shall condemn them as foul, and the owner shall immediately, and without any gainsaying, pay the fine of three guilders, for each chimney thus condemned as foul; to be appropriated to the maintenance of fire ladders, hooks, and buckets; which shall be provided and procured [from Holland] the first opportunity. And in case the house of any person shall be burned, or be on fire, either through his own negligence, or his own fire, he shall be mulcted in the penalty of twentyfive guilders, to be appropriated as aforesaid. Thus done, passed and published at Fort Amsterdam, this 23d day of January, 1648."

This ordinance does not appear to have produced the desired effect, since a similar one was published in September of the same year. In February 1656 another was issued, by which the fire wardens were directed to establish such penalties for chimneys or houses taken fire "as shall be found among the customs of our Fatherland." At the close of the following year the use of squirts or engines does not appear to have occurred to the inhabitants, a circumstance from which it may be inferred that such machines were at that time little used in Holland, and this also appears from an allusion to the practice of quenching fires there, in a proclamation prohibiting wooden chimneys, flag roofs, &c. "In all well regulated cities and corporations, it is customary that fire buckets, ladders and hooks, are in readiness at the corners of the streets, and in public houses, for the time of need. [Here is no mention of engines, although the instruments used in Holland are obviously alluded to.] The Director-General and the councillors do ordain and authorize in these premises, the burgomasters of this city, either personally or by their treasurer, promptly to demand for every house, whether small or large, one beaver, or eight guilders in seawant, according to the established price; for the purpose of ordering from the revenue of the same, by the first opportunity, from Fatherland, two hundred and fifty leather fire buckets; and out of the surplus, to have made some fire ladders and fire hooks: and in addition to this, once a year, to demand for every chimney, one guilder for the support and maintenance of the same. Thus done in the session of the director-general and councillors, held in the fort of Amsterdam, in New Netherlands, this 15th day of December, A. D. 1657."

After New Netherlands became a British province, similar ordinances continued to be enacted till the year 1731, when two of Newsham's engines were ordered from London. These were probably the first fire-engines used on this continent. The following extracts are from the minutes of the common council.

"At a common council held the 16th day of February 1676–7, in the 28th year of Charles II. Ordered that all and every person and persons that have any of the city's ladders, buckets or hooks in their hands or custody, forthwith bring the same unto the mayor, as they will answer the contrary at their peril." The same date some wells were ordered to be made "for the public good of the city," among which was against Youleff Johnson's the butcher; and another in Broadway against Mr. Vandike's." "At a common council held the 15th day of March 1683, in the 36th of the reign of Charles II. Ordered that provision be made for hooks, ladders and buckets, to be kept in convenient places

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Chap. 8.]

And from Minutes of the Common Council.

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within this city, for avoyding the peril of fire." No mention is here made of engines, nor in the next extract, wherein the want of instruments to quench fire is especially referred to. Feb. 28, 1686: Whereas great damages have been done by fire in this city, by reason there were not instruments to quench the same. It is ordered that every inhabitant within the city whose dwelling house has two chimnies shall provide one bucket for its use and every house having more than two hearths, shall have two buckets." Every brewer was to provide six, and every baker three buckets, under a penalty of six shillings for every bucket ordered. "January, 1689: Ordered that there be appointed five Brent masters for the city of New-York, as follows: Peter Adolf, Derek Vanderbrink, Derek Ten Eyk, Jacob Borlen, Tobias Stoutenburgh; and that five ladders be made to serve upon occasion of fire, with sufficient hooks thereto."

November 16, 1695: Every dwelling in the city was to be provided with one or more buckets by New-Year's day. The tenants were to provide them for the houses they occupied, and the cost to be deducted from the rent. Every brewer was again ordered to procure for his premises six, and every baker three. Several buckets were lost, and the public crier was directed to give notice. These "orders" do not appear to have been implicitly obeyed, for they were frequently repeated, and in November 1703, a penalty was attached for noncompliance. "October 1, 1706 Ordered that Alderman Vanderburgh do provide for the public use of this city, eight ladders and two fire hooks, and poles of such length and dimensions as he shall judge to be convenient, to be used in case of fire." November 20, 1716, a committee was appointed "to provide a sufficient number of ladders and hooks for the public use of this city in case of fire." In November 1730, FIRE-ENGINES are first mentioned. On the 18th of that month among other provisions enacted for the prevention and extinguishment of fires, one is in the following words: "And be it ordained by the authority aforesaid, that forthwith provision be made for hooks, ladders and buckets, and FIRE-ENGINES, to be kept in convenient places within the city for avoiding the peril of fire." At the same time the inhabitants were again directed to provide and keep buckets in their houses. It does not appear that any active measures to procure the engines were taken till the next year, for under the date of May 6, 1731, the common council Resolved that this corporation do with all convenient speed procure two complete fire-engines, with suction and all materials thereunto belonging, for the public service: that the sizes thereof be the fourth and sixth sizes of Mr. Newsham's fire-engines: and that Mr. Mayor, Alderman Cruger, Alderman Rutgers and Alderman Roosevelt, or any three of them, be a committee to agree with some proper merchant or merchants to send to London for the same by the first conveyance, and report upon what terms the said fire-engines, &c. will be delivered to this corporation."

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On the 12th of June the committee reported that the engines could be imported at an advance of 120 per cent on the invoice; and they were ordered accordingly. They seem to have arrived about the 1st of December, for on that day, a room in the City Hall was ordered to be fitted up "for securing the fire-engines." On the 14th of December a committee of two was appointed "to have the fire-engines cleaned and the leathers oiled and put into boxes, that the same may be fit for immediate use." January 2d, 1732. The mayor and four members of the court were authorized to employ persons to put the fire-engines in good order, and also to agree with proper persons to look after and take care of the same. appears that Anthony Lamb was the first superintendent of fire-engines,

It

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[Book III. for on the 24th of January 1735, the mayor was ordered "to issue his warrant to the treasurer to pay Mr. Anthony Lamb, overseer of the fire-engines, or order, the sum of three pounds, current money of this colony, in full of one quarter of a year's salary, due and ending the first instant." On the same date a committee was appointed to employ workmen " to put them in good repair, and that they have full power to agree with any person or persons by the year, to keep the same in such good plight, repair and condition, and to play the same as often as there shall be occasion upon any emergency."

April 15, 1736. “A convenient house [was ordered] to be made contiguous to the watch-house in the Broad street for securing and well keeping the fire-engines of the city." This seems to have been the first engine house. May 1, 1736. Jacobus Turk, a gunsmith, was appointed to take charge of the fire-engines and to keep them in repair at his own cost, for a salary of ten pounds current money. Mr. Turk undertook during the next year to make an engine, for May 15, 1737, the common council ordered the sum of ten pounds to be advanced" to the said Jacobus Turk, to enable him to go on with finishing a small fire-engine he is making for an experiment:" probably the first made in America.

:

November 4, 1737. The common council drew up a petition to the legislature to enable the corporation " to appoint four-and-twenty able bodied men, inhabitants within this city, who shall be called the firemen of this city, to work and play the fire-engines within the same, upon all occasions and emergencies, when they shall be thereunto required by the overseer of the said engines, or the magistrates of the said city and that the said firemen as a recompense and reward for that service, may by the same law be excused and exempted from being elected and serving in the office of a constable, or being enlisted, or doing any duty in the militia regiment, troop, or companies, in the said city, or doing any duty in any of the said offices during their continuance as firemen aforesaid." This law was passed by the assembly in September following, and the duty of firemen defined. The next notice of engines occurs ten years afterwards, in March 1748, when the corporation "ordered that one of the fire-engines of this city, of the second size, be removed to Montgomery's Ward of this city, near Mr. Hardenbrooks; and that a shed be built thereabouts at the charge of this corporation for the securing and keeping the same." By this it appears that several engines besides the two original ones were then in use. The one just named was a different size (much smaller) than those first ordered. It is uncertain whether the additional ones were made by Mr. Turk, but probably not, since both large and small ones were ordered from London for several years after this date. From the following extract we find that several of the large fire-engines (the sixth size of Newsham) belonged to the city. February 28, 1749, "Ordered that Major Vanhousand and Mr. Provost do take care to get a sufficient house built for one of the large fire-engines, to be kept in some part of Hanover square at the expense of this corporation, and that there be a convenience made therein for hanging fifty buckets: and also ordered that there be one hundred new fire buckets made for the use of this corporation with all convenient speed."

May 8, 1752. "Ordered that Jacob Turk have liberty to purchase six small speaking trumpets for the use of this corporation," i. e. for the purpose of giving directions to firemen during conflagrations. June 20, 1758. One large fire-engine, one small do. and two hand do." were ordered to be procured from London. July 24, 1761. Mr. Turk, after superintending the engines for twenty-five years, was superseded by Jacobus

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