APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES. 



493 



chinery. Some had the boiler at the extreme back, and the pumps 

 and air chamber in the middle ; in others the air chamber was far 

 in front, while one builder put the air chamber and pumps behind, 

 with the boiler in the center. Occasionally the self-propellers 

 were three-wheeled affairs, while others on four wheels carried 

 such an amount of chain and gears that they could hardly move 

 their own ponderous weight. A comparison of pictures of the 

 early machines would, to the most careless observer, show a 

 marked difference in form, while the engines of the present day 

 are nearly alike in general appearance. 



The La France Fire Engine Company, Elmira, N. Y., and the 

 Waterous Engine Works Company of St. Paul, have made en- 

 gines but a comparatively few years, and with the Manchester 

 Locomotive Works and the American Fire Engine Company are 

 the only firms in the business to-day. Some few cities, notably 



Fig. 8. Steam Fire Engine of To-day. 



Cleveland, encourage home industry by occasionally having en- 

 gines built by local machinists. 



It is not within the scope of this article to go into a technical 

 description of the boilers, engines, and pumps used in the different 

 styles of steamers made to-day. Each maker has endeavored to 

 provide a boiler so arranged that steam can be generated in the 

 shortest possible time. The engines must be light and capable of 

 being worked in positions often far from level. The pumps must 

 be powerful both in suction and in being able to throw streams to 

 great distances. At the same time they must be as simple as pos- 

 sible and not easily clogged, for often the only available water is 

 in some muddy pool or pond filled with foreign matter. When it 

 is remembered that fire engines are often bought by village de- 

 partments where there is no one of mechanical ability to care for 

 them, it will be evident that every part of the machine must be of 

 a quality and construction that will stand misuse and abuse. 



The Amoskeag, Ahrens, Clapp & Jones, Button, and Water- 



