—To C. A. P. of Montreal, Can., THE JOURNAL would say: 1. That the Barnes Hose Company, of Burlington, Vt., holds the championship for fast hose running for the United States, having won the first prize at the Chicago Tournament in 1878, the only National Tournament ever held. 2. " Who is the best authority on hose racing ? " The Illinois State Firemen’s Association has had more experience in hose racing than any other Association, and President B. B. Bullwinkle can be accepted as a first-class authority. 3. “ Who is the champion hose coupler?” There is no champion hose coupler, but John J. Shea, of Burlington, Vt., is conceded to be the fastest in the United States. 4. Has the Chaudiere Hose Company of Ottawa the fastest coupler in Canada?” Mr. Shay is understood to be the trainer and coupler of the Chaudiere Company.

—This is what one of the Chicago morning papers recently said regarding the water tower in this Department: There is a piece of fire apparatus—an eastern invention, which Chief Swenie and Ben Bullwinkle have seen, which is nothing more than a portable standpipe made in sections with a flexible nozzle at the end of the upper section. Superintendent Bullwinkle says of its work : “I saw it used in New York and it is simply perfection. Such an apparatus at the drug-house fire might have enabled the Department to hold it where it started. As heat has no effect on it it can be run up and thrust almost into the windows of a burning building commanding a sweep of the entire interior. If the City Fathers could only be made to see the value of these machines they would undoubtedly purchase one or two for the protection of our tall buildings.” The stand pipe apparatus is so arranged that from one to four Engines may supply it with water; and when one calls to mind the power of a steam through the Siamese coupling now in use and then thinks of such a stream on a level with the upper floor of a burning building, he can form some conception of the effectiveness of the apparatus. Chief Swenie feels that such an extinguisher would be an invaluable addition to his force.

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