which will conduct it to the required point. Upon the arrival of the water, it ought to be dammed up, and the engine will lift it by suction out of the pool so formed.

If, however, from the nature of the ground, from the want of hose, or from other causes, it is found impracticable to convey the water by either of the above methods, the next best is, to conduct the water in hose as far as can be accomplished, and carry it the remainder of the distance in carts, buckets, or whatever else may be most convenient.

If a

When carried in buckets it is of advantage to form a line of men from the water to the engine, each man covering five or six feet of ground. The buckets are then handed from one man to another, till they reach the two or three men who are stationed round the suction-tub or fire-engine to receive them. The buckets when emptied are returned by a different line of men (women or boys) stationed in the same manner as the former. sufficient number of hands cannot be had to return the buckets in this manner, any convenient number may be employed to carry them to the fire-cock, that they may be again filled. When a fire occurs where the water-pipes are unprovided with firecocks or plugs, the ground should be immediately opened, and the water-pipe cut. If it be of cast-iron, a large hammer may effect the purpose: on the water-pipe being broken, the suction-pipe of the engine is placed in the opening so made. If the pipe be of lead, the opening in the street should

be made of sufficient length to admit of one end of it, when cut, being turned into the engine. If the supply of water by this means be so great as to occasion waste, it may be regulated by the nearest stop-cock on the water-pipe, by driving a wooden plug into the end of a cast-iron pipe, or compressing the end of a leaden one.

The next plan I shall notice of supplying fire-engines is from drains, gutters, &c. In particular situations and wet weather considerable supplies of water from these and similar sources may be obtained. In the gutters all that is required is to dam them up; and, if there be no materials at hand for this purpose, the causeway must be dug up, till there is a sufficient depth of water for the suction-pipe of the engine.

When the water is to be drawn from drains or common-sewers, great care should be taken not to damage them farther than is absolutely necessary.

If enough of cover be taken off to allow one man to enter easily, it will be quite sufficient for all necessary purposes. When the man inside the drain or common-sewer has collected a proper supply of water by damming up the channel, the suction-pipe should be handed down to him, and the engine set to work.

Although it be true that foul water quenches fire, I will here observe, that the water from a common-sewer should never be used, except when it is impossible to procure it from a purer source. the purpose of procuring water to extinguish a fire,

2

For

I had at one time occasion to open a commonsewer, in which, with the usual impurities, the waste from a gas-manufactory was intermixed, and the stench in the premises where the fire had been extinguished by this water, was for some time after very disagreeable.

If the water be obtained from a pond or river at a little distance, one engine may be stationed close to it, and that engine made to pump the water into another at work. If the water be conveyed in carts, an engine may be kept at the pond or river for the purpose of filling them. Of course this can only be done where there is a proper supply of engines.

In working from an open water, such as a gutter, drain, river, or pond, it is proper, in order to prevent sand or gravel being drawn into the engine, to sink an iron or wooden bucket, into which the suction-pipe of the engine should be placed. If nothing better can be had, a good wicker basket will be found useful.

It is of great advantage to have a number of carts, with butts upon them full of water, as it ensures a small supply to the engines the moment they arrive at the fire. This plan, however, entails a very considerable expense, as carters must be paid for taking them out on every alarm, besides giving prizes. to the owners of the first and second horses, to ensure their coming in time.

In some situations it may be convenient to bring water by hand-carts, in which case the following construction will be found a good one :-Figs. 1

1

and 2, plate 7, is a water-cart capable of conveying six cubic feet of water; it is filled at A and emptied at the exit-pipe B, which is high enough to allow the whole contents to be discharged into the suction-tubs of the engines. The plug which closes the pipe B is moved out and in by a rod which passes through the tank, and of which the handle C is at the end opposite the exit-pipe, so that the person conducting the cart can run it up to the tub, and discharge it without quitting his place between the shafts the naves of the wheels are of cast iron, and the spokes and fellies of wood. The tank itself is made of sheet-iron rivetted together, and painted over, after the seams have been allowed to close themselves by rusting.

Fire-cocks. Having had frequent occasion to speak of fire-cocks, I shall here describe one, with the apparatus belonging to it, as used in Edinburgh.

ABCDE, in plate 6, fig. 1, represents the main or water pipe, on which the fire-cock is to be placed; B C D is one length of main divided into three pieces; that division being necessary when the joints are spigot and faucet, as most of those in use here are. When the joints are flanched, however, the piece C is made in one piece of nine feet long. I may here mention, that the reason for this division, where the joints in the main are spigot and faucet, is the facility it affords to the piece C, to which the fire-cock is attached, being removed in the event of its being damaged. If they are not

divided in this manner, three or four of the joints, when the piece is under repair, require to be burned out, (i. e. the lead melted out of the joints,) and from twenty-five to thirty feet of the street opened. This not only causes a considerable expense, but, from the length of time required to burn out the joints, the supply of water to the inhabitants, from the pipe undergoing this operation, is for the time interrupted, and the thoroughfare for carriages greatly impeded. There is no avoiding this operation, however, where fire-cocks are to be put on mains previously laid in this way. On the flanch F a piece of cast-iron pipe H, (the length of which is regulated by the depth of the main from the street, or the depth of cover, as it is technically called,) is put, and the fire-cock K is then attached to it, with a screw L at the top, to fit the coupling-joints of the hose; the space is then built up all round, to within eight inches from the level of the street, with stones without mortar, taking care that no part of the building rests on the main. The cast-iron frame N N N N, (of which a section only is given,) is then laid on the building, and the causeway-stones set firmly round it; the door having two iron catches at one side, to take hold of the frame, and on the other a copper bolt is let into the notches at the top of the frame. The doors are made and fixed in this manner rather than with hinges, which, on account of their liability to rust, are objectionable; and for the same reason the bolt of the lock is made of copper rather than of iron. The key for opening the door is made as in