Whig Republican

Steam Fire Engine.

The Mechanics' Institute, New York, during the prevalence of incendiarism last winter, passed a resolution awarding a gold medal for the best plan of a steam fire engine. The medal was last week presented to Capt. J. Erricson, for his plan, out of four submitted. The successful plan is that of an engine weighing less than two and a half tons, and that with the lowest estimated speed has a power of 15 men, and will throw 3,000 lbs. of water per minute to a height of 105 feet, through a nozzle five and a half inches in diameter. By increasing the speed to the greatest limit easily and safely attainable, the quantity of water thrown may be much augmented.

The Tattler says the machine is the most simple in construction ever modelled. The absence of any rotary motion relieves the necessity of the apparatus peculiar to steam engines. The motion of the wheels in going to a fire communicates motion to the bellows, which gives an artificial draught so that, in ten minutes from the time the torch is applied to the fuel, the steam is up, and the engine ready for work.