The pumping-machinery is of great power. It comprises two duplex vertical direct-acting pumps. Each has two steam and two water cylinders. The steam-cylinders are 16 in. diameter by 11 in. stroke. The water-cylinders of the same stroke are of 10 in. diameter. The working pressure allowed for the water-cylinder is 200 lbs. to the sq. in. The pumps draw water in through two 16-in. suction-openings in the bottom of the vessel, to which suction-pipes are connected. The discharge is delivered through 9i-in. connections into a 12 in. main, that runs around the trunk or deckhouse, and which is provided with numerous connections for hose-couplings. Several 12-in. valves are placed in the circuit, so as to shut off any desired portion. The line is provided with a number of 3k and 6 in. hose-couplings. Four 7-in. hand-pipes are also carried upward, two to the roof of the pilot-house and two aft through the trunk. These are surmounted by swivel-nozzles, adapted for throwing 54-in. streams if desired. A fifth swivel-nozzle is mounted on the bias forward, and is joined by hose with one of the large connections. Altogether 32 discharges are provided for. The hand-pipes are manipulated from behind traveling-screens, made of double sheet-steel with 1-in. air-spaee, perforated for hose-pipes, and with peep-holes. These can be moved fore and aft to any desired point along the rail, and protect the firemen. There are three of these on each side. They are carried on rollers. which work upon the rail and upon the plank-sheer with guides. Any screen can be lifted off its bearings and carried to the other side of the deck. Movable fire-screens are provided for windows, which screens are kept stored away
when not in use. Those for the pilot-house windows have peep-boles. As an additional pro tection four spray-pipes are carried up along the front of the pilot-house and elsewhere, with cap and hose connection at the top. The object of these is to distribute water in a spray or rain-like form over the deck of the boat. In this way the hose is protected in situations where the heat is great. Upon the trunk-deck are two swiveling hose-reels, on which the hose is kept. Of this there are 3.000 ft., ranging in size from 24 in. to 0 in. diameter. A great variety of nozzles or discharge-pipes are provided, of about every size, from 2A in up to 51 in. diameter. The capacity of discharge is put at 10,000 gallons per min., with the pumps making 200 revolutions.
The hull was built by Jonson & Ellison, of this city ; the engines by Brown &.hiller, of Jersey City, N. J.: the boilers by McNeil & McLoughlin. of Brooklyn, N. V. One set of pumps was built by the La France Fire-Engine Co., of Elmira, N. V.: the other by the Clapp & Jones Manufacturing Co., of Hudson, N. V. The total cost is put at $100.000.
The following table shows the results of test made on the fire-boat Geyser, built for the city of Chicago by the Clapp & Jones Manufacturing Co. The figures in brackets indicate whether one or both pumps were worked, and [s] starboard pump, [p] port-pump: The last perfuwma»ce, throwing 14 streams simultuneonsly 204 ft., was considered little short of marvelous,