TO THE EDITOR OF TILE SPECTATOR.
SIR—Forgive the expression, but you appear to have nearly stumbled upon an efficient mode of extinguishing fires, without seeing it. Could not a pipe or hose be screwed on the mains, which being carried up a standing ladder, might pour the whole contents of the main upon a burning floor or partition, instead of being (lashed Bp in streamlets to be converted into steam (not gas, I apprehend) at the instant of contact ? Or if the force or height of the main waterworks be insufficient for this purpose, might not an hydraulic (or steam) apparatus be fixed upon the pipes in every parish or smaller district?—which would render moveable engines unnecessary. Your obedient servant, NEMO. [NEMO'S last suggestion is one deserving of attention. The substitution of a single apparatus to be applied to the main, instead ofa number of engines, would be a great improvement, if practicable. But the simple plan that he fancies we had overlooked, would not, we suspected, be efficient—indeed NEMO himself seems to doubt its efficacy. If the pressure of water alone were sufficient to project a stream to the requisite height, there would still be only one large jet, operating on one point, instead of many.—En.]
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