Bergman went into financial details
with the officials of Lakeville. It was decided to have a simple alarm
system, with boxes located at the more prominent places in the
village, and an arrangement whereby the signal would be sounded on a
big bell, which would be erected on a steel tower.
It took some time to put these improvements into shape, but in about
three weeks they were finished, and the two chemical engines had
arrived from the factory.
"Say! They're beauties!" exclaimed Cole, happily, as he and the other
boys went down to the freight depot to see them. "I wonder if they can
throw a stream as far as my force pump?"
"Are you still talking about your force pump?" asked Tom Donnell.
"Well, it's a good pump," replied Cole, defending his invention.
"Wait until you see these," said Mr. Bergman, who had come to
superintend unloading the engines.
Each chemical apparatus consisted of a large copper tank on four
wheels. It had a long hose, on a reel, and a rope to pull the machine
by, similar to the old hand engine.
But the principle of the new engines was entirely different. They shot
a chemical stream at the fire, instead of one of merely water, and
carbonous acid, or, as it is commonly called, carbonic acid gas, was
generated.
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