The City Pits Engines Against Each Other at the Waterfront

For three hours yesterday afternoon, the new Waterous engine was under steam at the foot of University Street on a trial test of capacity in competition with the city's Ahrens engine No. 2. The difference in the engines is one class, the Waterous being what is called a third-class engine. The specification required, however, that she should show a capacity equal to the city's best engine and No. 2 was selected to set the pace. Engineer Gibson, who has charge of the Waterous engine, is crippled from a fall and could not work his engine. In his stead he chose Walter Rouse, of No. 3, who handled her as if he had known the machine for years. On the one-inch stream the Waterous engine threw farther, and on the one and a half and two-inch there was little difference. Perhaps in the last case the Ahrens engine showed up the best. In the contest where two streams were used from each engine, the Waterous went far ahead. The distance in feet that she outthrew the Ahrens was not measured, but estimated between thirty and forty. At no time during the trial did the new engine show signs of quitting, although her frame shook. She steamed easily and quickly when under way.