The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-04


combustihle wares. The recent confiagra.
ton in Philadelphia occurred in a whiskey
warehouse, and the destruction Of property
on that occasion was even more extensive
than at our recent fire between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets. III Chicago and many
other large cities Of the Western States and
OF Europe lumber-yards are allowed in the
most thickly inhabited portions of the city,
and no prohibitory ordinance exists against
them. Piles Of lumber are not very COM
bustible unless aided by more infammable
substances: and there are other kinds OF
merchandise that ignite much more readily.
If the prohibition be enforced against one
it should be equally enforced against I'LL.
The late fire between Fourteenth and
| Fifteenth streets was without doubt the
work of an incendiary. No legislation can
prevent incendiarism we can only facilitate
the means Of eytinguishing the fire. The
means adopted by other cities are sufficient
head Of 'rdter and ample mans. If we adopt
these we shall enjoy the same protection as
in Minneapolis, Bin@hamton, and other
northern cities; for we should thereby OBJ
tain pressure enough to throw water over
our highest houses by a simple hose attached
to a tire-plug.
This can be at least partially accomplished.
especially in the lower parts of the city.
whence the above complaint to the Council
originated, at Il, comparatively small ex.
pcnSe, by using Superflu0us mains which
we now have on hand.
From the reservoir to the corner Of Main
and Third streets we have $500 feet of "a
inch main, which is fed from the reservoir
on the west side by two S-inch WaStc-pipcS.
| The 2i-inch main has an area of i52 square
inches, while the two S-inch pipes connect
Ing it with the reservoir have only 30 square
inches each. On the east side of the rescr-
voir there are two mains, respectively Of 10
and II inches in diameter, reaching Il dis
tance Of 1000 feet from the reservoir basin
TO Main and Jefferson streets. The area OF
these two pipes is for the 1O-inch pipe, - <
square inches, and for the Pinch pipe, 113
square inches. The combined area of these
two pipes and of the two S-inch pipes is only
29l y square inches, bcing1G0! square inches
! less than are contained in the 2l-inch pipe.
From this we can see that the 2i-inch pipe
alone, if connected directly with the reScr-
yoir, would enable Us to dispense with these
| feeders, because the area of the 24-inch pipe
is more than iifty-tivc per cent. greater than
| the combined area Of these four feeders.
We would then have at our disposal 40 feet
Of 1G-inch pipe. which now connects the
24-inch main with the two S-lnch waste pipes
on the west side of the reservoir, 1000 feet
Of Pinch main. and 1000 feet of l0-inch
main-thc two last running from the east
side of the reservoir basin through Holly
wood Cemetery in straight line TO Main
and Jefferson.
At the time these two pipes of 1000 feet
in length each were laid, the ground through
which they passed was considered Of little
value. and the city has perpetual right OF
WAY along the entire length, granted Ivy
| John Harvey and William Ould, from whom
| the land was bought in 1850. in 1876 it was
proposed TO run II street fifty feet wide along
| these pipes. for the convenience Of the city
| 1t was, however, found that 4 street so To-
| Gated would biScct the streets crossed by it
at such inconvcnient angles a> very much tC
iniurc the adjoining property. BY relin,
| gushing this right of way to the owners OF
! the property through which such street
would pass. ihc city could realize 500, 900
as the value of the property would thereby
be greatly enhanced.
Whether. however. this REIMBURSEMENT
be made or not, with the !, l,0GGtccf Of l2-inch
pipe, 4,0G0 feet Of lO-inch pipe, and 4,5lcct
Of 1G-inch pipe, Instead OF mains of ), t, anC
G-inCh, as ut present, we could have 1o
inch main from TWcnty-fOIrth to -Four,
tccnth street, Il l2-inch main from -Four
tccnth to Fourth street, and Il lG-iilch mail
from Fourth TO Third street, where il
would connect with the 2l-inch main run
ming 10 Reservoir street.
Ii will be seen, then, that we only re-
quirc Il short stretch Of new 2i-inch main
to connect the reservoir basin with the pre-
sent 2i-nch main III order to have at on
disposal sufficient main Of sufficient limcn
sionS 10 lay the entire lrmgth Of llain street
50 as amply to protect alI of our valuable
stores and warehouses on That and the ad
Joining cross streets in its vicinity. Thi:
would also enhance the value of The neigh
boring property both by giving greater So
irity from fire and hy increasing the sup
ply of water for domestic and other pur
poses. The present mains on Main stree
could he used in other portions of the city,
which would extend TO them both the in
creased protection from lire and the Other
advantages.
Besides The 24-inch main to connect from
Reservoir street with the reservoir basin. tn,
principal cost would only be that Of takin!
up and replacing OF the old pipe. with th'
furnishing Of new branches ut the eros
streets, the necessary stop-cockS, and sucl
new pipe a> may be required where the ole
pipe will not stand the test.
am, sirs, your obcdcnt servant,
lICuMoND.