New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-22
FIGHTING FIRE.

Is SEw-YoRK PREPARED TO CHECK Gep.,
CONFLAGRATION 7-CAN SALT WATER p,
UsEDi
The following correspondence between Gen
shaler and Engineer Craven has important bearn.
on the question Of the best methods Of extinguish,,
fires in tins city,
GEN. snALRRs LETTER.
NEW YORK, Dec. 90 ls1
| A, W. CRAVEN, esq.,, Girl Engineer De.
DEAR SIR; The recent extraordinary CONFEDERATION in
thicago mas excited dOuDt In tho minds OF many Ell,
hat nav ~ e we are ior an Gesen
the questions are often asked: Has Fro Departmea
the extra material Oh hand for It's and Il wat,
supply suHccnt Tor such an emergency Tie first queS
ton depends upon the second and f. easily answered.
the water supply Is SUN Aent We have material enough
| II the CrOtOn fails us We have not. -
The second question Is difficult TO answer bocaux
II isdepcndent upon variety Of circumstances shouH
an unusually severe season freeze M our hydraDts bS
sEey to occur in portions Of the city very dry
season reduce the supply III the reservoirs the stre
pipes prove too small 10 supply a sufficient number q,
steamers, (Which IL occasionally demonstrated in m.
operations or our dcpartmentD and fire get unders
spreading hcadway with a high wind remote from ths
Rivers the consequences would probably be serious and
we would realize the fact that We have not water sup
| PLY for all emergencies.
Untll science develops something as substitute fOs
extinguishing fires We must depend upon watcr and
should have an ineyhaushle supply Lat Winter The
Legislature made provisions for increasing The IMPLY
CrotOn hut that does not much help our case since ne
change In the suppyppes or the fire MIGRANTS was cor
tempated One of our steamers discharges from 900
400 gallons OF water per inmate. fire that would
quiro the services Of eight steamers to subduo would
therefore, consume 2400 gallons minute, or LAGOON
gallons per hour which is greatly beyond the capacity
our suppyppes In some portions OF the city TO furnish
There are many sections OF the city in which ul SID
ply contiguous hydrants could not be obtained 9
four steamers.
pipes and hydrans OF greater capacity, and increase t
CrOton supply shall We avail ourselves OF tho ocean
engineering difficulties in the way AND what wonldt
cost Would stationary engine at the battery, VITA
more auxiliary engines on each uNcf Dahk, w
town. supply the mains and the necessary supply ppesi
Would be practicable and desirable IN any ease 10 nave
t-nf.a
system could sufficient head Of water be obtained .
enable In to dispense with steam fire engines would
would be glad 10 have you consider the practcabiIr
OF the plan suggested with reference not only 10 meet
poses but for sanitary purposes With supply Inn
ted only by the capacity OF our stationary engines ING
streets could frequently be washed, and the cutters and
sewers always kept clean thereby insuIng great SAM
tary benefits. Facilities for establishing salt water Dat
perhaps prove remunerative. Please give your view
upon the matter at your earliest ana 0ee
Yours very respectfully ALEXANDER shALhR
MR.. CRAvESs REPLY.
No. IS BROADWAY, NEw-i YORK, March 20 ls'2.
DEAR SIR: have the pleasure 20 acknowledge the 70
CENT oi your letter of the 3h OF December Your IN
oureS are of the most interesting character ana trust
points YOU make which their Importance demands,
agree with you must fully that we are NOT paren 70
successfully such an emergency as tine eHpfene
OF other cities has shown TO be nov an ~
The pipes are too small 10 ylelu the rapu aho
copIOus supply which, even in cases Of frequent occur
renee, would enable your force To save vast qnahes
property unayodaby destroyed ana sun more 10
cided is Their nsufciency to meet the demands Oh con
lagraton OF unusual magnitude what Is the reneoa
is the question you propose. Inc best metnoi Vi puns
our wh1e CITY IN o SIe after RI mi exaiDaon OF tho
subject; but may very properly give general 70
First as TO the supply its The full quantity
OF water often required in a given time cannot he
River from the rivers which surround u.s. so long AZ
the pipes its distribution remain as they now are
alterations in the present distribution or To lay down
I'm viz n no nd faif
demands exclusive OF that for the eNtngnshng Of tires
the present pipes sufficient or can be made so 1t
comparatively moderate expense and in view Of other
which would naturally come up on the iull
animation of the subject your questions pointing 70 the
utilization of the water surrounding entitled
to the most thorough consideration and thought
Ne can assume al once that there will be no enineer
ing difficulties in the way" Pumping engines could
erected at different points capable OF delivering pracu
cay unlimited supply from the inexhaustibe sour@
referred TO- and the distribution could be arranged 0
different districts. all any of which could be ID
disconnected with from each other emergencies
might require AT the highest points in tles
districts towers might be erected TO sustain banks q
such construction and at such elevation as to enabh
you To dispense with steam treengines IN very many
cases. and Dy their aid TO make such system positively
trustworthy Whether all or any OF the present by
dants should be retained matter OF extreme preca
ton in of emergency not now deemed possible,
after the completion of the new work. Is qJestic
which would naturally come, WIN other DETAILS IN u'
close investigation OF the subject. d.
II is for yourself TO show to what extent the cost
maintaining department would be reduced by sus1
system but, without going into close calculation
should think that the reduction would be nearly. II ncs
quite equal the interest the amount necessary
construct the works But, II the reduction ven
not 10 prove equal TO the full interest, the amOGntd
property saved I'm ordinary fires would make the quet
ton OF interest one of little importance. without 10
cussing here the eXpedency OF using the salt water i9
flushing ami cleaning streets On regard 10 whel
there would De conflicting OpniOns), S cOpOus disrbt
ton could undoubtedly be- made available for other SAM
taTy purposes.
As 10 altering the present system of pipes and looking
10 the CrotOn River for remedy, there several
ponts to be considered To the cost Of such aers
ton as would be necessary, must he added the nc0n
yeence and temporary derangement incident To such
work and the greater time necessary FOR IT, complexion
IL must also be recollected that even with this alterat
and With an unlimited supply Of CrOton water, 1t 10
brought into the city mt such level that statlona
pumpng engines and towers would still be necessary %
insure the efficiency OF the other PLAN All these qleS
TONS however properly belong to the general hsesus%
| ton. =, =, -. -. 90, oa-,x
THAT such investigation should be made NJ an eary
dav and the results laid before our municpaI au'Hor
! ties our insurance companies, and our ctiLehs gr
erally seems TO be unquestionaDe Inc cost Oh No W.
ouiry would be a trife compared with lis yaie anu
possible results. Trusting that you Will DE aDn w "a
tract that attention 10 the questions you nave 100
which Is due 10 their extreme Importance anu Lihe ~
lie attention Will speedily grow into public acnoh' i"
| main very respectfully, your obedient servant, ,
| ' A. W. CRAVEN, CNll Ling.
| A vEpDICT AGAINST THE KNlCkERB0CAE. iCS
! COMPANY.