The New York herald., 1872-11-15

know that should such an event occur could
gineer TO direct such an undertaking az the blow
ing up OF y row or block OF houses. Indeed have
thought OF II, and have got dozen OF them at my
fingers ends, 80 to speak. However, as this mat
ter is being so extensively talked Of intend IN \
few days to take measures to inform myself
gincers both az to the advisabiity OF such method
and the plan OF Operations.n
"What do you think, General, OF Commodore
LEWIS suggestion before the Chamber OF Com
merce, to have the city supplied with complete
System or SALT WATER
TsWelI, that" replied the General, SIS on idea
that put forward some three or iour years age.
sent several communications ON the subject TO the
Craven, Engineer OF the Cr0ton Board, looked
very lavorably upon the proposition. MY plan was
60 have the water oroed y steam say lgaa
be auxiliary engines on the North and East Rivers
IL the Battery engine was found insufficient.
suggested the laying OF two great mains the length
OF the city. with supply pipes dlvcrging from them
and great head pressure OF water. Inc
sSrowH on re and the supply Of croscn water
for all domestic purposes would not be interfered
with. The mains and pipes for the conveyance OF
those aow used, SO as to drown out 6re at the
start and leave no possibility OF great con-
so perfected as to do away with the use OF fire
engines altogether, by having suiicient .'headr
Of water to throw stream direct from the ny
drant. This would require the use only OF hose
carriages and trucks, and there would be none OF
the risk OF accident, as there now Is, by having
steam engines with bright glaring fires and smoke
whired through our crowded thoroughfares, with
imminent risk OF frightening horses and crushing
"Asve you estimated the cost of such system,
"Mr. Craven and myself estimated 1t at about
mate. fhe expense Of the present Fire Department
is about 81 OOo ooo per annum ana think tne SAT-
water system could be sustained and the interest
paid ON the $40, 000 900 for the same annual expcn-
diture ~ our Fire Department now requires"
'ST'hen you would require nothing more than hose
carriages and hook and ladder trucks Tor service
"weu," replied the General II should think it
% IN Of
accident 70 the pipes or engines"
.Dld not your plan, General, also include q pro-
Vision for cleansing the streetsf think remem-
eyes; it was to provide for a small outflow OF
salt water rom the hydrants INTO the cutters so as
to keep them clear, and in this way to aid the dis
charge OF the sewers. All the pipes and hydrants,
nOzzcs, connections and so forth would have to be
have doubt, also. that might utilize the salt
water to clear Broadway Of snow in the Winter
time. or course the system has never been
wrought out in any detail-nOthng more than In o
general way-but think
SOMETHING WILL BE DONE THIS WINTER
one other little consideration regarding it is this
l believe that quite revenue might be derived
from the use OF salt water IN private houses ior
bathing purposes. 1t Is recognized that salt water
has very valuable sanitary and medical properties,
and / think there are thousands OF families who
would be willing to pay small yearly fee LOT the
rooms"
"n the supply Of Croton water ample to guaran
tee the city reasonable safety In case OF frer'
THE Cr0tOn supply is not as abundant AZ could
be desired, but
THE GREATEST RISK
would be in some sections of the city where the
supply pipes are very small in diameter. There
are several such localities, which, OF course, are
known to the department. and We sometimes are
very considerably embarrassed when fire occurs
there. We fhd 1t impossible to supply the steam
engines from contiguous hydrants and they are,
as consequence, compelled to lay greater lengths
OF hose and go to hydrants more remote from the
scene OF fire. Then, again, we have an imperfect
OF Of onr ns PPS om %
two and half to three inches in in
terror diameter, while the. suction pipes
OF the steamers have an inside diameter OF about
hve inches. You can readily imagine with what
a velocity the water must be drawn through the
MOST OF THE ENGINES
are capable OF throwing two or three streams Of
water but the hydrants cannot in most instances
would the pipes for your proposed system be Of
iron ~
"Yes. So far as the matter has been considered
1T was designed to have iron pipes. fhe question
OF oxydization OF iron by the salt water was con-
sidered, but engineers and other scientific men
give 1t as their opinion that the oxydlzatiOn would
be trihing In the extreme and OF no detriment 10
the pipes.n
that the efficiency OF the New York Fire Depart
mcnt cannot be improved or increased with the
present system OF water supply and OF appliances,
and that the department iS capable of making u
tremendous resistance to the progress OF any con-
Migration. "Indeed, /" he said, cit has become o
rule almost OF our present re service that the fire
shall be confined to the building in which 1t Origi-
nates''
OUR PRESENT sYsrEn.
President Hitchman gave the reporter q number
OF statistics in to the force, from which 1t
appeared that the department has now o total OF
thirty-seven steam engines in active service and
In an MI thirfaan Each neyin
is supplied with about fifteen hund red feet OF hose,
and there is besides reserve of 6,0O0 feet OF new
about six hundred aud seven men and officers. and
everything ism excellent repair and condition for
immediate use. All the horses have recovered
nom the enects OF the recent equine disease.
Mr.. A. A. Low, who suggested the scheme before
the Chamber OF Commerce OF board OF engineers
Tor the effective demolition Of buildings In case OF
great connagration in this city, was visited BY
HERALD reporter at his ONCE, In 81 Burltng slip,
yesterday. and very readily proceeded to elaborate
at vas merely suggestion" said he, drought
about BY
THE NEW NECESSITY
that seems to have developed ITSELF As the mat
ter stands at present the exPediency Of blowing
up appears to rest with the Mayor, who fs likely
wanton destruction and there may arise litigation
likely 70 involve the Mayors right TO order such
about exercising right 50 lily defined. ny prspo-
ation contemplates plain definition OF such right,
:! well e the placing Of such power In the hands
pewerca by law and bound BY duty to proceed 70
such resort In case Of necessity" ..t
z!o.s.s-.Aew DO soa propose TO have sach
n. Eow-Thst may be decided BY the
aushorities. NJ resolutions before the recent
meeting OF the Chamber OF Commerce provide
merely Ier Q consultation among business men,
Insurance men and engineers, with . view to pro.
posing ;sss An 1ss.s5s R!o ,o.,n
oo0ld be passed by the Lsgislature and approved
BY the Governor; the Board might probably be
EsPosfSs-Do you propose to have them act on
their own responsibility
Mr.. Low-m the emergency contemplated
prompt action is OF the highest Importance, and
would not have them trammeled by the necessity
OF too much consultation with other authorities
would suggest that they be considered part OF the
Rire Department, and that the announcement OF
the C1ief OF thae department that the re IL beyond
hs co0trol be sufctent authority for them TO pro-
csed with the 'blowing mp" process.
hAf0Raf