New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-28

.ou,v rare that fire at all well underway on the up
ps floors of our lofty buildings brought under control
IN the upper portion OF the building, not the WHOLE
4, burned out Besides tho examples OF tho Chicago
and Boston fires. numerous instances ofLths last e1
perence will occur paid attention TO the
records fires in this city and elsewhere the cases Oh
tho burning of Jaynes eight granite building IN
Philadelphia and the fro In Rand & Ayerys printing
Office in about week ago. being pointed examples
Such ires when they spread to adjacent buiih-
ings burn down to within reach OK our hre apparatus
and only then they quenchod.
No doubt Mansard roofs. which have OF late. MINK
been unduly abused are very liable to catch fire made
of wood in consequence OF the amount Of exposed and
projecting details Ia their construction but In such con-
agratons those OF Chicago and Boston, the character
OF the roofs been OF SO much importance as their
height from the ground Since matter what may DO
The quantity OF water number OF engines at command
brisk Gre IN the sixth story OF modern store or ware
house IL nearly uncomfortable by our present modes OF
Tnere are several rcasons for this fact 20 which will
call attention before explaining my plan OF overcoming
the difficulty. The reaction OF stream OF water delly
cred with force enough to enable 1t 70 DO service at e
tops of our highest buildings makesit impossible for ire
men To work IL handy and nose Oh suncent suenslh
and size carry the water and stand the pressure re-
quired for projecting such a stream weighs 80 inuch
when filled that u II difficult 20 move ~ ABOUT Agdn'
In our narrower streets. in when many OF our high
est buildings are, it Is impossible TO throw n
stream from the ground at such an angle IA 10 enhoe ~
60 penetrate ffth sxthsOry window 90 rs to reach
effectively middle not TO say the back part OF one OF
our deep warehouses; and II the attompt Is mado 10
carry hose up through neChbOrtng buildings, ana SO
roach re bends and turns In IL produce so ucn
friction the of water seriously 10 Impair ~
value while the lost in making such changes or
hOse gives attire much advantage. Carrying hose 10
the upper windows OF buildings upon laddeFs, although
one their cOmmOnest experiences, II both dangerous
aud very awkward operation for treinen and ~ - am
cult for them under such Crcun5 stances to give streams
the changes OF direction needed to enable the water
thrown TO do its ads anita eOusly At large Dres
whom flremen are chiefly employed IN protecting al
laoent property, the difficulty OF getting water TO the
IODs OF lofty buildings Is overwhelming II cannot ne
thrown from the with efficiency ana the quantity
of hose used leading 20 the tops OF buildings 10
be PLAYED thence, eNhaustS the supply OF inc
lremen and leaves them pOwerlesS. Hose carriages
carry only hundred feet OF hose each, and IL WIN
be appa that the circle described by large hre VIII
soon exhaust all that firemen are provided Wlth
especially. when, not unfrequently occurs they nave
10 abandon long lines OF 1t IN consequence OF the Ia
progress OF the flames preventing its removal
The difficulty in forcing streams TO a considerable
hight from the ground does not arise from tue heg %
power In our engines proven day or two aa'
The trial OF one them at the Equitable building. r.
after the hose had been led 10 the top OF thstDuldus
stream was thrown stated In the reports OF te ez-
ID riments feet into the air thns forcing water
total hight of 166 feet from the grounC or u mucu
Croater hight than 1t could be thrown directly from
Jhu around Tue trouble in forcing streams seems 10
mat owing the lack OF cohesion OF the PARTICLES OF
shtr, stream thrown from Pipe soon loses ito cyA-
fTcal solid form, and spreads into sprays, when its
momentum is lJ"t By the increased rIotion OF these
fprsyo IN the air.