New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-20

deemed necessary Mr. Van Mort estimates the cost OF
laying these three mains at 5OOO and urges the ne
cessity Of immediate action.
He has also made an estimate for duplicating the
present line OF pipes for the Of salt water for the
purposes of extngushng fires and for streetcleaning
uses and finds that the lowest cost Of the pipes reser
voires and land appropriated for the purpose, will be
sSOOOOO or with the three additional Croton mains,
100000 He fs opposed to the use OF salt water as 1t
would involve continual expenses in relaying pipes
which would rapidly corrode under the action OF salt
water.
He closes his communication by stating that the sup
ply Of Croon water Is ample for all purposes OF aud
Tor fires and that when the modes of obtaining the
Croton water are increased by the laying of tho new
mains, the water supply will be sufficient
WATER PLENTY, BUT PIPES INSUFFICIENT.
The intimatiOns of present insufficient facil-
tiles obtaninGiwater contained nSthe report OF Com
missioner Van Mort induced THE TRIBUNE to tmake in
gesgaons into the subject and reporters sent to
obtain all facts bearing the question. Some start
nc particulars were brought to light. The inyestiga
lion has shown that not only the danger equally great
as at Chicago and Boston, but that under certain cond
Qns Of temperature the chances of moro destructive
fire are much greater Facts which were scrupulousy
withheld by the Croton Department from public knoWl
edge under the old management have come to hght
demonstrating that the whole system Of the street
pipes and hydrant, needs reconstruction and change
The statements which follow may be relied upon In every
particular as they have been obtained from the high
est authority and are in no case exaggerated
Facts show that the suppy-pipes are mainly placed
above the depth which frost penetrates and are ex
tremely liable TO have the water contained IN them
frozen under comparatively mild temperature Such
cases have occurred resulting IN the destruction OF large
amounts OF property The hYdrants draw their supplies
a. woud be impossible for streams Of be thrown
to the hight of the Equitable and similar buildings for the
for The draught Of the steam reengines They
exhausted and the steamp1mps suck IN ar Not more
than steam e-engne can receive sufficient supply
from the same s1py-pipe me number OF 1{{ S
especially in the lower part OF the city among the Dus
portions, Is entirely inadequate 70 tne netesSts OF
the case, and coutnuayespeciaIy IN the cross town
Nearly ali Of the readers of THE TRIBUNE have proba-
biz noticed different occasions persons who were en-
screw which extended TO the top of the hydrant This
screw operates valve located at the bottom OF the
hydrant presses it down from the lower extremity and
leaves opening for the water to pass out The pres
water in the pipes operates on the valve and
water from the hydrant A watercock is situated just
aPoYe dle vaST 30 ta 10 run G This has Become
source OF great difficulty. The streetsweepers and
sprnklers composed generally Of persons who ig
norant and lacking in Judgment, are permitted to
use the street hydrants and frequently in their
haste neglect or forget to stop the full hOw
OF water. As a consequence the overflow runs out
Of the waercOCk penetrates the ground IN the vicinity,
and in cold weather becomes frozen and extending TO
the hydrant renders the supply Of water from 1t mac
cesslble IA!s umS Wo9l nor 0cCL "a me e Wao1
cock was situated below the point Whfe lIOst Pene-
trates instead Of being five six feet below the
Inc city are only feet and always liable TO be
frozen. The iron which extends from the valve
opening which also makes the supply Of water limited
The hydrants connected with the suppy-pipes
orally six iuches i'll dameter-by connections OF the
same SIZE but the aperture through which the screw
passes Is only two inches in diameter so tna II the sup
ply Of IN the streeppes were unlimited no more
water could DO drawn by the hrecngnes than can pass
through tw0inch pipe.
THE SOURCE OF TROUBLE,
SO much for the watersuppy The danger here Is not
40 much IN the scarcity he water not scarce but the
means of getting the heart of the city are) as in
the freezing OF the hrehydrants in cold weather The
supply mains were often laid in hurry, and not In
Syor kmanke manner but with desire TO see how much
could be done in given time They were LETT TOO near
the surface The hydrants and their connections are
laid in the same manner when prudence would suggest
that instead of beng from TO three feet below the
surface they should be at least five, even SIX as at
this depth water will not freeze in this climate 1t only
requires spell OF cold weather. IaI Sino anu ~ csse
q fire gets from under control 1t would seem that the
The hvGrans draw their supply OF water from the sup
uly-ppes instead Of mains, and these soon
hnusted under the rapid workings Of the re-engines
The which are in the cross rarely
conuected with the mains which extend through the
avenues and principal streets ana generally pass under
or over them In some they unconnected with
other waterppes for the distance OF mile, and conse
0uently are unable 10 supply the additional demands
upon tnem which fire creates. Many instances have
occurred the supply has gwen out and in the case
OF tue destruction OF the large wholesale store OF D. H.
ChtteDden, years ago. TINS cause ADDED 70 the TACT
that the hydrans frozen and had to be hawed out
before water attsnaDe, contributed 10 the dlsas-
trOus results which followed. III tDese buppyplpes
were united with the mains, making continuous net
of connected pipes, no drapght made upon them
would be SUFFICIENT 10 e1hanst tleD, Inc o.Ou
made the MIGRANTS ON Broadway are with the sup
plypipes There two OF these latter on either side
oftbe street u inches in diameter
A large main extends from the upper part Of Broad
south TO Canlst whence II Is reduced IN SIZE IN
only u inches in diameter. All the hydrants on the
side OF Broadway are sunk only three feet below
The sidewalk and contain at all times water which, In
freezing temperature liable 70 become ice The same
pipes remain that were used IN the city before the miro
auction OF the CrOtOn water None Of the waterpiDes
on the cross streets six inches diameter and
they are rarely connected with the mains on the ave
macs and Ina many cases found insufficient 10 sup
My the ordinary demands OF family use Not long ago
The engine the Grand HOTEL at broadway and Thirty
frstst exhausted 80 much WdJef rom tne sLeetlpo
for the Of the guests that numerous complaints were
made by the neignbOTs, and the PIPE was connected
with the Fifh-ave and Broadway mains, when the sup
ply OF water became ample. . -,
So many have occurred IN the lower part OF INC
city where careless streetsweepers and sprnkers have
failed shut of the water entirely from the hydrauts,
fround 10 the cellars and warehouses Of merchants
that Numerous petitions have been made to the mem
bers Of the CrOtOn Board TO have the MIGRANTS removed
from IN front OF their premises These pressing lmp0r
unities have been numerous and urgent that their
wishes have been generally compiled win, ana sne
hydrauts removed. As consequence there are very
few MIGRANTS in the streets IN the lower part OF
sioSSIv on The corners Of the streets II fire should
gain Roadway on Of those streets the number OF
hydrants In the vicinity would be found inadequate
These defects In the Croton Department were dis
covered by superintendent Tracy upon his 40
cesson the charge OF the department and he has be
gun the work OF reform. II IL plain that the whole sys
tenn Of hydrans with their insufficient aperture for the
passage OF water, should DE abolished and new ar
rangemeut established. 1t IL proposed to remove the
present bydrants throughout the city and replace them
with others which shall have aperture of al least six
inches 80 that the hreengnes will be able 20 receive
etrea Of water extensive that contained IN the
enDpyppe It Is proposed, also, 20 place the overflow
corf n least five feet below the sdewak and accord
indy beyond the reach Of frost and 70 connect pipe
with the wateT.cOck and extend II into the. sewers
thereby preventing the running Of water into cellars
nad warehouses; present. To complete this entire
work an appropriation OF not more than $35OOOOO Will he
peeded WHILE urged, that 20 make connections with
lhe river aud saltwater, al has been suggested IN