The New York herald., 1872-11-16
SALT WATER AND FIRE.
Suggestions from Commodore Levy

SALT WATER AND FIRE.
Suggestions from Commodore Levy.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
The city of New York Is surrounded with an in
exhaustible supply Of water; why should it not be
pI divided with q sufficient quantity to meet any
emergency that may occur at almost any mOments
are thought and question asked by property hold
ers, who are ready to pay for 1t at legitimate
cost This Is not the first time that have brought
this important subject before our City Fathers. 1
did early 1885, after the great fire at that
date. l have since done so on several occasions;
but I am sorry to say our City Fathers would
not heed my advice. 1t is to be hoped
that now. after the last connagrations.
some action will be taken by them. Should they
not do so petition will be made to the coming
Legislature to obtain charter, by our citizens, to
build the required reservoirs for the city and lay
the mains and pipes and plugs in the streets, and
to tax the property holders each one, IS per
year for every twenty-five feet front OF their
property, so that the company can pay seven por
cent interest on their loan and pay all their en-
plOye's rents, &C., and keep their works in order.
The surplus that may be over shall go into sinking
fund, after making dividend, to be agreed on, to
the stockholders. The remaining sum shall be
appropriated towards paying Off our city
debt. To make this a perfect success.
East and the other the North River, on the most
elevated land, to be purchased at fair valuation
most respectable citizens residing in this city to
prevent any exorbtant prices being paid and to
prevent fraud. The reservoirs to be supplied. by
powerful steam engines, the main and all other
pipes to be of extra thickness and made Of iron.
These pipes should all be coated on the inside
Spanish composition OF lime and talOw DC, which
would prevent their rust in the inside and outside
and last for ages. The fire plugs should each have
with main pipe of six to eight inches In diameter.
Then any fire plug would supply an engine. without
s eag engne and her
force to operate on her stream, which Is now lost
to her by using her suction. During the time re-
qurea to build the reservoirs temporary force
pumps worked by steam, can be erected at differ.
ent points on our rivers, the small pipes can be
laid for imme date use from these pumps on lines
east and west OF the city, and when the main pipes
are laid they can all be used SO that there Will be
no loss to the city or company. With this supply
and healthy, all our stables and vehicles can Oe
With salt salt water and all water closets can
fresh water to such degree that sufficient supply
be had in all OF our houses so that many of them
which now only have it up to the second floor
argue that the city of New York has inexhausti-
and demands. This is a mistake. 1t may be suf-
fcient for few years yet, but when our suburban
quick transit then the population will increase,
manufactures viii spring up and the streams that
Se Nsw aes S w ee and
is well .no~n Sati lhat ; WcI Our quick transit
comes into operation New Workers who
now have to live on the low lands OF
New Jersey and Long Island will hy to the healthy
and rich soil of Wcstchester county, the flower Of
our State where malaria and mosquitoes are not
known, and the rich milk and honey flows. New
York is now in its infancy: the city Is about
twelve miles long; in twenty y-fve years 1t VIII be
double that distance and about three millions Of
population, and, with the will OF the Almighty will
be one OF the finest cities in the world. Now, fell
low citizens let us put our shoulders to the wheeli
let us incte our City Fathers to do their duty and
supply our city with an abundance Of salt water,
which our Heavenly Father has provided US with,
to protect our homes and nresides, and from that
al-devouring element fire-that good servant but
a bad master. To work Time once lost never re-
turns ]. p. LEVY.
Fresh Water and Fire.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
What do you think of the following plan of put.
ting out fires in New York city9 Build three or
four towers at convenient distances, along the
backbone of Manhattan Island, high enough and
OF capacity enough to contain large supply Of
water; then let there be a main pipe strong
enough to withstand the pressure OF water from
island; let there be pumping engines con-
nected with the most northern tower, and
pipes laid far far enough Sp the HUDSON @ River River
then have fresh water without using the CrOt0n.
Let there be tsay at every other block a hydrant
and sunicient hose kept TO supply that section Of
the city. By this means no engines or horses
would be required, but when an alarm was sounded
the fremen only would have to answer the call.
But sir, besides putting out fires this system would
supply public fountains and could be used for
spTinkling the streets in the Summer season by
attaching sprinKleis to the nozzles OF the hose.
With all these advantages this system would pay
LOSSES BY THE BOSTON FIRE