, 1874-07-22

question. and, At least to practical men, dispose
Of 1t satisfactorily.
bolove thasit Is now worry generally admit
ti,ata lack Of capacity OF tho wator+1naina wns
tho principal source Of trouble at tho late fire.
an.l that evca had tho Tlro Department boon
able to stand tEor ground and fight It, tho ca.
pnctty OF tho Nator-nainB Tha entirely too small
Tor the enormous duty required Of them, and
would suggest very simple metl,5l by which
this difficulty can bo entirely obviatod, and any
further complaints Of exouBea on that Hooro dono
away with.
pecialiy In tho business portion of the city,
would suggest the construction OF fire.o1Bterns
Of not iosB than 75,0o0 gallons capacity, tho
waset-nains to CROSS eae, otler a. right angles
a.hsa ct hs '90 9e h Of ss s ''tsr Ssn and 9sys sys
Of tho full capacity OF esld main,
d,sohnrgng into tho cistern. These vnlvos
should be operated from tho atreot loyol. Con-
noctol with each cistorn should bo not loHa than
hYo 1o-inoh s1,otton vents. arranged at different
points, 30 tl,at Gvo atean,orB could obtain water
from each cstern. It should bo the duty Of the
Ohiof Euginoor to know that tho cisterna vero
full Of wntor at all titnoa and ready for Berylco
and upon N alarm being given tl,e valve con-
cisterns nearest the flrol ahonld bo oronod aud
full supply let on. With Hucl, system Of
ciHterns, connected with = u orl14-inch wator-
main, with nu hydrostato column egnal to 40
be capaoity sufficient to meet any and oil emer-
goncies, and there would always bc full supply
Of water unless by accident to tho main onglno
at tho Wator-W Works. With suoh oistorn, Should
walls, DO compelled to abandon their position, It
would occupy but few moments OF titlo for
them to ronlovo tholr machinery to q safer loca-
| tion and again bDgin operations, These cls-
torns should be humorous, and in tho territory
bounded BY Michigan avenue and Canal erroet
and Van Duren aud South Water streets, tloAo
clBterus should be 30 placca that tt,erc would bo
not less than two to slo block. Dy this MEANS
| 4 large nurnbor Of streams could be brought
close to tho sceno Of tho fire, and long lines Of
| struoton would be but alight, and unlike OK
ponsiyo machinery, they would not get out Of
order, nlways be roa1y for sorvlce, aud would
not fatl at tho time whom tho grcatcst duty was
| Again, tlo best engineering experience hui
| demonstrated that cur steamers, "a 1t present
constructed, aro Of entirely too small capacity
(many not throwing 70 o1cect 200 gallons oI
Of creator capacity and power are BY far ths
most effective and durable.
| The original Latta engine wRs furnished viii
a 1012+inch pump, and Ind maximum capaci
foro suggest, In connection with tho system o.
ciaterns, the construction Of not less thal
twelve large atoamers, each equipped with tWt
9x16-inch pumps, and each pump separately con
| nectea Win Steam cylinder 16xlH lnCllG6. Iht
two pumps and enginoa should be connected 90
as to rork at right angles TO each other. simila
to locomotive engiuo, and bo 30 arranged tia
in oaso Of necidont 10 oue It could be dis
| connected and repaired while tho othe
(untnjnredD WAS at work. The eapacity Of sllcl
au engine would be about 40 gallons or wats
por revolution, and should be 10 constructed n
to bo capable Of being run to maximum spoo'
Of not less than 40 revolutions per minute
which would give each ongiue maximum capao
ity Of 1890 gaIons of water per minute Cper en-
gine). or, IN caso tue twelve wero called nlpo!
leaoh sngins throwing not issn thnn four 2-inol
streams), 1t would give forty-oight streams, Q
about b00, 900 galons Of wafer por minute, Rut1
ciont to drown out almost any fire. Tie cost o
suoh engines should not exceed so, ,000 each
they would wolgh about o1z tens. aud O
our Lowell streets could be easily takon I
the Bcenc Of operations, quickly got to worl
and with ordinary caro- would prove to bo an in
voatment Of great value to the CITY,.
Cn1oAao, July 20, 1874. "ENQu1nER."