, 1874-09-15
THE FIRE QUESTION.

Opinion of n LcntifIlg English EnrI-
a.ccr.
Nc are permitted to publish tho following lot
|tos, to a gentleman in this city, from B. r.
stockman, who visited Chicago fow wooks ago.
Mr., s. wns engineer uuuoe tho celebrated Il.
Stephenson, md WAS Bont osor to examine, aud, ii
he approved it's construction, to accept, tho
Victoria Bridge at Montreal. Wo publish it
mainly as a confirmation, from 20 high an n,l-
thority, of BuggoBtipnB heretofore urged iu TuK
Tribune:
poE1s consEa' wEsrntSsrGH e. AnDEs,
MI DEAN s1a: now hnve the pleusi.rc Ut replying
lou, chicaso eity immavessents, viii respect to
sAlch otc sour retaras III tu lie small gze Of tle
nains but, notwithstanding that drawback, do not
link tho hsght Of the ssand-ipo at tho Wafer Works
Haut SERVICE snch would 10 necessary ior c.s Of
,satcs in easo Of hrs t. bS e. asea stose
system, ~ It Gull apply only to largo buildings; aud
lilo quantity Of water required II very large. Tie
this out sullcently TIN water should be pumped to
sufficient head to enahle tho trts III ANY part of the
city to play oycr tho ose-topa Thu extent and dis
tacu 70 which tho supply WIS required would rcgnnto
the e!ght to which tu water would rise To tots. The
luss y friction In tle llosu asse reduces tho delivery
Of hose.
I 1tink, therefore, tin. higher Btand-ppe ut the
fl1llH1R-htat!uN, Nuu Alar!G nnltsy Hft-luBst nua
hyura1s, distributed throughout tue arrcls, no as tu
reluce tAe !eugth Of lose to minimum, would bu
very great Improvement; nntl aEn tlink TINT The Au
tlorttics would lo we'll To adopt tho proposition.
Thora Ia another exrcslicnt which feel confidence
Ia recommending to your city authorities, aud 1t
nrses uron this reiiscliDu: Tint Chicago should DO
nlicct 10 conhagrntions of such magnitude, though
possessing laEo Of wafer Sufficient 10 cxtinguish
vvsnylus, seems strange. What propose, therefore,
Ia to bring tho ake-watcr, westward, ocroBs III ber
eral ]aces, by OF cuyerts Of cast~tron cement
CT athor suitable or cOnvoneut material.
TArso should not be lcBa than from to feet d.
A1ncter; anu dip from, say, hbuut Or feet under
a surface of t1o ake ut QUO el, to obo 10 feet be-
low that leye ut tho othpr end. OF COURSE these cn
yarts should he properly laid under tic roulB ind tor
linut1 at thoir ends In wells coyateQ over by tho
roadway, but with suction and Aoao already at-
tarhel, md pluR ut thu surface. Tho lake-cnls OF
tese clvorts would 10 provided with perforated
eriiisa or atsaiAers.
rho descent ot tllo water along Bnch cnlEorta would
have sufficient force to supply the most powerful fire.
engnu thu could he attached to tho Kuctions. TAo
Wus could 10 placed ut various convenient Bilota tn
tile city. They would bo noNt nscful also for 6trcct-
sprinkliuR III hot weather, flushing tho sewurs, or
cleansing tho foot.ays and ahop-fronta, thDreby
Ing tho putar drinking water supplied by tho Watar
Works.
haye not the levels Of the city; but, Judging from
personh observation during my yialt, think good
fall from the lnke could bo obtained.
Think tlcso mattcIa over. aud further beAr In mind
tat could be uscfui III selecting Of our best
fre-eugfnes and oAting euYfne for tle lake. similar
10 our Thatnes floating eugiuea. am, my dear sir,
yours sincerely. y. 7. SrocKalAN.