The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-14

In regard to the thirty new large hydrants here
referred to, Chief Engineer Bates said that he
might. however, work tier during the Summer
IL was tOund that on inspection OF them that
were sn% Van nne Sy ers Suma 70 Ge
formed OF the condition oil Affairs, but
what that department mad done or INTENDED to
90 he dld not know, but he thought That some
provision ought TO be made In some way, 80 that
at ali times aud in all seasons. water might be
obtained Tor use in case OF fire, otherwise the fire.
men, well organized as they are would be useless
TO stop rhe ravases Of the flames.
WHAT COMMISSIONERS VAN MORT SAYS ON THE SUB.
An explanation of the reported bad condition OF
the fire MIGRANTS was sought from Commissioner
Van Mort, under whose charge they are. He
stated that SO lar as he knew the facilities
afforded to the fire companies were greater in
always is and there always win be.
winter from the freezing OF some OF the valves
in the MIGRANTS, out tnat is difficulty that
the be Would 10 Se few nv ws
to work. lie would undertake. ne said. to
thaw out any OF the MIGRANTS in the city
more trouble this year than during the last one,
and every Cnins that can De done is done 10 keep
some cases arose from the TACT tina. the MIGRANTS
had to be placed only three or four feet under
ground, ana in some instances at distance
cellars OF theI adjoining houses. This
allowed the trost to penetrate to the valves
quicker than usual; out there was no dinicuty
even IN sucn a case in securing now o. water
THE CHIEF ENGINEER SPEAKS.
| Chief Engineer Tracy, OF the Department OF Pub
lie Works, SAID ne had received the wing CON-
| paint from the Fire Commissioners yesterday:-
HEADauAnrnas FIRE AnrsKSr.,
Hon. Gnomcn M. VAN Non1. Commissioner OF Public
sls-Tne chief Of this department in a communies-
inst complains that the new fire hydrants erected on
meni in such condu % prevent their being
aS H re- that s s ut the
IN front OF duane PARK was irozen and on
s@s q ls IN
INST an was ade Of All large hydan
line of Church street, the report shows
be
useless for the reason that the valve wheels were
am directed oy the Commissioners .dca your atten-
taken by Which these Hydrants can be brought into
when needed by this g vsy
| Mr.. Tracy referred this communication to hts
assistant Mr. g. W. Birdsall who made the fol-
lowing report on the matter which was for warded
/ to the Fire Department.
DrrAErxryy OF pgrmq ,wcnrs,}
! Z. Fl. Tracy. ESQ, Chief Engineer.
DEAR sIR-in answer to communication Of the Fire
SIDE Church street. Canal Fulton streets
Ina e Streets Sa woad eseea ana
The above large hydranis were placed last year
IN place We repeatedly, during the extreme cold
cold Weather has in some cases 50 aGecaed me large
valves mat they have .,, Leaked LITTLE and such large
rhis is the first ntimaon have had from the Fir
- Ysnss
s h men n ont e daily ii roagd out Of order
s all h sD % o. s xsr
which were replaced by new ones; two other valve
sss se %
We are now TIA. sing out the few that frozen on
Npb be good order for use only n
application o. steam warm up The srgs valves before
n.a Re s. Be- gssS wh0u TestS the
Mr. Tracy Thought that the Iauit found with the
| MIGRANTS by the Fire Depar tment mad been greatly
exaggerated. He had men always going round
whose sole business 1t Is TO look after and keep
zee now it was possible for any one OF them to
like The time stated to thaw them out. In
regard TO those reported as useless by the fire
wheels operating the valves, which by some means
had become broken. these, he thought, must
TO force them round when they found they would
not work easily-lDstead oil putting down their
thawing pipe In connection with the engine
and with which they were ali provided. he
thought II was JOB got up IN the interest OF some
patent or other by finding fault with those in
line OF church street were put IN at Presiden
Perey's suggestion, and are OF extra capacity,
Inches ana one three inches IN diameter The supply
pipe TO these hydrants from the main Is SIX inches
IN Diane ter-the main being twenty ncnes.
! 1hn lnsures a hign pressure aud an immense now
OF water. The old hydrants, or those OF the Old
pattern are ief still standing Ia their old places,
| so that II one Is found frozen they could without
| doubt ind the next one ready To Ro
| 10 work with wnIle the other was be-
| ing thawed out. He also stated that
| the barrels OF the hydrants were kept as
| Tar as possible packed with salt In order 10 pre-
vent their freezing. The weather TINS year had
| been excessively severe, but ne had received nc
complaint from the Fire Department during the
| winter, except the ABOVE which were not OF any
| moment. He did not think there need be any
alarm felt by the citizens OF connAgrari0n spread
ing through a scarcity OF water.