The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-17
Alarming Condition of the
Street Hydrants.
OVER THREE THOUSAND FROZEN.
Slight Improvement in River
Navigation.
THE SOUND STILL FROZEN FAST
The Hudson Bridged Opposite
Fort Washington.

According to the written word and tradition the
severity OF the present winter has been unequaled
for at least the past forty years. In 1885 it was
thought that the very acme OF misery, resulting
from an extreme season in every way, had been
reached, and that, Whatever the trouble and sur
fering unfortunate humanity might be called upon
to endure in the future, an atmosphere registering
from TO degrees above or below zero would not
be experienced for any heightened period. In fact,
the winter OF that year was looked upon as an
exceedingly exceptional one, in so far as It's
rigors were concerned. The inferences were
that the difficulties then encountered, regard to
the arrangements Of domestic and public
water works. would act as precedent and
example from which the scientist in succeeding
years would draw beneficial deductions and COR
customs At this time 1t will be remembered
during the ever memorable fire, the greatest DIFF
hculty was experienced in obtaining q sufficient
supply OF water from the hydrants by which the
nre engines OF that day could be operated. The
consequence was that hundreds OF houses were
destroyed by the devouring element and millions
OF dollars worth Of damage done for which after
ward there was found ne representation or equiv
alsnt other than pile OF charred and Aeselated
ruins. Tue lesson then learned was one which
should never have been forgotten, ana that should
have been appreciated and prohted by for all time
to come. The lapse OF years and Immunity from
similar disastrous visitations during the ICY
period OF each succeeding year appear to have
begot indifference and carclessness. A fire &C that
time was cousiderea to be serious matter. Now,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS it be from familiarity with the
danger. or that this very familiarity breeds con-
tempt-no particular attention appears to be paid
by the authorities to the possibility OF danger that
has been lately so iorcibly pointed out and enectu-
ally demonstrated.
nAAyr-
With a view OF ascerJaining by actual observa-
tion how many OF the street hydrants were in
condition for immediate use, In case Of sudden
emergency, such as q fire, several OF the HERALD
reporters were directed to make thorough and
complete inspection OF the city. Beginning early
yesterday morRing these gentlemen passed
through street after street, inqurng at fre en-
CINE houses and at the police stations, and visit.
ing every hydrant in the city from Thirty-ourth
street to the Battery. The result was that the
frozen hydrant was the rule, the open one an ex-
ceptlon. TO say that the city is almost defence
less in the event OF large fire Is only stating the
bare truth, for with MIGRANTS sealed by irost the
fremen cannot get their apparatus in operation
as rapidly as they ought, In order to check the
progress OF the flames. The reports herewith
given carry their own lessons and are pregnant
with meaning. Without seeking to alarm eur
readers It Is only right that they should know ex-
actly the condition OF these hydrants
ABOVE FOURTEENTH STREET.
Between Fourteenth ana ThIrty-fourth streets,
from nver TO river, there are 9Sl hydrants. VI
these there were only twenty-five known to be
1t for immediate use. The nremen had on the
previous day examined several MIGRANTS and
thawed them OUT. All Of these hydrants were
frozen last yesterday. showing how easily tHey
get out OF order the presence Of frost. All along
the water fronts between Thirty-fourth and Four.
teenth streets. on either side, all the hydrants
were found TO be sealed by frost. The west side OF
this district seems to have suffered less than the
east side which Is accounted for by the TACT that
so many OF the large factories on the
west side have their large boilers under
the street, and the heat thereby engendered keeps
the hydrants rom freezing. The reporters going
through this district found fremen at work
selecting positions for Are hydrants, and there
were several steamers employed in thawing out
those found frozen. 1t was also ascertained that
additional steamers viii be set at work today,
though the men stated that 1t Will be impossible
to test all the hydrants so they are devoting their
attention to the principal ones in each fire dis
tmct in order that the he. supply q water
q hydrant was founI to be frozen the bremen
uncapped the nozzle and injected steam therein.
the average time required to thaw out hydrant
being nine minutes. the Schooship st. Mary's, ~
Ing at the foot or Twentythird street, East River,
has been without water Tor Two days, and engine
No. 16 was yesterday sent 20 the dock TO thaw out
the hydrant after which she filed the ships tanks.
In the upper wards OF the city the people are SUI
iering great inconvenience because OF frozen
pipes and through every street
FIRES ARE BEING MADE
by the plumbers to tnaw the earth so that they
saa tine head the mains
sends to the gamins OF the city, and around every
one OF them were gathered groups.
THE EAST SIDE.
East or BROADWAY, from f0urtccuth street. to
the Battery, the hydrants, almost without excep.
ton, were frozen. But few precautions seem 10
have been taken on the east side 10 prevent q
repetition OF the fatal scenes OF Sunday night
when, through the failure OF the MIGRANTS at the
corner OF Ninth street and avenue q, and on
Tenth street, between avenues ana G, a woman
and her child were burned to death. But few ny.
IN any emergency, ana, with the exception OF .
small numDer IN the second police precinct. they
are at least 200 MIGRANTS and OF them there are
not more than six open.
THE WEST SIDE
What has been said OF the east side OF the CITY
n equally true OF the vest side, scarcely hydrant
having oeen discovered there IN condition for in
slant use. The fircmen have oeen working on
large number OF the plugs in this locality, more
especially In what Is Known Is the dry goods dis
vesey street, south Of Eighth street and west Of
Broadway. 1t IS remarkable fact that there
never was known so many private dwellings to be
deprived OF wafer and gas as at present. In
the vicinity OF Washington square nearly all
frozen up, and yesterday men were digging at the
main pipe in front OF Nos. sc, SO and ca Fourth
street. The pipes at Freman's Hall were frozen;
Also at the Cosmopolitan HOTEL corner OF CHAM
bers street and West Broadway; also At Spring
Street Hall and many other buildings OF note.
Nearly every hydrant along the piers on the North
River side are frozen Iast, Notwithstanding men
are kept constantly at work trying TO open them.
THE BROOKLYN HYDRANTS.
Nearly all the street MIGRANTS OF Brooklyn are
frozen and have been so for several days past. IL
IL fortunate that fires are comparatively few, In
TO thaw out the water. In about one-third OF
the houses OF the city the pipes are out OF order,
fact IN which the plumber doth rejoice. SO In
tense has been the frost that pipes connecting
with the main have been found frozen four ieet
beneath the surface Many blocks depend on
solitary house for water.
TROUBLE ON STATEN ISLAND.
nre, OF probably tncendiary ORIGIN was dis
covered about four O'Clock yesterday morning in
the basement OF threc story brick house, near
she corner OIL New York and Pennsylvania ave-
macs, Clifton, and though the nremeH were early
A. tne scene and worked as best tuey could, tne
building and It's contents were entirely consumed,
she inmates having barely time To cscape BY the