The New York herald., 1876-03-19
AIR VERSUS STEAM.
NEW AND ECONOMICAL METHOD OF Ex-
TINGUIsHNo LARGE FIRES.

NEW AND ECONOMICAL METHOD OF Ex-
TINGUIsHINo LARGE FIRES
An entirely system protect the city in case of
large fires has been recently brought to our notice by
some we'll known engineers. The plan is simple and
cheap BY II the present supply Of Croton
sidered be sufficient, additional pipes are re-
quired to be laid and instead of utilizing salt water at
an expense OF millions Of dollars the construction OF
reservoirs, which would take years TO accomplish
another power is substituted for steam-viz ''com-
pressed air." power fully as reliable as steam and
certainly safer and much cheaper For the purpose OF
concentrating the water to points needed and ele-
waiting the any height required it would only
be necessary lay pipe OF proper size, per-
iectly jointed and well coated parallel with the
water main, say from the lower part Of Broad
way up TO point at or near Madison square,
distance OF ABOUT three miles, connected at one end
with an air compressor OF sufficient power TO keep the
pipes constantly charged with compressed air at
pressure OF from ity seventy pounds to the square
men from these AIR mains connecting pipes VIII be
carried up TO near e surface OF the principal water
hydrans or fire pluS for the of the power when
ever required Instead OF employing costly nre en-
gnes to be maintained at great expense operated by
stean ORDINARY piston pumps Of much greater power
and capacity, worked with compressed air will take
their places In case of large FIRE all that necessary
would be TO have one or more pumps placed at point
pipe and watcr hydrant The compressed air, always
ready, would AT once force the any required
height with much moro effect than steam and bv the
OF much less labor, from tho fact that an almost
unlimited power can be brought into requisiton from
any point the line OF air main by the stationary AR
compressors, while the fire engines in use arc
necessarily Limited order to be portable by horse
power through the crowded thoroughfares Another
great advantage is the concentration water TO point
most needed in critical moment without much dis
turbance. The air pipe or continuous
without any additional expense having this immense
power within also be utilized in relieving prin-
cpal OF of the greatest nuisancesvz the
stately telegraph poles
Compressed air, by certain simple process, can ba
deprived of its moisture and made perfectly dry before
entering the ppe and be maintained in that state Thus
has been that constant current OF dry air
forced through the ppes will prevent the destruction
OF the insulating materials otherwise affected by thu
ous.posonous gases with which the earth, 10
depth, is constantly charged, thereby ahordng
perfect and cheap system OF underground telegraph
ing desirable for all large cities Test boxes, per-
fectly tight, 10 be connected with the air main
Tor the purpose of introducing the cables and testing
from time 10 time their efficiency
The same power DO further utilized a substi-
steam the of all kinds Of machinery and
the operating OF elevators IN warehouses; stores hotels
and private residences aud, lastly in carrying the
Croon water 10 any required height for any and all
purposes, All of which be accomplished without
much disturbance, within few months time and
comparatively light expense