The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-28
A New and Economical Method
OF distinguishing Large Fires.

From the New York lleraldl
An entirely new system to protect thu
city in case OF large fires has been recent
" brought to our notice by some wei
known engineers. The plan is simple
and cheap. by it the present supply o
Croton IL considered to be sufficient, NJ
additional pipes are required to be laid
and instead OF utilizing salt water at Al
expense of millions OF dollars or the con
struction OF new reservoirs, which wOnlt
take years to accomplish, another powc
il substituted for steam-viZ: 'cOm
pressed air." power fully as reliable n
steam, and certainly safer and mucl
cheaper. For the purpose OF conccntra
ting the water to points needed and Gle
waiting the same TO any height required
it would only be necessary to lay al
iron pipe Of proper size, perfectly jointed
and we'll coated, and PARALLEL with the
water main, say from the lower part oil
Broadway up to some point at or near
Madison square, a distance Of about three
miles, connected at one end with an air
compressor Of sufficient power to keep
the pipes constantly charged with COM
pressed air and pressure ot from fifty to
seventy pounds To the square inch; from
these air mains connecting pipes will he
carried up 10 near the surface OF the
principal water hydrants and lirc.plug-
Tor the Use Of the power whenever re-
Ouired. Instead OF employing costly fire
engines to be maintained At great expense
operated By steam, ordinary piston pumps
OF much greater power and capacity,
worked with compressed air, will TAXI
their places. In case Of large fire, all that
i. necessary would be to have one or more
pumps placed at point most convenient
connected by hose with the air pipe
and water hydrant. The compressed air
always ready, would at once force the
water to any required height with much
more effect than steam, and by the use o.
much less labor, from the fact that an al'
most unlimited power can he brought in
to requsition from any point on the line
OF air main, BY the stationary air com
pressors, while the fire engines now in
use are necessarily limited in order to be
portable By horse power through the
crowded thrOughiares. Another great
advantage is the concentration OF water
to point most needed in critical mo-
ment without much disturbance. The
same aIr.pipe or continuous reservoir
without any additional expense, having
this Immense power within, can also be
utilized in relieving our principal streets
OF ore OF the greatest nuisanCc5-viz: the
STATE, v telegraph poles.
Compressed air, by n certain simple
process, can be deprived OF its moisture
aud made perfectly dry before entering
the pipe, and be maintained IN that state.
Thus it has been asCertained that a con.
slant current Of dry air, forced through
the pipes, will prevent the destruction Of
the insulating materials otherwise affect
ed by the various poisonous gases with
which the earth, to certain depth, is con-
stantly charged, thereby atlOrding a per
feet and cheap system Of underground
telegraphing 70 desirable for all large
cities. Test boxes, perfectly tight, are to
he connected with the air main for the
purpose Of introducing the cables and
testing from time to time their efficiency
The same power can be further Utilized,
a. substitute for steam, in the use Of all
kinds OF machinery, and the operating Oi
elevators in warehouses, stores, hOteI@and
private residences, and lastly in carrying
the CrotOn water TO any required height
for any and all purposes. All Of which
can be accomplished, without much dis.
turbance, within few months time, and
at u comparatively light cXpcnsc.