The New York herald., 1876-02-21
THE WATER SUPPLY.
THE HOLLY WATER WORKS sYsTEM-wHAT IN
sURANCE MEN THINK OF IT.

THE HOLLY WATER WORKS sYsTEM-wHAT IN
sURANcE MEN THINK OF IT.
As public interest has been drawn the necessity OF
securing adequate water supply since the
OF the Broadway conagration and some OF the
downtown companies directly interested
in procuring facilities for more readily extinguishing
fire, HERALD reporter yesterday called upon some
gentlemen connected with the insurance interest TO
hear their opinions concerning the best methods Of in
creasng the supply of the city and Of guarding
against any fires that may Several gentlemen
stated that they led to believe that the city mains
quite unequal to supply the demand upon them in
any emergency They thought that the old mains
have been materially injured by and that the
accumulation OF matter in them had considerably
impaired their capacity They inclined to be-
lieve that when the old mains laid allowance
was made for the which buildings have lately
sumed and for the drain upon the mains which so
large a distribution of hydrants and water pumps
has necessitated Nor was the susceptibility OF by.
drants to become frozen and clogged with ice taken
into consideration. An immediate want to be
supplied the time, and subsequent contingencies
were not looked to- They SAID that some commercial
buildings in which kept large stores OF valuable
merchandise could not be reached by water in the
event of a fire occurring in their Interior Among
others they instanced Stewards Clafins Nos IOI and
1O3 Duane street. Nos 20 y Reade street. Nos 326
32S and $50 Broadway the seven story sugar house
Nos 6s and 10 Washington street and the building
extending from $50 10 655 Broadway.
PRoPRIETY ISsURNG THESE BUILDINGS
against loss has been matter which the insurance
companies have long debated. Some time since the
Board OF Underwriters held meeting and appointed
committee devise means for femedying the lack Of
water facilities; but until spurred into activity by the
late fire, important action taken. Now, how
ever they have awakened to the necessity urging
consideration Of the matter upon the city authorities
and have resolved to investigate such plans may be
offered for increasing the water supply Of the city.
The members of the Underwriters Committee seem
to have agreed upon adoption OF the Holly Water
Works Company's system the one best calculated
TO the wants Of the community BY this arrange
mcnt constant pressure upon the water is Produced
which will drive flood upon the oftiest struc-
lures II IS proposed 10 divide the city into -four
districts, so arranged that in three Of them
in case Of extraordinary emergency by opening valves
in the engine houses full supply OF salt be
had from the North and East rivers These, however,
need be used until the Croton exhausted,
as direct pressure can be put upon every man IN the
several districts until their supply fails The plan pro-
posed is to place set of engines near the Croon dam
and intermediate set between IL and the RESERVOIR by
which the water can be forced to its fullest speed, IN
steadof flowing with its own current as It does now
The Holly Water Works Company have in prepara-
ton very full and accurate account OF the wants and
necessities Of New York 70 the water supply, to-
gether with proposed remedies which when completed
II said will proclaim for the Holly system the follow
ing adyantages:-
F-A more positive protection against Gre BY the aei
pir5 s ths eSigeneies of any possible conaaaration
soadA full and adequate water supply Tor All domestic
TIA more economical Of for fire rurposes BY
the application greater and more direct power of throw
fsSa-EcOnomy in supply and delivery superior anS
~,,reat saving in the destruction Of property By tie
Immediate extingushing OF IRE.
~A a further economy Of Croton water by using salt
water in case OF emergency whatever district NAV
occur and only during It's continuance
y,sfh-Advantages be derived from proposed irde
pendent supply by mains Eve pur
moses aud for cleansing the the laid az
distances admit the waters reaching all points likely
EglAn economy in the cost Of distribution by increased
N,rL-The Holly hydrants arranged that 2on feet
hose coed in each o them be used by
police citizens before the arrival Of the engine
To further facilitate the saving OF water the Holly
seclosug faucet II Is suggested, should be attached.
TO every hydrant so to regulate the supply and.
automatic action OF the water which being neon
pressiDe, gives on its lowering in the mans a signal
the engineer TO Increase the pressure at his eurpcs
For purposes OF experiment the Holly Company rro.
poses 10 give practical test OF its system In anv
designated district at its own expense the cost o,
work 10 be paid for only II II performs the rcquiremcnts
OF the authorities. For evidence Of the practical
utility OF their system the Holly Company refer 10
Rochester and Bangor, Me-, in which cities no two
adjoining buildings have been consumed since It's
PRODUCTION
Several Of the gentlemen interested IN insurance on
wnom the reporter called said they looked forward
with confidence TO the introduction OF the system and
stated that all they require OF the Common Council
engine houses At the Battery the foot of Grand
Canal streets and at the outlet of Central Park per
lect the Introduction Of what they regarded "A h0p
2ykh WeyenAYe Of large Urea