The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-03-31
A New and Economical Method Of
Extinguishing Large Fires.
From the New York Herald, March ls

:
An entirely new system TO protect the
city in case of large fires has been re-
Gently brought TO our notice by some
we'll known engineers. The plan is
simple and cheap. BY it the present
supply of CrotOn is considered TO be
sufficient. no additional pipes are re-
/ gnired to be laid, and instead Of ufiliz-
| ing salt water at an expense Of millions
of dollars or the construction Of new
reservoirs, which wonld take years TO
accomplish, another power Is substituted
! for steam-viz, "compres~ed air." a
pnwer fully as reliable as steam and GER
tainly safer and much cheaper. For the
purpose of concentrating the water 10
points needed and elevaring the same to
any height required. it would only tr
necessary to lay an iron pipe Of proper
size. perfectly jninIed and we'll coated,
and parallel with the water main, Say
from the lower part Of Broadway mp
to some point at or near Madison square,
a distance of about three miles, connect
ed at one end with an air compressor of
! sufficient power to keep the pipes con-
stantly charged with compressed air at
pressure OF from fifty to seventy pounds
tn the square inch; from these air mains
connecting pipes will he carried up 10
near the surface of the principal water
hydrants and frr-plugs for the use of
the power whenever required. Indsiead
of employing costly fire engines TO he
maintained at great expense, operated
by steam. ordinary piston pumps, of
much greater power and capacity, work
ed with compressed air, will take their
places. In case of large fire, all that
ia necessary wonld be TO have one or
more pumps placed at point most con-
venient, connected by hose with the air
pipe and water hydrant. The com
pressed air, always ready. would at once
force the water to any required height
with much more effect than steam, and
by the use of much less labor. from the
fact, that an almost unlimited power can
be brought into requsifion from any
point on the line Of air main, By the
stationary air compressOrs, while the
FIRE engines now in use are necessarily
limited in order TO be portable
by horse power through the crowded
thoroughfares. Another great advan-
tage is the concentration of water to a
point most needed in a critical moment
| without much disturbance. The same
air pipe or continuous reservoir without
any additional expense, having this
immense power within, can also be util-
lied in relieving our principal streets OF
one OF the greatest nuisances-viz: the
stately telegraph poles.
Compressed air, by certain simple
process, can be deprived Of its moisture
and made perfectly dry before entering
the pipe, and be maintained in that state.
Thus it has been ascertained that con-
stant current of dry air, forced through
the pipes, will prevent the destruction of
the insulating materials otherwise af-
fected by the various poisonous gases
with which the earth, to a certain depth,
Is constantly charged, thereby affording
a perfect and cheap system OF under
ground telegraphing so desirable for all
large cities. Test boxes, perfectly tight
are TO be connected with the air main
for the purpose of introducing the ca
bles and testing from time TO time their
efficiency.
The same power can be further utiI-
lied, as a substitute for steam, in the use
Of kinds of machinery, and the opera
ting OF elevators in warehouses, stores,
hotels and private residences, and lastly
in carrying the Croton water 10 any re-
qnired height for any and all purposes.
All of which can be accomplished, with
out much disturbance, within a few
months time, and at a comparatively
light expense.