The New York herald., 1879-02-01
HOW TO FIGHT FLAMES.
A Ponderous Scheme for the Pro-
lection Of Property.
FIRE ENGINES DISPLACED
The Water to Come from Tank $50
Feet Above the Ground

The recent disastrous fires that have occurred in
this city have drawn the attention of the Board Of
Underwriters more closely to the question of the
extinction of conhagrations by some more efficient
means than that at present in It is well known
to insurance men and fire officials generally that the
small pipes laid along the streets that skirt the city
and in some Of the principal avenues are utterly
inadequate to supply water as fast rs
the engines draw it out in the
event of q large confagration. where many
engines are pumping at contiguous hydrants. This
want has been often felt and various propositions
have been made to relieve It, The Holly system.
which was much talked Of few years ago. proposed
having large stations along the river fronts whence
water could be pumped through pipes laid especially
for the purpose to hydrants the scene OF the
conhagration The number Of stations necessary for
the undertaking and the slowness Of its operations
caused the idea to be abandoned. Another plan pro-
posed the shutting of from certain sections Of the
city where fire should break out of the Croton
water and then opening these pipes at the river front
and pumping into them the salt water to be used in
extingushing the fire. This plan would do away
with the waste Of Croton at large res but the people
of the city would not tolerate it because would
spoil their drinking water for some time after large
con1agration had broken out.
But the cost of the present system in the inability
to cope successfully with large confagrations the
consequent loss of many millions of dollars and the
waste OF water. rendered q new plan necessary. At
last scheme has been projected which, it is thought
will obvate the defects Of the present system for
tingushing fres Its originator, hydraulic engi-
Of this city, given the subject many years
study. and has at last perfected system which he
claims is infinitely better than the present one.
has received the approval of many gentlemen
nected with the Board Of Fire Underwriters and the
specifications Of the plan are accompanied by cer
tifcate from the civil engineer. Mr.. William J. Nc
Alpine builder Of the Chicago water works. who says
that the scheme is 'the best that be devised"
PLAN.
The details Of the work to be done such
gigantic scale that not acquainted with engineer
ing would condemn them impossible at first sight;
but every item has been carefully figured by an
expert mathematician and the work declared to be
easy Of accomplishment. provided the necessary
means are furnished The first requisite Of the pro-
ject Is tower situated in the centre Of the bultup
portion of the city, between ninth street and the
Battery-in Union square. if possible. Its dimen-
sions be 100 feet in interior diameter and $50
feet high-more than twice the height of the West
Union buildng-an altitude exceeded by very few
buildings in the world The top Of this tower is to
contain reservoir for the supply Of water
100 feet in diameter and about 80 feet in
height, capable OF holding 100000 gallons.
Croton will not be used, but salt water will
be pumped into the tank by large pipes
running along Fourteenth street from the East and
North rivers. Two stationary engines and pumps
one of 750 and the other OF $50 horse power-would
be sufficient to keep the reservoir constantly full.
The reservoir is to be connected with a system of
pipes running ell over the city and terminating in
hydrants. to which hose will ha snnplied, The plan
pipes always ready for instant use They are to be
so placed that fire occur ut distance of more
than 400 feet from the Twentyeight of them
can be brought to bear on any fire that may occur
from the Battery to Fifty street with hose
from 100 800 feet in length. each hydrant having
4 openings. thus giving 112 streams These may be
increased to 68 hydrants. 272 streams, with hose
not to exceed 1000 feet in length. to 12S hy-
drants and 5l2 streams. with bose not exceeding
1000 feet and all amply supplied with water;
of the hose will be simply the tremendous impetus
given to the water by its vertical fall OF three
hundred feet in tho reservoir tower. The following
table shows the height to which such jets would be
carried at the points less about twenty feet
allowance for friction in passing through the hose:
HEIGHT OF THE JETs.