New-York tribune., 1881-10-27
THE SHORT WATER SUPPLY.


GUSHING FIRES.
The Commissioner of Public Works at p. m on
Tuesday had the gates at the Central Park Reservoir
shut down five inches and they were not raised
again until A. m yesterday. This made saving
of about 10 600 900 gallons. In about 5000 build
mps throughout the city the water would not rise
above the kitchen or first floor. Extra men nave
been placed at the gates of the Central Park Reser
yOir in order that the pressure may be rapidly IN
creased in case of fire. The Fire Commissioners
have been requested to see that their telegraph
wires to the reservoir in good working order so
that there may be no delay in calling
for an increased supply of water in case OF
threatened large fire. The amount of water used by
the Fire Department to extinguish fires is very
much less than most people suppose, but 1t is neces-
sary that there should be good supply whenever
the emergency calls for it. During the year 1880
the Fire Department used 33, 102, 900 gallons OF
water in extinguishng fires. This is only a little
more than one-third of days supply for the entire
CITY, 1t is asserted that the filling of the Forty
second Street ReservoI, would eiiectually protect
the lower part Of the city from all danger OF short
supply of water in case of fire. There were many
complaints yesterday at the Department of Public
Works by residents of dwellings and stores because
of the short supply of water
THE AMOUNT NOW on HAND.
The following was sent yes erday by Chief Engl-
neer.Isaac Newton to Commissioner Thompson
The nmOunt Of water remaining In the storage
reservoirs and lakes including five lakes aud ponds re-
Gently acquired in accordance with your Instruction. IS
Pyer ia fr0n 5000 COO TO 10000 600 gallons per day
The consumption for the past hours has been
th rate with the present flow of the CrOtOn the reserve
supply viii about from seventeen to nineteen days
main it is very found that many localities are d.
phycd of water Those who are IaVoraby slluated WIN
gf tor
ihosc who are favored When the depth Of water IN
he nuaduc s reduced 10 delivery uf from iOOOO,0O0
to 10 OCU gaons per day, Gbout 300 oOOOUUO gallons
of water In the Croton Lake will become available 90
Tho reduction Of tho consumption from 0j,O0O,O0O
gaInns per daythc maximum safe capacity OF the aque-
duct-tO the present rate IA almost wholly due 10 inc
shutting cown Of the outer gates 4 the reservoir thus
to very ANAL extent only 10 st"ppare OF waste OF tue
The rainfall since last Sunday amounts to only olOo
Of ar inch.
The Police Commissioners instructed the police,
Yesterday to prevent street sprinking or waste OF
Cloton water in any FORM in accordance Wi IN rec
concentrations made by the Board of City Works
The scaut supply Of water Is already the source Of
much apprehension on the part Of the larye manu-
facturrrs down tosn. In Fulton. Spruce, Ann,
NASSAU Beel,man. William, yaudewater, Rose and
other streets are most Of the large printing
mcnts Most Of these are supplied with steam BY
several stcam-power companies. The snpply of
water on Tuesday night wa. scant and some neon
venirnce was felt. The Excelsior Steam Power
Company. at No. l3 SpruCr-st supplies steam 10
most Of The mauulacturin- establishments ~ the
block bounded by Printing ionse-s1u2re'
sr,I of the dailv papars receive their
steam for heating and power from this com
pany aud the shifting of of water for even q few
bCur, ont Of the twcuty-four would entail q heavy
loss Within few bloCksmuTc than iwcutythouSanl
persons are employed and most OF these can III
afford to hc thrown ont Of employment. 80,
II is not anticipated that the entire supply VIII NJ
auy time hr cut %. The officials OF the Department
OF Public Works hope for. heavy rains within the
next ten days but they say they cannot afford TO
must be Sparing Of tho stored supply OF water.
Many Of the manufacturers are provided "lth con
densers aud 10y this mean, much oi lhc steam Is
again turned into water aud considerable saving
effected
OPTNTONS or INSURANCE. MIN.
Lively apprehension is still felt by insurance men
In regard 10 the approaching water famine. VIC.
Miller. president Of the Star Insurance Company.
soid 10 TRIBUNE reporter that the insurance people
were extremely nervous about it, ard that it was
very important that citizens should economic IN
the use Of water. If q fire of any magnitude should
ars, in the course Of n water famine no one could
fnrsgcc W here n would end. Mr.. Miller sad that
salt water would be- used IN an emergency as lar aN
possible. hut IT. use would bc lnIted iy lo or'!ng
powcr Of the engines On the west SIDE "t the CITY
whore there are many fame sheds and great
dcal of stored merchandise. fire once started might
easily eat its into the heart oi the cty Against
snrh n cata,trnphc the fire tugs could he used TO
some advantage Salt water was not desirable
exfingu,hcr 10 use owing 10 The damage II inflicted
upOn Wcrcaldlse but IL was pt'''l 'h' H"'i'"b ~
W ". Rmdau ofthc New York Board Of Fire I'M
derwritcr-, said that il the worst came; dynamite
could be usel to blow up bindings in The track OF
n great fire and thereby prevent an cNirnd.i con-
G.uration. bnildiug blown down; although burn
ing could hc more readily cogtrolrd Wh'h aii'
and dynamite was certainly preferable 70 powder
MIR Randall however, hoped that such an emer-
pcncy would not arise, aud Thought that IN lhr
nG hp pff
coud Gr uscd 10 advantage. tn" central part oI tho
CITY would ic most IN danger OWING to ~ distance
from the river. and The physical impo%ibllliy ~
forcing the water such distance. IN oldch tlheN
solt water was forced from one haud-euHinc 10
another. aud possibly that could he done to-day
Some of our uulCTvriicrs,' SAID Mr. kandall IN
conclusion - look upou the drOuth as very scr-
ous tiat .er indeed and am inclined to share that
,n,uinu think. however. the official statements
made i'm regard 10 the scarcity o water are having
a beneficial effect m causing economy
Martin /. Crowcll. president 0f the Irving llre
Insurance Company and chairman OF the fIre IN
snroncc Patrol Committee was not enthusiastic on
the use of salt wafer for cNtingushiug fires. II
would not be available, ho said, IN uptown dlHtrcls
without long lines of hose and very SIT ug pumps.
lie supposed engines OF sufficient strength c"uld ne
| provided for many p1rt7 oi the CltN bui Tor inc
centre II the metropolis he doubted whether any en-
,incs now in usc coud force The water far enough
inland 10 br available. The Underwriters had re-
Gently authorized the pUtting of extra men on
| patrol! but nothing had yet been done IN the mat
| Ter. Several years ago patrols went throngh thc
! streets IN winter IN large numbers to ad at the
earliest possible moment IN detecting nnd, cNilh-
gushing fires. and the same thing might yet be done
| should the drouth contnue.
| "What part of the city would be particularly M
safe m case salt water was the only resource OF the
! Fire Department y was asked,
| well "A fire at Broadway and Cana-st. Woud
| be n good example See what u distance thrro
! would be from the rivers to pump the water. lt
would have to be pamped from engine to engine as
| wns done in rldcu times"
| "Isn't salt water more effective than fresh in ex-
| tinymshmg fTesP
| ~ doubt whether there is much difference. And
| then salt water Injuries goods more than fresh
| wafer" 49,
| William Jailray president of the Park Fire lnSur
| ance Company, spoke III favor of the use OF salt
| water in case the Croton failed utterly lie SAID
| that he had often wondered why no reservoirs tor
! salt water had been built. Salt water was prefer
able to fresh in cxtinguishlng fires. People always