Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-11-17
FIRE AND WATER.
TIE EFFyCACY Or OUR WATER
WORKS SYSTEM.

Tested. by the Common Council Committee
Fire Departnent--The System II
Value as a FIRE Protection if Properly
Handled--The Matter of Handling Gates
Insurance Rates. etc.
Yesterday afternoon the committee from
the common council on fire department, to
which was referred the matter of investi-
eating the water works system. the COM
munications of Mayor Ames and Chief
the council, held meeting and took the
various matters under consideration. The
communications of the mayor and
the chief were read. After
short discussion they were laid upon the
table until after they could make a test Of
ting off the gates SO as to concentrate the
pressure at the point needed in the case of
fire was thoroughly discussed. It seemed
to be the general opinion of the commit
tee that these gates had not been properly
handled at the recent fires. It was found
that the gates had usually been shut off by
an employe of the water works in cases of
fire, whereas it should be, according to the
city ordinance, attended to at the
direction of the chief of the department.
After deciding to ascertain the exact con-
| dition Of the mains at the time of the Mon
! day fire, the committee adjourned to the
scene of the disaster to witness
THE TEST.
Considerable time was consumed in
shutting off the gates stopping the South
Minneapolis and the East side supply. In
| the course OF half hour, four pieces of
hose having been attached to the hydrant
| directly in front of the Knickerbocher
block ruins, the sound of one whistle from
the paper mill gave the signal for turning
| on the water. Four powerful
streams was the result. The chief
then detached one hose and put on a
gauge and the water was again turned on.
With pressure of sixty pounds to a
square inch, three streams were thrown to
| the top Of the Rurlbut block, five stories
high, with great force. The nozzles were
a one inch and two seven-eigbths
inches. The hose was all detached and an
other test of the pressure made, showing it
to be seyenty-fve pounds. The pressure
at the pump house was ninety pounds to
the square inch, fifteen pounds being lost
in the distance and elevation. Superin-
tehdent Johnson estimates that the
hydrant is about thirty feet higher
that the pump house. The pressure at the
pump house can be increased to 200
pounds, which demonstrates the fact
that if properly handled, Minneapolis has
an excellent and effective fire
protection. The committee will re-
port in favor OF requesting
especial care in handling the gates during
fires.
The failure of the water works system
to do efficacious work during the fire on
Monday, created considerable fright
among insurance men, and as al outcome
the following circular which, explains IL
self, has been issued from the Office Of the
board of underwriters.
MINNEAPOLIS, MIMI, Nov. Is, 1sS2.-To
the Members of the Minneapolis Under
writer's Union-Gentlemen The serious
losses of the 4th and 18th inst. have clearly
demonstrated that the facilities for ex-
tinguishing fires in this city are made
quate. The water mains are too small, the
pumping force too light, hydrants far too
few, the direct pressure system unreliable.
that there are not enough steamers, and
that the fire department is not properly
directed. You are, therefore, required to
add twenty cents to each and every rate
borne on the rate book, which is not more
than per cent. (Schooi houses, dwellings,
and churches excepted.) The rates promul-
gated on the rate slips, and those to be
| promulgated, will have the same additions
made to each rate by you before writing a
policy. This rule to remain until the I'M
provementS are made.
w. B. MCCoRD, Manager.
P. $40 additional rate will be charged
on elevators or grain therein, for the
present.