Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-28
MORE INVESTIGATION.

Chief Stetsoa Explains to the Investigating
journed "Sine Die.'
At O'Clock yesterday afternoon the
''court of inquiry" resumed its labors af-
ter an intermission of one week, owing to
the absence of Capt. Merriman, the chair
man
Chief Engineer Stetsnn Of the fire de-
partment was placed upon the witness
stand, and his examination continued
throughout the session.
He said substantially as follows: Res
pecting the use of the pumps. or the direct
pressure system, without the aid of the
steamers in extinguishing fires, and Pro-
ducing supply of water through mains
distance of three-quarters of a mile from
the pump house on NicoIlet avenue. 1
will say do not think that the necessary
supply of water can be provided by direct
pressure, especially if the fire is in the up
per stories of high buildings like the'syn-
dictate block. There is no trouble with
small fires or fires in small buildings. If
we want to throw an inch stream through
500 feet of hose it will require seYenty-four
pounds pressure to throw height of 100
feet. An inch stream will be evaporated
by the heat but heavier body of wa
ter will beat the fire back. With an one
and one-fourth inch nozzle liz pounds
pressure to the square inch will be requir-
ed to throw water upward 100 feet. In
order to reach a sufficient supply at the
Syndicate block 800 feet of hose were nee
essary and PIP pounds of pressure would
hvI ba
only reliable pressure must be obtained by
the use of steamers and the city pumps
cannot be relied upon. A six inch main
will provide six streams provided the by
drants cannot work large quantities.
The engineer explained the system of
mains, which was practically the same as
given by engineer Waters of the water
board at previous meeting Of the 1nves
tigation.
In answer to questions propounded by
N ayor Ames the chief stated:
have given the subject of insurance q
deal of study since I have been chief OF
the fire department. I have my opinion
respecting the mGtter of over insurance.
In great many instances, perhaps one
half, where there have been losses, I find
that there was over insurance. 1 have
known an instance where stock
of goods invoiced only $1,000
and he was carrying $4,000 insurance be-
lieve had that man known that he could only
get $1,000 insurance in case Of a fire he
would not pay the premium on $4,000. 1
had this man arrested; he was taken be-
| fore the court, and the examination was
continued; the defendant was allowed to
go and when the case came up before the
| court the defendant had sheared off his
beard and left the city. 1t looks to me as
though the insurance companies manage
their business very badly in Minneapolis,
and ala of the opinion that at one-half
of the fires the department Is obliged to
fight insurance companies.
The mayor rendered the committee
the use of the water works
for the purpose of making
any test which the committee should BIS
pleased to make.
The chief engineer stated that If the
committee on fire department from the
city council should accord, he would also
give the committee the use of the steamers
for a similar test.
Aid Andrews wanted it decided whether
or not there was danger of getting too
many engines attached to water main, so
exhausting the supply,when if less streams
were thrown better service would be Sc
cured, abiding to the fire in the Sphinx
block.
The engineer replied that when the first
stream was thrown on, very little effect was
the result, and other streams were thrown,
or rather were attempted to be thrown.
When got to that fire we wanted six good
streams and could not have done good
work without that volume of water which
must have been thrown by six streams; had
it not been necessary, 1 should not have
made six attachments.
After considerable other talk and testi-
mony, the investigating committee ad-
journed, subject to the call from the
chairman.