Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-07-23
A FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH
Is What Is Needed I'm Fort Worth-Nvhat -
Practical Man Has to Say About IL.


Practical Man Has to Say About IL.
While Mr. NC. Orten 80 well-known
in connection with the water works
company, was in the city n day OF
two since, a GAZETTE representative
held conversation with him, when
he expressed views that will not only
be found OF interest but are sugges.
tive of reform and Improvement that
is much needed in Fort Worth. The
conversation turned upon the admira-
BILE system of water works so recently
inaugurated here when Mr.. Orten re.
marked that although the system is 50
fine and complete one, yet
in the event Of fire, property
in the Immediate neighborhood
was more than likely to suffer.
why is this, Mr.. Orten ?n
"Simply, because the. engineer
would in I'LL probability not be notified
in time to put on fire PRESSURE
"The city is connected with the
pumping station by telephone"
THAT Is very true, but more than
half the time the wire is down or for
some other reason, it is impossible to
use it. The wire is extended from
tree to tree and very often the connec-
ton is broken by limbs falling upon 1t.
Why not very long since, this
very thing happened and ii
was several hours before II was put in
order. Now this evil must be RENE
died. 1t is absolutely necessary that
the engineer should be notified i'm
medately upon the breaking out of a
fire. so that he may have time to put
on fire pressure. and attach another
pump, before the plugs are opened.
Ordinarily we ouly keep one pump in
use, although we have four, and this
one is kept going at its fullest capacity
all the time to supply the city with
water. Besides the city, we supply
every railroad running in here, and to
supply all Of these demands, we pump
out 800 900 gallons every day.
"What will be the consequences If
the engineer Is not notified?'
"Why, the valves are liable to blown
out before he can attach another pump.
This happened the other day. One
pump was going and some one opened
tive or three plugs, and the upshot
was there were two valves blown off. y
What would you suggest us rem
edy?"
''The city should inaugurate a sys-
ttul VI ilIc 10y
Of this they could always and instantly
give notice TO the engineer, and II
fire could always be located exactly
by the fire boxes, which are placed in
different parts of tile city. This sys-
tenn is used in all large cities, and un-
til something of the kind is put in use
here, the water works will be Of small
use i'm the event of q fire. Now there
are some of the members of the fire
department who think that we are
not willing to give them water to
practice. This is "A great mistake. We
are not only willing but anxious to
give them the water, and baye them
practice so that their volunteer
efforts may prove Of some avail, when
called into active requisition. All that
we object TO is the indiscriminate way
OF opening the water plugs, because we
do not want our machinery blown all
To pieces, when notice can so easily be
given and almost in minute. Now, II
this notice is given, within n minute
and half thereafter another pump
will be attached ana fire pressure put
ON
Mr. Orton's remarks are certainly
worthy of serious consideration, and IL
his suggestions are acted upon Fort
Worth cannot but be the gamer.