Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-14
Emcisnt Fire Profession.

While watchfulness and proper supply of
fire apparatus in competent hands may prove
of the greatest value in fighting fires, there is
of hundred they prove valueless in dealing
with incipient confagrations. The old fire.
mans adage, that five minutes when a fire
breaks out is of greater value than five hours
at subsequent period, has been SO often
proved true that further reference to it is al
most unnecessary, but it's Importance is none
the less thoroughly realized and almost all
modern fre-fghting devices are constructed
with the principle we have quoted in view.
Among the rest, the Automatic Sprinkler has
come extensively into within the past five
years, and many buildings containing valua-
BILE or inaammable goods are now provided
with this useful means of protection. The
earlier sprinklers have, however, proved in
many respects defective, and, though at first
accepted as satisfactory, time and the severe
practical test to which they are continually
subject, has not only revealed their weakness
but in many instances even caused their re-
lection. The majority of them have been 80
constructed that the fusible plug disc, the
melting of which released a stream or shower
of water, was placed in direct contact with
the water in the pipes, and consequently
greater heat was required to melt 1T than the
initial fusion point of the exposed metal
would indicate. In some there was corroslon,
a sticking fast of parts that should be easily
movable. and often leakage at points, etc.
Then again, sediment, ETC., could easily &C
cumulate in the pipes and sprinklers, and
hinder the flow, aud while one or two sprlnk-
lers worked well with full force of water,
when in consequence of fire, "a large number
were brought into operation, the diminished
o}a-,, o@Nan increased
sistance to its exit, merely dribbled from the
sDfinklers, and fell in harmless stream on
the ground beneath them. Under these cir
cumstances, we would call the special atten-
ton of our readers to the advantages the sys-
tenn supplied by The New Haven Automatic
Fire Distinguishing company possesses, and
the results practical tests in actual fires show
it to be capable of accomplishing.
In the first place, by automatically regula-
ting its sprinkling ori6ce, it insures thor
ough and equal distribution of whatever wa
ter passes through it, whether one sprinkler
OF a whole system be in use. The fusible
disc supported only at its edge and exposed
to the full effects of the heat, is not in con-
tact with the water, and its fusion cannot
therefore be retarded. The opening through
the sprinklers is direct and allows for the dis
charge of any foreign matter coming through
the pipes.
Finally it will never suffer from corroslon
alld can De TeaSllly " pipes, "AiAC
it will sustain a heavier pressure and sprinkle
more effectively than any other in the market
and suffers the loss of none of its parts in
fire but what may be readily replaced. Used
in connection with Bishops Automatic Gov
ernor Valve, which regulates the admission
of water to the pipes, only allowing it to en-
ter when there is a fire. (thus doing away
with all possibility of pipes frozen or clogged
with sediment) and sounding an alarm when
the water is let on, these sprinklers, several
patterns for use in different situations being
provided, prove an efficient protection for
warehouses, dry goods and other stores, fac
tories mills, ETC., and are not only in use in
several extensive manufacturing establish
ments, but they are approved by the boards
of underwriters, as fulfilling every condition
they impose, and where they are used ma
terial reduction in the cost of insurance is eff
fected
We quote the following from the annual
report of the Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of
New York 20 A report recently published
on the value of Automatic Sprinklers, in
which is Incorporated list Of fires extin-
guished by them covering 1913 fires, gives the
aggregate loss at S713, 237.11, being an average
loss of S572 per fire. The insurable value of
these risks would amount to as much as
$3.50, 900 each, and the rate of insurance on
each is not less than one per cent. per annum.
Therefore, it will be seen that only about one
third of the premiums received upon these
identical risks in single year has been alb
sorbed to pay the loss and damage by fire In
a period of seven years"
The economy thus insured, in addition to
the security against fire and damage, should
certainly indue5 manufacturers to look close
" into the system to which we have referred.
The details of the construction of the various
appliances are exceedingly ingenious, and
are fully set forth in the company's desc1ip-
tive circular.