The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-07
TOO MUCH PRESSURE.
That's what wea the Matter with the
Fire Hose.

Fire Hose.
The following letter is the explanation
Of Samuel Eastman * Co. Of the bursting
Of the hose purchased from them:
The Hon. u. T.. liadden, Memphis. Tenn.
Dear Sii-Iours vi the 2Jth at hand.
We note conlcnlsg In regard TO your in
quiry In sending u man tu your city 20 re-
pair the hose will say 10 would involve too
much expense. The freight on the hose
here would DO small item 10 what II
would be in scnding man there, and
when II Is here wo hive every facility TO
put II IN order anl test t. 80 that II would
not be- hall the work "a IL would be to do
| II In your city.
The facts IN the case are lust these:
| The merits and advantages OF leather hose,
when properly used, il that Il will stand
nearly n much pressure after several
/ years uso az at first. ii not oycrstrained or
used with excessive pressure. Excessive
or very high pressure, takes out every
particle OF the elasticity from the leather,
no that Il has nothing left ia reserve, when
It may then be- liable 20 burst at hall It's
original strength, or less, according as II
has been oycrslnincd. This matter, rs
we'll ~ all others, must bg guided bv rra-
tended, aud within reasonable bounds.
Now We ask YOU as business man TO
consider for a few moments reasonable
construction Ut this whole matter " pres
sure ON hose for fir duty, Tor this was
/ what II was made ior. We will refer YOU
TO our book, page IL, on which we will
all. There arc largo number Of cities
using the Holly, ordicct pumping system,
aud the rules oi all urr not to exceed
eighty pounds, higher pressure wouh
cndangcr the pipes IN the streets, Now
the gravity system laid out hy the best
engineers at the present time does not cN-
cccd this except IN rare cascs, and then
but few pounds. 4 ascnear herr where
they are Just putting IN walerworks for
lire protection, IN 1ilton, y. H., where their
natural elevation ut water was about 300
! feet and the rcscyoir was located down 10
| 20 feet, the latter being considered the
! better We can cite YOU 10 many cases
| where several years ago reservoirs were To-
| cltCl some 800 feet or thctcabuuts, aud
| have been lowered TO about 200 feet at
/ quito n considerable expense Your own
| good judgement viii toll you 200 feet head
v ample water facilities Tor every coniiu-
gcncy.
Now We ask you 20 20 carefully over
| what IL said on "llcal aud PRESSURE"
pages - and -, aud have marked for your
attention on this subject on pages up to
/ 90 We would like To have YOU consider
| We might 20 on indefinitely with such
testimony, but will cite you 10 only ono
| other rcicrcucc at this time from tie Eu.
Icka Fire Hose company, OF New York, n
| book Of iOrty two pages, on fire hose. On
/ page thcysay ~ pressure II 300 pounds
/ per Equyrc inch N moru than loublC that
ever attained by any steam trr engine in
ordinary hrc ECryicc.' This they claim,
/ CDypm nll aud every contingency
Now We ask yOu what reason Ur caution
on your city'e pirthas been used, 10y taking
/ AMI testing this hosc we have furnished ~
/ your department. 10 500 pounds and over
/ 90 the squnr' inch, and oven at this, two
sections out oi thuo oven stood this test:
while all testimony vi any kind ut hose
/ goes o. show that such test would ruin
/ the hose whether " luut or not nj the
time oi tho lest We guarantee leather
I husn to stand mOuc rpunds pressure % the
| square inch than Any other manufacturer
/ VI leather hose in iha United States, OF We
can say In tho world, via. Five bundled
/ luct head with the lose capped, IN this
way the hose remains still, water not plss.
ing through II. The equivalent Of this on
a Steamer l. about 20 pounds 10 the squarc
| inch. Now without saying anything
about your officials testing our hose TO 500
pounds pressure 10 the square inch, or
nearly 800 pounds more than We gunran.
toe II, they write 10 us saylng, Your hose
has burst at go and 30 pounds pressure
~ the square inch, on our steamers, etc. -
Now our former letters aul sample Of
the hose sent Tor your inspection fully cx.
plains that, whlo We were even rcpH.
handed by your chicf by letter IN sending
the sample 10 your city ai our own Cx-
pru,c Nv exprcss. Wcivil not 90 over
M, POINT hrain, as We hnvc already 10 our
lurncr lritun explained the damage and
condition We found ".
II Is we'll known common lav that both
parties arc obliged 10 usc al due caution