The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-24
AUXILIARY FIRE PROTECTION.
A Pr OPPOSITION to Be Made to the Cit
Council.

At the next meeting of the common council 4
petition will be presented by the members OF the
Seattle Steam Heat and Power Company and
other property-ownes and merchants in the
district west of Second street and bounded by
Yesler avenue and Columbia street. asking
that honorable body to provide them and the
district contiguous with additional fire protec.
ton. This petition will be accompanied by ali
offer on the part OF the Steam Heat and Power
Company.
The company now has its plant on Post street.
in the rear OF the fine row OF bricks on the
west side Of Fropt street. nearly com pletea,
and its mains have been laid throughout the
district. The company is purely . mutual az.
fair, being composed Of owners of buildings in
the district covered. for the purpose of furnish
ing steam for heating the buildings, and
water for running the elevators Each
building in the company ia pro-
vided with one or more stand pipes
running to the roof and having hose connec-
tions on each floor for use in case OF fire. The
engine-house. situated on Post street, as above
stated. 10 brick structure, made as nearly fire.
proof as IL Is possible TO make Q building It
contains. besides boilers and pumps for furnish
ing the steam heat two immense pumps, hay
ing . capacity for forcing between four ard
four and = half million gallons of water daily
Large stone ard cement cisterns. holding about
24.oo0 gallons, have been constructed and will
be used for reserve water supply. In case Of a
Ere in any building belonging to the company
this supply vii, be drawn upon.
The proposition the corr pany will make to
the council is that the city shall lay q main
from salt water TO the pump house. q distance
Of a few hundred feet and in return have free
use OF the system for Are purposes. In case of
IRE the pumps could be started instantly az
steam will be kept mp at all hours and salt
water could be thrown upon the fire within q
very short time from the FIRST alarm. The
pumps are very powerful, having even greater
capacity than the Lake Washington
pumps and could pump enough water
in very few minutes 10 drown
out any connagration that might start. 1t is
estimated that these pumps could throw thirty
six streams Of self water through q seven-eighth
inch nozzle to Q height of over leo feet The
cost OF extending the main to salt water Is es.i-
mated 1t 81. 500 II the city accepts this propo-
siiion IL will have the further privilege of ex-
tending the mains a far as IL desires The sys-
TEN would furnish ample are protection TO six
teen blocks in the very business heart of the
city II the salt water connection were made,
without any extension Of mains.
D. A. Spencer, president OF the board OF FIRE
underwriters. INSPECTED the syste m thoroughly
and had its workings thoroughly explained to
him Yesterday. He was enthusiastic over its
possibilities ''The district protected by this
system" he said, contains the bulk of the
wealth OF the city. and pays q very large proper
ton of the taxes OF the city. If this salt water
connection Is made. I think IT should MAKE .
saving in this district alone Of between $4,000
and $4,000"
Chief kellogg also inspected the system and
was very enthusiastic concerning IL