The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-08
THE WATER sUPPLY.

SEATTLE, July :. 1890.
To THE EDIToR-Your .ssua of this morning
contains an editorial on our detective water
supply. which goes straight 10 the point ana
appeals TO the good sense OF every citizen OF
Seattle. Even though the Cedar river system
viii cost less TO asntaiu than ore from Lske
Washington. we eau afford neither the enor-
nous first cost of the former nor the long Gesay
necessary to complete IL; we want liberal sup
ply OF water as soon as we can get IT, ana LOT
this we must look 10 the great lake which forms
our eastern coua6ary. Let the supply be taken
far enough out. and at q suffieient depth 20
escape such contamination as may be ong
the shore, and It stands 10 reason that deep.
fresh water lake over thirty mics long. should
fulfill all requirement for many years to come.
Your article urges that stationary pumping
engines le distributed along the water front 10
PROVIDE IRE protection. This is GOOD sug-
gession, but would il not also be well TO nave
the CITY steam d-e engines available Tor prompt
service In the same district? There has been
much said and written about our poor water
supply. but the writer has looked in vain for
some mention of the shameful fact that, while
owning four steam fire engines, the city OF
Seattle has no more than one available for QUICK
duty. Would the fire aud water committee OF
the council kindly explain why this is?
The repeated requests and recommendations
of the chief show that he has long appreciated
can scarcely be blamed for its continuai &C.
Moreover it must be very discouraging to that
official and his men to be so handicapped and
yet be expected to do efficient fire service. Their
worst enemies could hardy conceive OF better
plan 10 hamper them.
II 10 fatt that since last October there nave
been two full engine companies at the miser-
able tent known as headquarters. and only
horses enough to take out one set OF apparatus
When fire breaks out one company can roll
away In line style, but the otner sits heipiessiy
alongside It's useless apparatus because 1t has no
horses. The addition of two teams OF horses to
the department would have practically doubled
It's efficiency, and there was plenty OF room Tor
another company in the warehouse where the
chemical engine stands. This would have af-
forded facilities for four strong saltwater
streams at the first stages OF water front fires.
but it was not done The chief has been forced
TO attack such large fires as those 81 Commercial
and Weller, and Yves. and Marion, with only one
steamer company, and trust to the Beitown
hose carriage for additional hose. To secure the
other steamers and the balance of the hose the
already wearied horses had to be sent hack up
the hill.
II the wster-works do not furnish the re-
quired streams for fire service, what are the
steamers for? Our four steam fire engines
should be able to handle eight streams of salt
water our three recent large fires W. re all close
endeavors, there were long delays in each case
in bringing the steamers to the scene. Four
good streams during the first five minutes OF
fire are worth dozen half hour later.
We understand that all this will be corrected
and the four steamers put into service when the
new engine-houses are completed, but this is
looking very far into the future These houses
were to be ready months ago. but they were
overtaken with the same delays that befel the
slarm telegraph. the ire-boat, the water-works
and the purchase of horses and harness. In
view of the en- Urgency involved, two of the new
houses might have been occupied by companies
three or four weeks ago, even though the door
knobs were not polished nor the bath-tubs quite
ready; they were entirely serviceable for de-
partment purposes and the additional horses
have been eating their heads of in a livery sta
BILE for two or three weeks.
1t seems as though work must drag on these
various engine houses. and the department re-
main crippled and inefficient until the complet-
ed stations are leisurely i spected and accepted
by the powers that be. Yet the occupation of
each house by the department means the plac-
ing of an additional steam fire engine, with
hose, horses and men, in readiness for prompt and
active FIRE service. Will the fire and water CON-
mittee endeavor TO realize this before we have a
fourth disastrous fire within easy reach OF salt
water? SIY