The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-03
SULLIVAN TO SCHUSSLER,
The Fire Chief Talks Plainly
to the Water Company'S
Chief.
The Spring Valley Assist With mice
Little Talks" but They "Let 1t
Go at That"

| Mr.. Schussler, chief engineer of the
Spring Valley Water Company, was sum-
moned before the Fire Committee of the
Board of Supervisors yesterday to explain
why the fire engines were unable to throw
water above the first story Of the burning
buildings last Thursday night.
! He came with a map of the great
charred spot south of Market street, which
stands as an unsightly monument to the
fact that be was summoned too late.
| He went on to explain what in his opin-
ion fought to be done"
He thinks that district, say of four
blocks, should be surrounded by pipes of
good dimensions, sixteen inches, for in
stance, and that these would give ample
pressure for protection against fire. He
laid large part of the blame for there
being no water to the old-fashioned hy-
drants and the small fittings in the con-
nections with the engines.
"Now, he continued in fluent flow OF
| language, encouraged by the undivided
attention given him, 'we have alN avs tried
| to do all we could to meet the wishes of
the Chief"
| But the Chief was sitting next to him.
"Never!" he interjected sharply. 'Neyer,
sir"
you do not agree with me- said Schussler,
somewhat taken back by this shot. lam
sure we always wanted you to come here
and give your views on these matters"
Excuse me, Mr.. Schussler, you never
did. Why, you didn't want me to come to-
day. / can't allow you to make those state
ments uneontradicted, said Sullivan
! stoutly.
"Well, we'll, l can't see how you can say
hut LOT that mass of turn o1r at
tention to these old-fashioned MIGRANTS, !"
| said Schussler, little red in the face. Il
am sure you will agree with ME that they
interrupt the pressure,"
"Oh, certainly" said the'Chief.
"But yet you tried to make use of
them2' cried Schussler in an effort to make
point.
I'VE tried every possible means OF
getting water" said the Chief, dryly.
"Well, to have big pipes in every street
will cost money" said Schussler.
Eyes, but we want them at once in very
many important districts, especially in the
residential districts said the Chief,
warming to the subject every minute.
You laid a four-inch pipe in Stanford
pipe. l have been pleading for bigger
pipes down there for year and half
What would happen if we had big fire
up about the Pleasanton, for instance?
Pipes are needed there for the protection
of not only property, but lives"
Then, turning to the committee, the
Chief continued: Il have talked to this
man so often about this thing that it is an
old story with me, gentlemen. He always
gives me a pretty little talk, says he will
see what they can do and lets it go at that.
The pipes remain the same. To be sure
they do some things, but they are not
worth mentioning. Now l am preparing a
plan of what is really necessary in this
matter of laying pipes from which we can
get water in case of fire, and | wish this
discussion might be laid over until next
week, when we will be ready"
Mr.. Schusser wanted to explain some of
the intricacies OF the "knuckle Joint and
how it hampered the pressure, and then
the committee invited him to come
again next week and see what the Chief
had to present.
well, I'm not coming unless I'm really
needed said Mr.. Schussler.
Chairman Durkee said the committee
wanted all the information possible and
would really need him.
Then Mr.. Schussler and other represen-
tatives of the water company gathered
about Chief Sullivan and wondered very
quietly If they could not meet HIM by
tnmrselyes some time during the week dis
passionately
NO" said Sullivan, emphatically. "I
have talked this matter over with Mr.
Schussler and the rest of you for the last
time. I'll not do it again. What | have
to say about the requirements of the City
IN the water line for the plain protection
of life and property / shall say openly be-
fore the board or this committee"
"oh, very well" said schussler, and