New-York tribune., 1895-09-12
ASKING FOR MORE WATER.
BUSINESS MEN BEFORE THE SINKING
FUND COMMISSION.
REQUIREMENTS OF MODERN TALL BurLDrNGs-
ARGUMENTS FOR HETTER PROTECTION
FROM FIRE-THE MAYOR WANTS a
DEFINITE PLAN - A CONFER
ENcE TO BE HELD WITH
THE AQUEDCCT COM
MIsSIONERS.

MIssIoNERs
Mayor Strong Recorder Goff Controller Fitch.
General McCook the City Chamberlaln and Al
derman W. NJ X Olcoit. composing the sinking
Fund Commission. listened yesterday TO appeas
for a high-pressure supply Of water from the
representatives, OF many business men ana assoc'a-
t!ons who believe that their interests are )eoparu%eu
by the pressure at which the water from the CITY
mains is now distributed. Many petitions nave
been sent to the Board recently from drygoods
merchants Insurance companies. real estate men,
hotel proprietors and other citizens urging IN VIE"
OF the dangers which beset their property. that I'M
mediate steps be taken to provide an independent
hgh-water supply which will reach the upper
floors OF the high buildings rapidly increasing In
number and value
THE WATER PRESSURE NOW DEMANDED
For the purposes OF clear demonstration promo
map was submitted 10 tAe Board representing ,he
buildings In Broadway from the Battery - I"eht. =
third-st which showed the height maintained Oy
The water pressure In the years lSsZ ana l''o' anu
what II should be In 1891. tO meet the heeus ol 'e
tall buildings In the hrst year the water e'e' ""s
reached al IA feet At present II Is 10 zee" anu
what is wanted two years hence II is declared u
20 fee. While these figures give the ieVel oi water
IN tho reservoirs they do not represent the ie'"'
ob;alnab.c In the lower parts OF the city WIN"
H. considerably lower. the head mas necreas'''
The frs, speaker was John H. WashDurn' OF
the Board OF Fire Underwriters lie sa'u '""' ~"
situation could be understood from the remark OF
a member Of the Board that the city had twenty
story buildings and a four-story FIRE Dcpar mem
He declared that a chief Of the Fire Department
had told him that II one OF the tall buildings go'
anre on the top the hremen would nave 10 "a,'
until the fire burned down where they couiureac" ~
More than million dollars he ASSERTED IN w%s num-
pended every year by owners Oh o''''''o' - ''
ing water to the upper stories
A COMPARISON WITH CHICAGO
He said that Chicago had better protection
from fire than any other city, through artlhc'a'iy
maintained levels in the reservoirs anu san
pipes. New-York was far behind o'her oi''e7 ~
tho matter of pressure He said that this CITY "aS
dangerously near the limit OF me capuiF eciais
Croton watershed system, ana that ls n,aa'r
should cast about for additional sources OF "ateI ~
supply The aqucduct. he explained was not CO.." s,
strliried 10 resist high pressue such as ho ieet'
tain water under such head. The speaker as
serted that the taxpayer. however. would cheer
Div were provided 10 meet the requirements. ,.
George r. sheldon, chairman OF me ContnIere ME-
writer's spoke next ara suPhsIe9b ba an 'Vat waa the
head that a stream OF water possessed which toId
when lighting nre Besldes quenchihs 'Ennnssh Oh nsh
tions a powerful pressure would assist IN nush-
Inc The streets and other sanitary uses could be
g. Il smith Of the Board Of Trade followed, and
told how The members Of the Board had long feit
the necessity OF an adequate water supply ahd ,ha
present one II was one OF the great needs OF
IN, dav ne declared with emphasis, and one that
could not bc put aside for coming administrations
10 take up other speakers were : ). fhlrchlld
and Charles sanaii. of Boston.
THE MAYOR TALKS or HIGH BUILDINGS
Mayor Strong had talked with several members
of the Aqueduci Commission before the meetlng
and when the Representatives had spoken he asked
them II they thought that the difficulty IN the
lower parts OF the city could be overcome by lay
ing larger mains They answered that they were
OF the opinion that larger mains woud agall
nothing as they would decrease the pressure The
Mayor became nettlel at the demands on the pdrt
OF the owners Of high buildings. and sad Sharply
so YOU think that The taxpayers would De con-
tent 70 have "A system OF water supply put IN al
a big expense for the benefit OF owners OF high
The Navor looked around impatiently at some
high-pressure advocates who we're taking excep-
don, think that the taxpayers would Ike any
thing OF the sort. | believe that II these people
must have high buildings they should do as o. b.
Potter had TO do. namely, pay $1,000 a year Tor a
pumping service 10 supply MS tall buildings II
.o no part Cf the clty's business 20 supply water
FOR such buildings. Now you men come mere ana
complain. Why don't you come with some system
to propose? Formulate a plan and not complaints
Why don; you confer with the Aqueduct Commis-
soners? They will tell you that the present
water system with the improvements going on
would supply a city twice the dimensions OF this
The remarks OF the Mayor created some surprise
among his hearers hut they promised 10 act on
his suggestion to confer with the Aqueduct Com
missoners. At the next meeting OF the sinking
Fund Commission a committee will be appointed
to consider whether IL Is possible 10 comply with
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