New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-23

DANGER FROM FIRES ON THE EAST
AND WEST SIDES
CHIEF BONNER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
TRlBUTING SYSTEM FOR NEW

TRIBUTING SYSTEM FOR NEW
YoRK's WATER SUPPLY.
Up in the millions-from 100000 to sioooo.ooo-is
the sum that Chief Bonner Of the Fire Department
thinks the next Legislature should place at the
disposal of the Department Of Public Works In order
that the water-mains OF New-iork City shall be
up to the demand for wster that may be made
upon them at any time when there is a big fire
The chief of the Fire Department says that New
York has outgrown her vater-nains just in 1870
she had outGrown the Cotton Aqueduct accommo-
datons. which when built In 1872 ii was supposed
would be adequate for al the city's possible needs
for at least forty years until 1852. The Chief
says further that sine the new aqueduci was
opened in 1890, he thinks the city will have enough
water for possibly seventy-fve years-certainy for
ffty-and that II the mains were relaid and in some
the present services of waicr-pipes doubled,
the city would hear more regarding its water
supply for perhaps scNcnty-ivr years.
Chief Bonner emphatically indorses the rosolu-
tons drawn up by the Executive Committee OF
the Board Of Trade and Transportation on Tues
day regarding the water supply, and says that he
looks forward TO action being taken in the mat
ter.
When asked il there had been any actual short
of tn supply recent fires. the chief replied
that in the morning. when all the biz buildings,
factories etc. are getting their supply of water for
the day, the engines prevented from being "a
efficient they might be. by the lack of force in The
water as IL comes from the mains.
The scantincss Of the supply, i appeNs, Is most
apparent on the extreme sides II the town ana IN
the big warehouse districts downtown. This Is be-
cause there only six-nch coniuits on the ave
nles and bis iholoughiAr,s, while IN broadway the
mains are twenN-siX inches 10 diameter 'hiof
Bonner says that, though IT would be tremendous
Undertaking. all the small mains should be doubled
ia size, at least as soon a. possible, ana inl
double service Of main, laii ia broadway AMI IN
all the principal avenues. lie gays nat the Turn
ug into factory district OF both sides pf the ci
near the rivers, from f.fi5 ninth-st 10 Fourteenth
81. ana on me East SIDE down o. Newt hamh''f-
D.. has created - demand fur water Tar I'D advance
81 the widest speculation ~ hc people Who planned
me suppl ana lf,rihuuoa OF ih' water g. n' inf'
nrhcl 10 Scw York
chief lionncf rays thai a. g. has hsrpcn'i 20 tat
~, only llmc whom the ,ck Of water vas 4crousy
fcli wa ~ the ntr ~ i,'lnafl.ni nnI broadway
lgtt winter when the building ~ WINCH we ~"
lioli restaurant war destroyed "" "ouU no. raN
that the building was mot FnNrd hccnur" "i ih"
scarcity Of water but he ga say that ne lock ~
sufficient water pressure ~ ih' mains "hf h' ono
tine felt 10 be- q serious menace should ih'f" h'
danger of spread of the n'm.t The .mHl pr
NJ ~ the hNdtHrit was du'. il Maf ''ilsI"i' ~ -
tho drawing III of the water for their daiif supply
Pubic Works TOW has only about {9O"r year 20
pcnI IN fsp'ihs n,Ians AM ,r@n 5 =, rs
disposal with which 10 go on as iapHIy a. Io'.,pi.
shall bring the distributing department % the New
York water supply up TO The capacity oil 'he "iue-
duct ana the Ndt'r-Sn"d
Insurance men In the city Yesterday said that
they hal heard II a number II fires M whcn ih'r"
had been scarcity OF water ana they hhd ch~fT-
fully united In the recommendations that the city
All horites secure higher pr"ssur" In the mains.
They did not profess To have any knowl'dsc "n
the subject however and said that the officials ~
the Fire Department probably knew what were the
facts which caused the Executive Commute" ~
the Board 4 Trade anl Transp orta'i1n 10 ADOPT
resolutions the subject on Tuesday.
John T. Mckay. first assistant engineer - the
Department Of Pubic Works. IN speaking o' th'
resolutions passed by the Board - Trade ani Trans
a ~
insufficient. said that there were no grounds what
ever for such complaints b" HaliE SUPP D., h3 No.,
Mckay. "One year ago Il "as between ls'''t""
AMI 100000 gallons daily. This shows that IN"
supply has been increased more than @N""D "a
Ions - water It day In the last year. which Sc a
sufficient answer the unreasonable" statement pun
lished to-day Not solitary complaint has been
received at this o'ic" from quarter mat thor"
is not an abunlancc Of water for all necessary par