The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-04

been supplied with the proper pressure
For nearly two hours they bravely fought
the devouring elements with few sickly
streams of water but even these they were
only able to throw as high as the second
story. One reason for this has already
been explained by Mr.. Schussler, the fault,
according to that gentleman, lying with
the mains. This was not the only diff
Guilty, however.
That entire section and hundreds of
other blocks and streets receives their water
supply from reservoir with an elevation
of only 16O feet. There are five or six res
eryoirs in the City with elevations ranging
from 100 to $40 feet. When it is impossi-
bic to secure sufficient pressure from one
of the lesser elevations the water is turned
on from some other supply district of
greater height, thus enabling the depart
ment to secure what it should have had at
first-that is, high pressure and an abund-
ance of water. In the fire of last Thurs
day night nearly two hours elapsed before
the connection was made between the two
reservoirs which finally enabled the fire.
fighters to make a determined and at
length a successful stand.
What is true of the district lying south,
including the burned district is equally
true OF other sections of the City. The
water mains are not large enough to meet
the City the mains are large enough to
meet the most xactingErequirements. Yet
there are other sections that are in even
worse condition than the territory ada
cent to Third, Fourth, Fifth, Howard and
Brannan streets.
For some months past the Olympic
Salt Water Company has been quietly at
work putting down its mains in few of
the prominent streets, with view of finally
submitting a proposition to the City,
covering such sections as are but poorly
protected from fire. The recent contlagra-
ton spurreo them up bit, and it is now
stated that they will make bid for the
City's patronage within few days.
Fighting fire with salt water is not an
experiment., but has been successfully
used in England for years. 1t has been
proved beyond question that salt water is
best adapted for fire purposes, and there
are several reasons why this is so. First,
the density of the water does not allow it
to evaporate so readily, thus allowing it
longer period to get in its destroying
power. Again, salt water weighs GA pounds
10 the cubic foot, as against 81 pounds for
fresh water. The difference OF course is
found in the salt.
The public will readily welcome anything
that promises immunity from fire, and if
the Olympic Company succeeds in having
it's mains and hydrants used by the City
the section enjoying such protection will
have just cause for congratulation. The
company proposes to do more than this,
for 1t will offer the City free of cost all the
salt water needed for sprinkling purpo ses
in the section contiguous to their ma ms
and hydrants.
THE City of San Francisco is in no
sense adequately supplied with water for
fire purposes" said William Greer Harri-
son, vice-president of the Olympic Salt
Water Company. yesterday. Gwen
where there are mains the capacity is not
sufficient to meet an emergency demand.
Take Market street, for instance There is
only one hydrant on the whole street.
Looking at the fire of last Thursday
night, it is easily seen that had the pres
sure been sufficient the flames would have
been confined practically to the starting
point. 1t has been urged that salt water,
supplementary to fresh water, be used in
certain sections of the City, exterior to the
portions where fine goods are sold.
1.-The salt water company is preparing to
take up such districts as most need high
pressure and full and free discharge of
water. 1t is preparing to lay mains of
suitable size provided it is placed in the
same position as other companies in the
matter of hydrants. We already have a
complete service on certain streets and are
prepared to extend this service If so re-
quested. In addition to this the company
is willing TO supply the City, wherever
City MIGRANTS have been erected, with
street sprinkling water free. Just here let
me say that one service of salt water is
equal to three of fresh. We have returns
from seventeen English cities where salt
water is used for sprinkling purposes, and
1t is shown that the streets have gradually
become macadamized. The mortality has
also decreased from 20 to 30 per cent.
''The advantages to the City from using