The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-27
TO FORM a WALL OF WATER.
A New Plan OF Fire Protection on
the Centrars Wharves.

II an experiment begun at the Ocean
Steamship Company's wharves yesterday
proves successful a revolution will be ef-
fected in the methods of fire protection.
The object Of the experiment is to pro-
vide fire wall of water by means of wa
ter pipes suspended twenty-five feet above
the ground, set at intervals with sprink-
lers, by means of which wall of water
Will be formed, by which means the wharf
Will be divided in case of fire.
The work is being done by the General
Fire EXtinguisher Company, under the su-
pervision of Mr.. Clarence Knowles of At
lanta, who has general charge of the in
IS being done under the immediate super
vision Of Mr.. c. n. Benjamin of the Ex-
tinguisher company and Mr.. c. F.. Prem
dergast, representing Mr.. Knowles.
As Mr.. Prendergast explained, the
Ocean Steamship wharves form perhaps
the largest fire risk to be found anywhere
IN the south. Besides the wharves and
the large amount of goods of every
description always on them. in course of
shipment, the risk includes thousands of
bales OF cotton, close together in the
open air and with no means of separation
in case fire should break out in one por-
ton of the wharf. on account of the
unstable soil. as well as the arrangement
of the wharves, brick Prevails are out of
the question. This large risk is a source
of constant anxiety to insurance men,
many of whom regard il as extra hazard
GUS If the experiment mentioned above
is successful the risk can be greatly re-
duced by separating the wharves into sec
tions; so that in case of fire the burning
section can be separated from the rest of
the property by a wall of water.
The apparatus now being constructed
will look like an elongated telescope up
held by tall poles The pipe is erected in
graduated lengths, the first section being
six inches in diameter, the second five,
the third four, the next three and so on
Sprinklers are placed along the lower
side Of the pipe at intervals of eight
feet. The reason for the gradual reduc-
ton in the size of the pipe is that as
the water escapes from the sprinkiers the
pressure must decrease, and this is obvi-
ated by a gradual reduction in the diam
eter of the pipe. When the water is turn
ed on each sprinkler will throw a stream,
expanding as it falls so that a few feet
below the pipe wall of water will be
formed fifteen or twenty feet in diam
eter, which, it is believed, will prove an
yond it.
The experimental line of pipe is being
constructed for distance of 800 feet on
River street. opposite the freight shed OF
the Boston steamers, separating these
sheds from the cotton wharf Ii is ia
expected to complete the work by Satl1r-
day afternoon, in which case a test will
be made Tuesday in the presence of the
executive committee of the Southeastern
Tariff Association, members of the locai
board Of underwriters. the officials of the
Central railroad and the Ocean Steamship
Company and others Interested In case
the experiment proves to be a success the
whole wharf will be equipped with simi-
lar ar, apparatus in a short time.
Ihe water wall has been tried ALREADY
at Williamsport Pa, where there is y
large lumber shipping business. and "a
sald 10 nave proved effectual in prevent
ing the spread of a CONFEDERATION 10 tbe
yards protected by it. 1t the experiment
proves to be a success, it will effect a
reVoIuton IN the methods of protecting
WharVes and yards where large QUANTITIES.
of cotton, lumber and other combustihis
materials are stored 'i'ie