New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22

bility, would tax human ingenuity to its Ut
most. -
George r. Crawford, president of the West
chester Fire Insurance Company was inclined
to look favorably upon the Hudson and East
River plan. II the saltwater feature were posi-
lively shown to be no serious objection III
considering the reported success OF the hreboat
system in Western cities. he commented on .he
fact that Milwaukee and Detroit. situated on the
shores of fresh-water lakes. have not producen
satisfactory evidence OF their system being su-
perior 10 others for this city. where the ele-
ment Of salt water rises as disturbing FACTOR
Investigation has shown that, with the most
powerful engines devised. a really useful stream
of water fitted for fire service was limited
TO n distance between 1000 and 5000 feet when
passing through the pipes In milwaukee, anu
Detroit. Friction In the pipes made JOSS Oh
q ner cent Of the force exerted at the pumps
In New-York. Mr.. Crawford said. the distance
from any central part TO the water would prvp-
ably average a mile and pumping engines ue
lvering salt water to the level or the street
would tax the most powerful mechanlsms'
VIEWS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
II II were left to Chief Bonner. OF the Fire
Department. extra precautions to guard against
danger from an inefficient water supply would
no taken nj once He has carefully weighed
number of plans 10 improve the pressure, and
speaks favorably Of the Hudson and East River
scheme In this nc is seconded by Fire Com
missioner Austin Ford whose concern just now
is for the aIl-important question OF putting out
fires in the sky-scrapng'' Office buildings. they
assert that some means must be devised "here
by the pressure OF water will be sufflcient 70
throw stream TO tn. Top story OF q high build
Ing. or the Department will be wofuliy hanai-
capped in fighting a confagration when may
have beginning now out OF the hremeh
reach.
In the discussion by insurance men II was
pointed out that Chicago. the nursery OF giant
buildings has adopted one measure OF saiey py
nossing en- ordinance restricting the height or
future structures 70 $50 feet. and the city flrc
Departmen, has been put through It's PAGES this
winter t. see what would happen II 1t were
necessary to fight flames on top Of the loftlest
sky-scrapers with the present enginr power The
minds Of Chicagoans were relieved. It was re-
ported. by the performance OF an engine which
chioved the summit OF the Masonic Tcmple-al-
legged by Chicago 70 be the tallest building In
the world-a feat which means that the water
was pumped through a stand pipe 32j feet high
II was also reported that ST Louis had taken
alarm. and that she proposed 10 restrict the
height OF her buildings 10 l25 feet.
The danger from fire in high buildings is not
limited to the possible inability OF the department
to reach the flames as is shown In the several
costly experiences where the metal girders OF
buildings expanded under the heat from neigh
boring fires even across fairly wide streets 10
such an extent as 10 force apart the beams IRON
their resting places and cause a general col
laIee
FIremen have complained Of the steam gener-
ated by water thrown on the vast sysie IN or IRON
beams as steam may fatally impede their
work 4 remedy proposed for these defects in
the monster steel buildings Is the sheathng or
all metal supports in practically non-conductns
brick and cement Some experiments along these
lines II is said are being mad" In Europe, which
promise to have value IN solving the problems or
Zig office buildings. In Vienna teet was re-
rTrted wherein one fire-resisting material proved
eIicacious Two iron beams. together with al
lcys melting at various temperatures were IN
closed In a shcathing Of brick and mortar. ana,
with the requisite stress OF weight on the COL
umn the whole subjected to terrific fire.
After two and half hours the heat was so IN
Il nse that no examination could be made until
the next day; it was then found that the iron
had suffered absolutely no harm. that the melt
ing allows proved n temperature OF only 40 de-
prees Fahrenheit inside the sheathing and that
the hrickwOrk had crumbled only at the edges for
an inch and half.
But II is maintained. while this shows the
great need for protecting the iron framework. II
IL still merely a precautiOn-not final remedy:
and the Importance Of having n thoroughly ade-
ouate water pressure Is emphasized the great
safeguard In case Of a cOnflagraton.
II is interesting TO note hat New-YOrk suffers |
from three times many fires in year as Paris |
although the French capital has a third more |
pOulation. .
A suggestion which insurance men are consid- |
erng in connection with the move 10 Increase the
water pressure IL the utilization OF the old Forty |
secOnd-st. reservoir.
Statistics Of the Fire Department show that II |
used about 3O.0000oo gallons Of water last year.
This is an insignificant quantity when compared |
10 the vast volume which went into general con- |
sumption In the same period.