New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-22
WATER FOR FIGHTING FIRE.
!. DIAN TO DRAW ON THE HUDSON AND
EAST RIVERS


rus-1NsURANcE MEN WHO FAVOR IT
THE EXPERIENCE OF MILWAUKEE
POSSIBILITY OF DRAWING ON
LAKE CHAMPLAIN
Not confined to any particular field. but ex
1.ndng over multitude of interests in the city
the question Of better water supply with whick
an Aeht fire is exciting discussion in many circles
IN the bank in the brokers' office in the mer.
.antile establishment. the topic is receiving
alteration, well as in the insurance world
various plans are proposed differing widely in
scope and character. The suggestion made by
Mayor Wurster of Brooklyn that Lake Cham
Main ye drawn upon meets with the approval Of
some, while others look to Lake George even
40 Lake Ontario as excellent sources of an i'm
oroved water supply for New-York City. Then
there are advocates of the plan to tap the
Ramapo region in New-Jersey. and the sugges-
ton is also made that 1t would be feasible to
duct the water of the Delaware to the metropolis
Conspicuous in the propositions made is that
for drawing upon the two rivers coursng beside
the city; the scheme to utilize the water Of the
Hudson and the East River for combating fire
Ands favor with number, and formidable
array Of arguments Is adduced to show the SUI
periority of the plan over all others.
DAMAGE DUE TO SALT
But there is opposition to this suggestion. The
Adherence in opinion hinges on the brief but
comprehensive item, salt. On that single point
there is disagreement among those who are
earnestly considering the question Of improving
NETWORKS water supply. The presence Of salt
IN the waters Of the Hudson and its companion
b an element which presents most Objectionable
features to those whose property might be DEL
uged. The statement is male that salt water is
% Injurious to fabrics that the damage in a dry
goods fire might be doubled. contingency alarm
ing alike to the owner and TO the insurance COM
oany which must bear the loss.
The proposition to draw upon the Hudson and
the East River finds among its opponents Eli
lab R. Kennedy. Of the firm Of Weed & Ken
nedy, insurance brokers, Of No. so Pine-st. Mr..
Kennedy said to Tribune reporter
AT the first glance after fire has wrought
havoc in a building the ordinary observer sees
nothing but ruin and devastation: the owner is
convinced that his stock is irretrievably lost.
chat everything is gone. But his view is altered
after day or two of draining and drying out.
He finds that as much as 40 per cent Of his
Foods are saable goods damaged only by
water and smoke always finding a market.
And so 1t Is In the majority of fires; rarely Is
there a total loss: the damage In nearly every
case Is only partial Fresh water extnguishes
FIRE without itself materially affecting the stock
AS an instance Of what will result If salt
water is used. let me tell you Of large fire
IN South-st. several years ago. The salt water
Of the river was pumped on the blaze. and, af-
Ger the excitement was and the time came
for an inspection of the :'uins an immense
quantity Of tea was unearthed 1t was not
touched by the fire. and. ordinarily. it could
hat
nave represented desirable salvage. but the
salt water from the river had rendered It worth
eesU sx,r sny<nfse- except fertfxing the gardens
Of Staten Island Then. to buildings. If a
wall is once soaked with salt water, salt will
ooze out Of that wall every damp day for years
after.
THE ELEMENT OF TIME
"The scheme to use the water Of the Hudson
and the East River and bring the frebcats
into play on other fires than merely those along
the water front is absurd. In the light Of the
efforts which have been made for years to Sc
cure the greatest dispatch in going TO fire.
It Is in the first moments Of a blaze. before II
has gained the mastery. that the most effective
work can be done by the Department, and to
This end every thought has been directed. every
contrivance devised, to rush the engines as
quickly as possible to the scene Of the fire.
gine-houses for the firemen to slide down, be-
cause several seconds were lost In going down.
stairs: the stalls Of the horses were changed
several times in order 70 save a fraction OF
minute In the passage of the horses from their
quarters to the harness. while an electric at
aachment to the gong which sounds the alarm
vas also made to release the fastenings Of the
horses in their stalls at the same instant.
"AH this was done to gain every second OF time
Now II Is proposed to establish system which
will depend largely on the freboats suppose an
alarm Is sounded FOR fire at Broadway ana
Worth-st The fireboat Is lying at the Battery.
Il Is Informed of the blaze and starts up the river
for the point opposite the fire. There will be
tugs ferryboats, canal boats, mudscows. yachts |
scbooners. excursion steamers and occasionally
ocean steamships to dodge the way, TO say |
nothing OF inevitable fogs and perhaps In twenty
minutes the freboat viii arrive TO connect with |
n pine and pump salt water into roaring con- |
Migration.
NOT MORE WATER. BUT GREATEI: |
PRESSURE.
LEI the Improvement in the water pressure |
come from fresh water source The Ramapo
River presents a favorable supply that Will fur-
uish New-York with the needed quantity ana
thar can be utilized here through the channeis
already prepared, without necessita'hg the tear
ing up Of the streets Of the city TO lay new pipes
q will be required If the salt water OF the Hud-
con and East rivers be carried into town.
TT isn't additional water that Is needed-t is
additional pressure. so that water Will be 1orced |
~ into burning buildings. There are seVerai
sources from which water can be introduced
under such gravity pressure as 10 rehoer ne"
and improved application to fire extinguish-
ment practicable. Bring salt water TO Broadway |
b pipes and 1t would take two engines to draw
he water to the surface for one engine to use
Virtually putting two engines out OF service