New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
uORE WATER FOR THE CITY
EFFECT OF THE SIGNING OF THE AUSTIN
BILL BY THE GOVERNOR.

NETWORK AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND sl.ooo.ooo
FOR LAYING ADDITIONAL MAINs-PRo-
lection FOR HIGH BUILDINGS.
IN line with the suggestion made by insurance
CONSERVATIVES and others whose views were
recently reported in The Tribune that some ac-
ton should be taken to afford the city better
protection in case Of great fire, the provisions
~ the bill of Assemblyman Austin, which the
Governor has just signed met approval yes
terday The measure authorizes the city TO
erpend 81, 600 600 for laying additional water
mains necessary to deliver water at higher
ssyations and in greater quantities.
II. difficulty in forcing water to the upper
stores OF high buildings uptown and downtown
and he necessity for using pumps nave
eunpted the business and resident community
to urge legislation looking to the increase III
the water pressure. The Austin Dill provinces
for two mains to be laid down Fifth-ave. There
ara at nresent eight mains branching from the
auueduct at Observation-Disclosures thirty -ffth-st.
Four go to the Central Park reservoir, and the
others distribute water in various parts Of the
city.
Regarding the trouble said to be experienced
BY residents in getting water in the upper floors
Of houses. George W Birdsall. chief engineer
OF the Croton Aqueduct. said:
with the LAYING of the two extra mains for
distributing water from the Croton Aqueduct
the pressure will be increased. and the guam
tity that Is supplied will be greater. OF course,
people build houses with twenty stories. we
can never get there. In fighting fire. it will be
like the Chicagoan said when he was asked
what the Department of his town would do If
the top of one Of the sky-scrapers was in flames
and the water could not reach it: We would
wait till the fire burned down to where 1t could
be reached"
General James S Duane, president OF the
Board OF Aqueduct Commissioners and an ex-
pert engineer was seen in his office In the Stew
art Building Although the passage OF the Dill
related wholly TO action by the city In authorz-
Ing the laying Of Nv mains while the WORK OF
the AquedLct Commission is confined 10 bring-
ing the water from the Croton shed down TO
One-hundred- "a nd thirty-fifth-st. the Generals
suggestion that enormous quantities o. water are
wasted at Croton presented an argument IN
FAVOR OF the additional mains to convey more Oh
the supply to the city He said: ''In one day 1t
vas found that 500OOO0,OOO gallons had been
wasted at the dam in flowing out instead OF
coming to the city. This difficulty is to be RENE
died with the completion Of the new DAM and
~ ''@iedssu now through tHe ftpucuGSI H'~N~
necessary b. more mains. Regarding the talk
.aa' nere no adequate pressure at present IN
'"e oTsoods district of New-York and the con-
o ssuent danger 10 that rich part OF the city in
49, u IRE like Chicagos. IL should be remenl-
raas thst the Central Park reservoir Simply
nres 70 oe hled in order TO afford a suincleht
ssS,, ,aie OF water for fighting fires with me
fro,, ' .a o. new mains to conduct more wafer
filed" WV" uaii'' ''e par" w.
,,a LEFTY W. Cannon president Of the Chase Ma
snaan nahk and an Auueduct Commissioner III
r. Amg OF the increased water supply 10 come
nrera. more mains emphasized the Importance OF
ot,snting waste in the city. the thousahus
VII .nulactures here which have mace New.
NJ ~ 'ne hrst manufacturing city In the world
.aec'dred have been careless In their use OF
c,s" sf, and consumers generally have not exer-
acw" ui"sehce III P'e'ee
NJ wi. cannon suggested, as means TO prevent
,taa:te the use of more meters, and he ADDED
~ the attention OF the people should be called
III, - ahe serious consequences of reckless and ex-
ErdgaEt consumption of water.
al ere insurance representatives have long urged
GU Increase In the water pressure, ana approval
rusAse Jaws authorizing more mains was genera
ssS sh X Kennedy, Of the firm OF Weed q Ken
ny insurance brokers, said: Additional pres
re Is needed. 80 that water will be forced UP
%o burning buildings The entire quantity or
sser used by the Fire Department In one year
oniy one days supply of the Aqueduct what
heed is that supply brought downtown unoer