The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-31
WHATTHEYNEED
Fire Commissioners Tell
the City Council,
Water From the Providence
River for Big Fires.
A Fire Boat Would Remedy Defects
of Present System.

The following communication from the
Board of Fire Commissioners was pre-
sented TO the Common Council last night:
To the Honora BILE, the City Council:
The board of fire commissioners re-
spectfully represent that the hydrant SER
vice in the center OF the city is, In their
opinion, inadequate for the proper protec-
tion Of property located therein. They
believe that action should be taken where
by not only an increased quantity OF
water can be obtained, but also sufficient
pressure TO furnish streams that VIII en-
able us to secure results which 1t Is I'M
possible to do with our present service.
With this end in view the board commu-
nicated with the commissioner OF public
works, under date of Feb. 20, 1896, inquir-
ing as to the practicability of permanent
ly increasing the hydrant pressure In the
business section of the city by means OF
the service at Fruit Hill. This communi-
cation was referred 10 the city engineer,
and under date of March 70, 1896, the
commissioner of public works, in replying
to the board, staed that the city engineer
reports his conclusions as follows:
Tin regard to turning the pressure OF
the Fruit Hill Reservoir into our distribu.
tion permanently for fire purposes, VIII
say that think the scheme Is quite Inn
practi ticable. In case OF great emergency
when II would apparently be OF such great
advantage to turn the pressure tempo
rarily into our distribution that we
might risk the losses Of breaks in our
street pipes and service we could turn the
water on for a temporary supply at the
high pressure and this could be done at
any time upon notice during the fire.
The city engineer also further states
that "if efficient fire streams are required
without the pse of fire engines, special
service devoted to that puprose must be
installed.
The board believes that such special SER
vice is needed. In their opinion. as feas-
ible plan as can be suggested, and one
which will certainly secure the desired
results, would be TO utilize the water
from the river in connection with the SER
vice from Hope Reservoir. This can be
accomplished by means of an independent
pumping station located at the new city
yard.
This plant should have pumping ca
pacity OF not less than 1000 gallons PEI
minute. Connected directly thereto
should be a system OF pipes of sufficient
capacity to convey this quantity OF water,
with pressure OF at least leo pounds az
the hydrant. These pipes should be laid
in the compact section OF the city, or in
such portions thereof as may be considered
advisable, the cost of the same, together
with the benefits accruing therefrom, to
be taken into consideration. Hydrants
should be located at suitable distancts 9
and one of the pipes should extend as far
north as Randall square, In order that a
main OF sufficient capacity might be con-
nected Herewith and run directly TO
Hope Reservoir. This plan would enable
us to utilize the present water service at
ordinary fires, as the mains designed for
salt water would be filled with water
from Hope. In case, however, OF large
river and forced through the mains. The
instant the pressure from the pump ex-
ceeds the Hope pressure at the hydrant,
the supply from the reservoir would be
shut off by means of valves which would
be so arranged as to close automatically,
thus preventing all possibility OF con-
taminating the water used for domestic
purposes. In the opinion OF the board
there would, however, be no danger of
such contamination, as the main proposed
would not be connected In any manner
with the pipes OF our present system.
In cities having fire boat, the plan of
laying pipes, and in case of fire connecting
the pumps thereto, has been adopted.
Detroit, for example. has three pipe lines,
each 5000 feet in length, and three lines
each 1000 feet long. Some idea of the
power obtained may be had when ii is
stated that n hydrant located at the dis
tance of 1000 feet from the river has indi-
Gated a pressure of 1876 pounds, the press
ure of the fire boat being 176 pounds.
Thus loss OF only IL pounds was shown,
while the pressure at the hydrant was
100 pounds more than can be obtained in
the center of this city. The plan suggest
ed by the commissioners will give us the
same results as IL lire boat was con-
nected with the mains. while the cost OF
establishing and maintaining such a
plant would he far less than the cost OF
purchasing and maintaining fise boat.
The average cost OF maintaining q COM
pany in this department is about 80, 600
per annum. This represents the interest
upon 800, COO at 8 per cent. ,and the board
believe that for less than this amount the
plant can be placed in operation. IL in
the future ii Is desired to extend the sys-
tenn to other sections of the city, the only
additional cost would be that OF pur-
chasing and laying the pipes
The board regret that they are unable
to present an estimate OF the probable
cost OF such plant, but this may be
said: That the cost of 2l2-inch fire hose
is 20 cents per foot. This hose lasts but
a short time, while pipe, which will last
for fifty years, and which has a carrying
capacity six times in excess of that OF
hose, can be purchased and laid for less
than the price above mentioned.
The experience OF the fire department
during the past month has demonstrated
the fact that not only should increased
water and pumping facilities be afforded,
but also that the control of the same
should be placed in the hands OF those to
whom the management OF our fire ex-
tinguishing appliances are entrusted.
Such plant as the comm issioners pro-
pose would be practically independent
OF our present system Of water works, aud
although IL may be considered that such
an auxiliary would call for n large out
lay, still IL should be borne in mind that
the wealth OF city Is represented mainly
by the buildings and their contents. and
that the loss occasioned by such fire IS
that of the Masonic building represents a
sum equal to double the amount required
10 carry this plan into effect.
The advantages 10 be gained by the
adoption of such plan are obvious. as
the water supply would he mex haustible.
the pressure at the hydfants could at ali
times ba sufficient to perlo> eJectiye
work nj ordinary fires, while IN case OF n
large fire this pressure could te increased
to any amount desired, and the effective
ness of the streams In use would be equal
A. 4.