Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-03

in the West. and there are few buildings
in this country that will he better equipped
for the purpose. Modern engineering and
science have contributed appliances, sug-
gested by years of experience in fire fight
ing, which arrest and e~xtinguish flames
when an emergency arises. They are in ac-
cordance with the theories long advocated
Jy Chief Hale. for securing high pressure
{ water at all parts of a large building,
5r automatically drenching the fire at
: inception and for screening a building
outside water sprays in case of fire in
n adjacent building.
Last week the Emery-Bird-Thayer build
lg was equipped with a hydraulic pump
having a capacity of 100000 gallons
in twenty-four hours. Connection was made
with one of three tanks in the basement.
Each has a capacity of 10000 gallons. An
other tank of the same size on the roof
will be connected with the pumps, giving
a supply equal to that of an ordinary fire
cistern. They will furnish pressure for four
streams inside the building. They may be
connected with the city mains in case of
an emergency.
Standpipes ramify through the building
with hose connections or every floor. There
is more fire apparatus in this one building
at the present time than is used in most
cities of 10000 population. When the pumps
u II VIII iihhc an
system much more efficient than a whole
water works system of any small town,
standpipe. reservoir. mains and all. As a
matter of fact the risk is equal to. or
greater, than that of the entire business
section of many good sized towns.
improvements and additions are being
made to the sprinkling system of the build
ing. Along the Walnut street side. as on
the north side, spraying pipes will be put
-. iii - ,-, &c -a,l,
over the front and protect it from catching
from an outside fire.
in case of a fire." said Chief Hale yes
terday. Il would Immediately connect a
steamer with the spraying sSstem of the
interior. The tank on the roof is good
enough for checking the fire until the de.
partment arrives, but when high pressure
Is applied a tre will have no show what.
ever. 1t only takes $50 degrees of heat te
release the caps on the sprays. placed al
intervals of fifteen feet over all the cell.
ings. The building itself IS practically fire
proof. The floors are double. with asbestos
between. The plaster Is on wire lath.
Il had a picture made years ago of the
way Bullenc, Moore. Emery * Co.'S store
paratus a century hence. 1t has not been
realized. by any means. yet, but when il
is recalled that many Of the predictions
the others do not seem so wildly theoretical
as they Were pronounced at The time they
were made.
L nave another picture. ndue dI tue
same time. by way Of contrast 1t Is thc
first fire engine ever used in this country,
1t was made from an old daguerrotypG
shown me by Isaac Brush. of New York
one OF the Oldest veterans in the fire serv.
ice in America. I that time. 1US. waite
was poured into "a tank on wheels. anC
forced through valves by men standing OF
a platform
The Hall building is connecting its ele
NatoT pumps. with 1.Ogh.e9 gallons capac
ity. TO Il complete system of pipes. Thi:
will give high pressure to all naTts o
the building alike. Sprays, both inside tn
building and on the walls outside. slmila,
to those OF the Observation-Disclosures build
ing. will bc pat in place within the rex
Two weeks. The hydraulic pumps are be
iHg arranged so they may be connecte,
with The city water mains at a moment
notice.