Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-28
USE OF A WATER TOWER
Result of Trial Made Under the Direction
of Commissioner Wight.
Congress VIII BE Asked to Supply
This Deficiency of the Fire
Department.

The experiment made yesterday after
noon by direction of Commissioner Wight
with hook and ladder truck for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the possibility of US
ing the apparatus as a water tower was
not attended with complete success. The
trial took place at the corner of 14th street
and Ohio avenue. truck C and engine COM
pany No. participating. The truck was
drawn out on Ohio avenue and the en-
CINE went into service short distance
away. The experiment showed that a
hose can be carried to the top of the great
extension ladder which rises from the bed
of a truck, ard after being securely fast
ened, can be directed by turning the table
which the ladder rests Nevertheless,
the difference in rapidity of movement, the
ability to direct at will the stream and i'm
mediate availability between a water tower
and such a makesnift showed such a pre-
ponderanCe in favor of the tower that, as
Mr.. Wight remarked after the trial yes
terday: 1T is a good thing there was no
fire.
The experiment added, through lack of
Judgment on the part of those in charge
OF the truck, another argument in favor of
underground wires, for the apparatus was
placed in such d position in the street
that when the ladder was being raised 1t
caught and tore down two of the fire alarm
wires running into the truck house, re-
quiring iinemen 10 be brought from head
quarters to replace them. When one
length of the ladder had been raised, the
truckmen carried the hose from the engine
to its top. An ordiGarysiZed nozzle was
used, and the stream was directed by
man stationed near the top of the ladder.
The ladder was next extended ten or hf-
teen feet higher. and then the nozzle of
the hose was strapped to its top, the
stream being directed by turning the table
on which the base of the ladder rested.
When water tower is used, the streams
OF several engines are merged into one.
Yesterday the stream of but one engine
was used. the stream from it being sent
through section of ordinary hose. 1t is
not believed that such hose could with
stand the strain which would result from
forcing the streams of several engines
through ii. Therefore it appeared to Mr..
be utilized a. water tower it must be
equipped with a section of hose not only
larger than that used yesterday, but also
of such strength as to be able to success
fGlly Withstand the pressure resulting from
the attachment to it of streams from sew
eral engines. Yesterdays trial also demon
strated TO him the necessity of adding some
appliance to the ladder which will enable
the nozzle of the pipe to be elevated or
depressed at will by a man or men sta
toned at the base of the ladder.
Commissioner Wight will probably direct
that further experiments be made. but it
is understood that he will recommend that
Congress be asked to furnish the District
fire department with a water tower. being
OF the opinion that the great increase in
the number of lofty buildings in the city
demands the presence of such a piece OF
fre-fighting apparatus in the department.