New-York tribune., 1899-06-08

open ana closed gates. the condition o. the gates
or the high and low pressure and the amounts
thereof? Al understand there Is not now, and
meyer was. such report;
mentY Al am the Commissioner.
si SAna "A 10 you are IN command OF tne snsneer' as
Q-Supposing these engineers should ole or De
removed IN any other way. how would you kn9w %
pressure the condition OF the gates? A.-Wen, we
have several engineers there. and we nave maps 10
show the location Of the pipes showing the loca-
tion Of the water gates
rect? Al have only the engineers word for it.
The engineer has been there greet many years
Q.-Do you know II all the gates are recordeo
Mr. Gfrfi Blrdsaii r III" 50 INFORMED 0y ''e ''''''
NEWS FOR MR. DALTON.
Q-But IT is an important matter to know how
day 10 day. aren't they? Al don't understand
Q-Don't you understand they are? A-No sir,
Q-.Many of these gates are altered from oay 10
Q-How long does it take to open a gate, Is! ts
inch gate? A-They have to be opened very $40"
o-Take a 4S-inch gate---how long does # take to
Q;-It takes more than an hour. don't IL! Al
o-How much is opened at one turn of the wheel7
Q.-Isn't It about a sixteenth OF an inch at one
turn? A.-Depends the thread OF course
Q-You have uniform gate. haven't YOU A
Q-Then there is no difference in the thread7
A-The thread on large gate would be larger
Q@i am taking about 4s-.nch gate your largest
gate II is about a sixteenth OF inch at each
pWha has 10 be e done nUs With those gates
there is a great demand for water in the city, a.
the ie"e ensineer ei-. Mr. BirdsaIi.
Q.-Dont you know anything about ~ yourseir
Al have talked 10 him about II very often.
Q-And what has to be done with the gaze When
there is large demand for water? Alt mas 70
Q.EAnd when there is great pressure Of water:
suppose there have been heavy rains A'-lney
o.-And the condition Of the gates varies from
fbst 70 theY are Changed from day to day under
stand probably once a week. once MONTH 'ney
o.-Iiave you anything in your office showing
the high and low water pressure service to-dTS
engineer has them in his office. -. n.-s.
Q.-Have YOU it where you put your hands
Q.-Does he make any report to you? A-Not
from day TO day.
St 81 s9q IL be ad that nne2s II hs is o
and, / understand. never was.
DEPENDS ON ENGINEERS.
Q.-That is all right; ! am not talking about you
that In that matter you are entirely dependent on
the knowledge Of the engineers? A-The engineers
Q.-And these engineers have been In the De-
psrtment many years? A.-Twenty-seyen years.
Q.-And Isn't I fact that they control that in
Q.-And so far as you are concerned you do not
sates or be war snpny because there is no re-
port made 10 you-never has been? A-fes' there
Q,-When? When have you had any such report?
VII you produce any such report since nn yG% hsss save
that could as TO the gates. o..,,r.
QAnd as TO- the surface high and low pressu1s ta me-
there have been reports made .,.,.
Q.-You have recollection Of II? Al tnlnk
Q-There is nothing systema.c about ~ d.
think eyerybody EYER that kn0ws s Mr. Hirdsaii KNOWS
o-I am taking about you as the head OF the
Birdsan knows everything, or NJ. Mckay, The
question is. supposing that ANYTHING shoua nap
which may be put in a sudden emergency where
is there any record in the Department which wouid
immediateiy use it? There is none, is there? A
None only my own practical knowledge; II any
thing should happen. would know "hat 10 oo'
CONFIDENT OF HIMSELF.
Of anything should happen. you would know
""- QIBUt " you Would have to 20 around and hunt
up 40 would t 60 to the the tefsPapn d1gs OF 10
O-Teegraph where? A.-To the gate house In
fqs 9bsrs to r ia4 & 81 waiter ns gates You
speaking OF water gates In the streets.
naTt7 A-;fnen would go to the nearest station
There Is one within two blocks-three pioeAs OF
Q."Tnen If there were a sudden emergency, you
would have 10 go travelling around TO ma me me
sbouId happen in the night time. In the daytime
! should 20 70 the engineers oihce which Is Oh 'ie
otI am supposne you cannot call engineer;
for something has happened to MIN. I've WI WI,
suppose-maybe two or three times a VIZ ry .,l,,e
is n preak the sugar house. or at brewer!
or some other place, what do We do? tee,
ohone Immediately to the nearest shutor gang and
fhey send their men-they have men on guar y
there and they send their men and take care OF
0.-Bgt am speaking Of larger matters than
ensineer Is away you are called suddenly by the
Chief Of the Fire Department 10 inform him OF 'hs ne
wants 10 put twelve engines on a certain main ana
he does not know whether there Is water e"Sos aug!
lin
Want TO suck 1t dry. Your engineer is not in Where
Sbcb % yI yo ca o give Information at once? There are
none are there? Al don't know OF any record
that could just go TO. out l know this, that q the
duty ! know the engineer looks out for that at all
OF you had such record as that, II would
be possible TO put on snoIher good ehginetr' b anu
have record a. once. Al don't eaten thau
TRUSTS IN HEATING ALSO.
Qsupposing something happens to your y1G spFi, (:
easy 70 ind somebody else 10 act in an emergency,
having the record and knowing the conditions !I
A--We!l. ! believe ! am positive that MI keathg'
who Is next in charge. vii understand mat h,,,
Q.-Then II falls on Birdsall ana MCKAY ou55
Ills matter? Al am no; positive about the rec
ora I believe there is a record. rs..
of there was. you would know II: A mere
fnow ANYTHING afout. If is big Department, five
horoughs 10 cover There may be records that I
don't know anything about, nave depended upon
'' o.@i am not Questioning your right 10 depend
upon the engineers, but l am simply asking you
what you had in the way OF regular informa ton,
and / think you have answered the question You
believe in increasing th- number OF water mains.
do you not? Ain business places but not IN
dwellings. - 40
Q-Your report shows-yOur last report-35 AZ
meters in use in Manhattan and Ihe Bronx i4u iu
also say that the bulk Of the waste must be IN the
. dwellings which exempt from meters and
meter charges and that the question arises as 10
whether meter rates should be enforced in
dwellings. well as in business establishments.
Do you not think that dwellings should nave
meters? A-NO. do not.
O.-What did YOU in that portion OF your
report2 A-Wel my attention has been called 10
that several times about putting meters IN dwell
inCs | am not In favor Of that at all.
O-What did you mean IN that portion OF your
+ renort2 Al meant TO put meters on all business
places. ,, -,
Q-You say on dwelling houses particularly, here
The lesson 10 be drawn from this experience, and
60 on Al do not believe l have any right 70 put
them on dwelling houses.
Q.-You have not under the law. You say II If
| A.il.-n ticr h. ha