The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-12-01
WANT BETTER
WATER SUPPLY
Insurance Companies Threaten
to Advance Rates.
SURVEYOR MAKES REPORT
NEEDS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT
AND WATER SYSTEM.

The local fire insurance men are pre-
pairing to take an action in the mat
ter Of protection to property in the
business district of this city that viii
give rise to much discussion. They
Will, in brief, demand of the city au-
thorities that the water supply in the
business district be greatly increased
and the 1re-fghting apparatus Of the
city greatly improved. If this is not
done they may increase the fire :nsur-
ance rates on all business property. H.
E. Parkhurst, surveyor-in-charge Of
the local branch of the Board of Fire
Underwriters Of the Pacific. has Just
prepared an elaborate report on the
subject. This report will be submitted
early in the week to a meeting Of the
leading local insurance men, and the
understanding IS that it viii be sub
mitted by them to Mayor Thompson.
Mr.. Parkhurst's report goes into all
the details Of the local situation, de-
scribing at length the water system
Of the city and the equipment Of the
fire department. Attention is called to
the fact that while the average annual
fire losses Of the city from 1891 to 1900
was SS6.S57, the estimated loss to date
this year is $4,000. The average num-
Der Of fires for the years given above
was 13S, while this year there have been
143 already.
Water System Improvements.
Speaking of the water system Of the
city and calling attention to the ire
mendous waste, the report goes on to
say that the present storage capacity
is but S50G 600 gallons. This, Il is ar
gued, should be increased to $4,000, 900
gallons, or five days supply. The Cap
itol hill reservoir, it is argued, should
be greatly enlarged and supplied with
larger feed and discharge mains. The
brick storage at the head of City Creek
canyon should at once be enlarged to
the fullest capacity that the present
site will permit Storage reservoirs
should be built in Parley's canyon.
It is also recommended that the city
insist on the discontinuance of the
great waste of water in irrigation.
street sprinkling and sewer flushing.
If a sufficient supply of water cannot
be held in reserve for fire purposes,
then a separate supply should be asked
for to be supplied from cisterns in the
business district. Because of the large
size of the business blocks and the
fact that most fires have to be fought
from the street, six-inch mains are
recommended, with standard hydrants
A. intervals, housed in and having not
less than $50 feet Of hose attached
ready for use. It is held that there is
greater danger Of a block fire here than
in any other western city. because
OF the great number Of compact build
ings
Fire Department Needs.
Speaking Of the needs Of the fire
department. the report says that the
service engine is too small, and the
reserve engine too old to be relied upon;
both should be replaced by a frst-class
engine. New boilers and extensive re-
pairs would make good reserve engines
out Of the old ones. There should be
another horse hose wagon in the dwell
ing district, with men for the same.
The fire alarm should connect with a
large fire bell or whistle, to shut off
uga Of wafer. % flor, and