The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-17
TRY FLATIRON'S STANDPIPES.
FIREMEN EASILY SHOWERWATER
FROM THE ROOF
And From the windows on Every Floor
Of the 77.StOry Tower. SOusing Broad.
way and Fifth A,enue-One or Two
Fire Engines Enough for the Work.

Fire Engines Enough for the work
With the help Of two fire engines and
dozen officers and men Of the Fire Depart
ment. Chief Croker made test in the Flat
iron building, at Twenty-third street and
Broadway, yesterday morning 10 find ont
how far standpipes in the modern sky
scraper may be relied upon to give efficient
aid in fighting fires The test began at
O'Clock and was over at 1890. II was
Witnessed by thousand or two citizens,
a hundred or two firemen, active and re-
tired, and the Hon. William Leary.
For the benefit Of the uniformed II may
be stated that Mr.. Leary is probably the
greatest living authority on wild animals
in captivity. He gained the knowledge OF
birds and beasts of prey 10y watching the
animals in the Central Park Zoo while
b was secretary of the Park Board. II
was because of his knowled 70 on these sub
jects that he was appointed secretary to
Fire Commissioner Sturgis. He is now
engaged in training all the horses in the
Fire Department To eat with knives ana
forks.
The test is one Of several Chief Croker
has made within the year. Fire hose won't
lift water TO the tops of these tall towers.
II bursts as il did on the East River Bridge
FIRE; and Chief Croker gave warning long
ago that standpipes were a necessary part
of the equipment of the tall buildings.
Now, almost as soon as a skyscraper has
been completed, the owners ask the CHIEF
to test the standpipes. The owners OF
the Flatiron put in such request. When
Yesterdays test was over Chief Croker
said;
This has been one of the most sati@faC-
tory tests wa have ever ma ie. II simply
means that we have found way To fight
fires successfully in the So tall buildings, with
the aid Of a few engines and few short
lengths of hose. We have done this morn
ing with two engines and nine lines OF hose
what we would have had great difficulty
in doing, Sithout the standpipes. with
dozen engines, and don't know how much
more hose II also means that with these
standpipes and their own hose, the EN-
ployees in these building could put out
almost any fire without the assistance OF
the department al all.
The Flatiron Is twenty-five stories hlgh
and standpipes, connected with the engine
in the building, run from the cellar to the
roof Each pipe is fitted with hose couplings
at every floor and on the roof. The power
which forced the water through the pipes
Yesterday morning was furnished by In.
zine 1, Capt Anderiese, the most power
full engine in the department. and Engine a.
Capt Joseph Shea Jr, son of the Chief
whom Hugh Bonner succeeded.
The big engine hooked onto the hydrant
at Twenty-third street and Fifth avenue
and the other to the hydrant at Twenty
third street and Broadway. Short lengths
of hose were carried up in the elevators
and distrbuted from the thirteenth floor
IN the roof When all the hose lines had
been attached TO the pipes. Chief Croker,
Deputy Chief Duane and Battalion Chief
Ross went up to the roof and Chief Ross
ca lied down through megaphone 10 turn
on the water in the roof pipe.
The hose used was inches in diameter
and the nozzle II. inches. In about two
minutes after the signal had been gwen,
the water filed the hose, and in something
like another minute fine, full stream
was out over the roofs OF the buildings
adjoining on the south So strong wind
was blowing that the carrying power OF
The stream was diminished. but those on
the Flatiron roof could plainly see that
II carried 10 the roof of Park llliord :
store at Twenty-trst' street and Broad
way. The spray soused the Broadway
Pavement from Twenty-second street TO
Nineteenth ,.-,
After little, the pipe was turned toward
the west and in spite Of the wind, the rooi
81 the buildings on the west side OF flith
avenue and far down the cross street :
got good bath If any Of the 'cuttie
doors on the roofs happened TO be open
or il they did not fit tightly, u Is probable
that the upper floors of the buildings TO
the west Of Fifth avenue got good and
damp.
For the roof tests Engine l alone
was used and she pumped water from
both her gates into the standplpe. Inc
humping capacity of this engine Is lOoC
gallons a minute. She can develop a
water pressure Of 800 pounds When this
-. a showed
that. with 1875 pounds of steam, the engine
had sent water 10 tho roof NJ pressure
at first Of 81 pounds, which was rapldIy
increased 10 300 pounds.
. After the trial with the hlg engine the
other one tackled the roof pipes and. with
i4o pounds Of steam, developed water
pressure on the roof of 300 pounds.
After the roof test, came the grand finale
when both engines were used 10 force ,he
water through the standpipes 10 the hlhe
top floors of the building, line OF hose
was connected and run 10 window or
each floor. from the ninth up. Then the
signal was given and, IN le-s than 'hres
minutes nine powerful streams were play
ing from the building al once. Passengers
in RAISING surface cars took II for granted
that the Flatiron was afire and concluded
10 get OF and see the show. None OF those
who got of the cars, including many women
seemed to appreciate that something IKE
1000 gallons Of water minute was droppinf
and the result was damage to con-
siderable quantity Of Sunday fnery.
There we're three persons in ,particula4
who had good reason TO know that some
thing was Leaking One Of the three wa
the switchman stationed at the junction
Of the tracks Of the Lexington avenue
surface line with those of the Broadway
line. Not long after the tests began, h,
raised the big stationary umbrella which
he has to protect him from stress OF weather
But tho wind carried the spray under M
rim and so the man fshed out rubhe
coat and got into II. Later. he donnet
a rubber hat and then twiddled his finger
M the crowd and the fremen.
When the tests were over and the switch
man was standing around waiting for hi
coat and hat TO stop dripping, s9mebod!
asked him what he thought of the show.
sol think it's damned nonsense, so o
do II it's shprnklin' tn strates frum tn
roofs they're thryin', why the divil don
thew 20 down be the wather fronts wher'
they're used to wetf
The other two who had their persona
appearance damaged by the water wer
two gorpeo,lsly arrayed Young men VIII,