New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-17
REPORT ON FIRE SUPPLY.
PIaa for 5000, 400 Gallons an Hour
for Contested District.

John T. Oakley Commissioner OF Water Sup
ply Gas and Electricity. yesterday laid before
the Mayor reports Of Nicholas S HILL jr.. chief
engineer in Manhattan and l. VI. De Varona.
chief engineer in Brooklyn, regarding a pro-
posed high pressure water service for fighting
fires i'm consested districts OF the city. It ap-
pears from the reports that there is no intention
Of using salt water from the rivers in such an
auxiliary service. The engineers say that the
Croton mains can supply all the water needed.
and that the use of fresh water viii remove
one OF the chief objections to a high pressure
service
In Manhattan the district selected for the high
pressure pumping service is to be bounded by
Twenty-thrd-st. on the north Broadway.
Fourth-ave. and Bowery on the east. Chambers
St on the south. and the North River on the
west. In this district. which comprises about
1850 acres. three pumping stations would be
erected. all the stations to be connected with
a system Of supply pipes and hydrants. In ex-
PLANTATION OF the plan. Mr.. Oakley says:
The plan submitted contemplates a capacity Of
100000 gallons an hour at each Of the three sta
hour. The pressure at the station Will be 800
pounds The minimum pressure at the hydrant IS
New service viii furnish than three times the
water now supplied fire by the entire pres
ent fire equipment on a fourth alarm. The press
ure will more than double that now maintained.
through threeinch hose With one and three-quar-
proXimately 2SoO gallons a minute, or five such
streams.
lined. or other words. hydrants pro-
posed for each intersection giving ten such
streams described From the four corners Of
block forty such streams may be played on fire
about 10000 gallons minute. or 10000 gallons an
hour. which is 50 10 per cent more water than the
present ire apparatus can deliver at one time on
+ is intended that by concentrating the fire
hghtins forces much time and the loss or hose due
10 friction will be saved. and the operations OF
tho officers and men facilitated.
You will observe that Mr.. Hill reports that It
IS I'm advised and impractiCable to combine the
system Of fire protection with that OF street clean
In The original proposition the question OF the use
have found. however on investigation. that the
distributing mains Of the Croton system are suf-
proposed with fresh water. As the use Of fresh
MIsr WI IeLhoEe oe OF t ne CnLsi - ~
the proposed nigh pressure IRE service We lhciuQe
I'm plans the use CT fresh water augmented BY
does not i'm any way affect the original plans. but
makes them more feasible and possible.
been estimated to be about one-tenth Of per cent
OF the amount consumed IN Manhattan and The
The estimated ccst for the construction Of the
pumping stations the laying Of the mains for the
contingencies. with the use OF electrical motors
Will amount to S.S50.nO and with the use OF gas
engines. $.29320.
In Brooklyn II Is proposed TO have three dis
tricts for a high pressure pumping service.
Coney Island districr g about one hundred and
forty-seven acres. drygoods and high office
building district Of about five hundred and sew
enty-fve acres. and a lower water front district
Of about eight hundred and forty-fve acres. Mr..
Oakley says that the estimated cost for the
struction OF the three stations the laying OF the
mains and the maintenance OF the plant IN
Brooklyn is 81 10000. The plants recommend
ed in Manhattan and Brooklyn may be CompIet-
ed in about year from the beginning Of the