Evening star., 1904-03-18
Economy of High-Pressure Service.

me economical features of the high
pressure fire service should appeal strongly
10 congress and alone lead to it's favorable
consideration. The fire chief has stated
that the clty's present equipment of steam
ers is so small that it would be impossible
successfully to fight more than one big
pIaze at the same time. While the chance
that two dangerous fires will thus come
together may be small, yet the chance Is
there' ana the city certainly should not be
Ieouceu 10 such narrow margin of safety
therefore there is an insistent demand yea,
after year for more engines and men ia
iiioie nearly close the gap between the
equipment and the real needs This de-
iiiaio must be met. and is slowly, though
not adequately being met by Congress in
the form of appropriations for new COM
panies. together with land and houses to
accommodate them.
The proposed high-pressure service would
obViate the necessity of these annual in
creases, so far as the business district is
concerned. The steamers now loca ted with
In the heart of the city could be moved out
TO the residential sections and the suburbs
probably avoiding all further occasion for
ADDITIONS to the department for some years
to come. In ten years the cost of the high
pressure installation would have been maid
In this way alone, leaving the city ade-
quately protected against fire and needing
only the occasional enlargement of the
equipment as the community grows
Inc area to be covered by this plant en-
braces virtually all of the government
buildings, extending, according to present
plans, from Sd street to 18th and from
pennsylvania avenue to 1 and K streets
north Save the Capitol and Library and
the projected House of Representatives Office
building on the east and the buildings in
the mall on the SOUTH every public structure
would be given the direct benefit of this
effect1ve fire service. Thus the government
needs the plant as well as business Wash
ington. At a slight addition to the cost
the plant could be extended to include the
excepted buildings named
There need be no hesitation on the part
of Congress about adopting this plan on
the score of interference with the present
water-supply system. The two services
will be absolutely distinct. The water for
the fire-fghting mains will be taken from
streams that now empty uselessly into the
Potomac, collected in a great reservoir at
Fort Reno and there impounded to be al
ways ready for use 1t will be the cheapest
possible plant, requiring only a small an
nual appropriation for maintenance. There
will be no pumps to buy or keep in repair
or man. A very few workers will be needed
to attend TO the valves and sluices. There
under the business district will be the
water, at high pressure, ready in an in
stant to be thrown upon the tallest build
| ings. to screen menaced structures and to
drown out threatening confiagration in
its first stages The proposed installation
will yield 200 hydrants. each capable of
throwing six streams. or total of 1900
streams. each more powerful than any
that can be thrown today by the existing
equipment.
1t is obvious by reference to the records
that now is the time to do this thing. Two
years ago the Commissioners estimated
for this same work, asking for a much
smaller sum than that now stated by them
as necessary. The cause of the advance is
that meanwhile the price of cast iron has
increased by nearly 100 per cent. There is
every evidence that this Is a permanent
advance. and there is a probability that the
price will continue to go higher. There is
no assurance that If this request is now
refused next years estimate for this work
will not very closely approximate million.
Therefore not only is the project itself a
stroke of economy. but it will be most eco
nomical if undertaken Immediately.