New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-07
THE NEW WATER SUPPLY
Doubt What System of Obtaining
PO7cer Ne1C-YOrk VIII adopt.

IOICCT " CIC-I OIh " uC dOOpC.
That Nevv-York will soon have an adequate water
supply for fire fighting seems determined That
the system both for Manhattan and Brooklyn will
be one taking its supply from the rivers and dev-
ering Il at the hydrants under high pressure also
seems to have been settled Chief Engineer Hill Of
the Department OF Water Supply. Gas and Elec-
triciy is busy preparing general plans for the
TEN. and there is a chance that he Will be able TO
have the plans and an estimate OF cost ready for
presentation before the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment at the boards rext meeting.
The plans and estimates. f. g understood. viii
provide for a system which will cover Manhattan
from Forty-second-st. 10 the Battery. and for one
IN Brooklyn which will protect the river front
manufacturing district and the retail drygoods dis
trict above the City Hall along Fulton-st.
From what was said In the discussion OF the
subject at the public meeting before the Mayor
last Monday. It clear that tho system which
tho Mayor had in mind a model was that lately
installed iE Philadelphia, which recently de-
scr!hcd I'm The Tribune. II has not been made
clear however. whether It IS proposed to adopt
for power purposes Il gas engine system. such
that which has been successfully developed IN
Philadelphia. some other system. There
three power systems which naturally suggest them
selves to the engineer for such a service. They
those employing for prime movers steam engines.
gas engines or electric motors. Engineers would
all agree that any OF these systems Is capable
OF giving ample and satisfactory service. Each
has fits advantages and Disadvantages What sys-
Steam engines entitled to first consfdera-
ton. Steam engines reliable. their qualities
are well known. and the adoption OF steam power
would make every pumping station independent
unit not subject 90 interruption in It's operation
tv anything which did not dire city affect engines.
boilers or other integral features Of tie plant.
II tho pumping plants were 20 DO operated all
day and every day. even for a considerable part
OF the time. there would probably be little CUES
ton that good engineering would dictate
a.Tr of ufe W h0T Iers for
each station. But these are not tho conditions to
be met.
in the Philadelphia district the conditions are
about tho same as those which exist IN New-Yorl.
Il has been calculated that tie power station
there may be called on exert its power Tor aght
iur fires Tor an average OF perhaps ten hours IN
each month.
TO De ready FOR this short service q steam plant
would require relays OF arcmcn and engineers IN
constant attendance, lrcs always burning and a
FUN head Of steam always maintained ready 10
drive the engines and pumps az fun force. This
would no. only mean large cost for men. but
also f1r fuel The boilers and CRATES under con-
slant would add this by rapid deteriora-
ton lu condition. Tie substitution OF gas en-
Elaes or electric motors Tor steam engines offers
important savings az once Tho fuel for tho gas
engines uad the power for driving the electric
motors would each ha drawn from outside sources
This would not only tho original cost and
wear and tear Of boilers. but tho more important
item o. land and buildings FOR boiler houses and
fuel holders.
II the city or - boroughs had each only a
single source OF Fas supply or OF electric power
would think twice about tho OF either
power FOR fire nghting stations. AS a matter OF
fact II is easily possible 10 connect each station
with gas electric mains 10 make IL practically
impossible for them 10 be cut on from Il power
supply by any accident likely 10 beflu gas houses
electric central stations
Gas engine stations or electric stations require
only ore man 20 operate them. Figures obtained
from engineers Interested IN both
that TIE Electrically equipped station would cost
somewhat less % install while the gas engine sta
ton would cost great deal less To operate Gas
eHe.nes such as are provided In the Philadelphia
plant cost about 50 Tor ose horsepower Electric
motors, With sVltChb11rds and other appurte-
It Is ners}o55 tF4t f5r - per Gent less,
power stations would need engines or motors OF
Si5G5j Electro motors wo3ld COST So 80 I ,os'
l-ither would DO cheaper TO erect than complete
an idea OF the cost OF operating the gas engine
plants can be clearly gathered from the official
nsurcs, made public n Philadelphia on Wednes-
that plant had been subjected 70 continuous TWEEN
on LGesqSy al 10 a; m. and continued without
out bearing getting hot or other disturbance.
main was as rGis 10 The 80 III . SLe
engine consumed a5i cubic feet Of gas for one
Iae cost for ne twenty-fQur hours. at s. a thou
Assuming a ike rate OF gas consumption an hour
and rate OF 81 FOR thousand cubic feet II would
which II is proposed TO install In Manhattan II a
gas engine plant were put IN For ten hours n
S21l2 90 for a year S33.274 so
Electricity is sold by the kilowatt A klowatt IS
equal to one and one-thiTd horsepower. The retail
price OF electric current is Is cents "a kiIowatt an
hour. The cheapest price at which electric current
Is sold I'm this city Is five cents a kilowatt hour
Electric motors lose about 10 per OF the power
OF the current in turning II into work Motors TO
produce 1875 horsepower would therefore require
l522o horsepower of current. or l6H kiowatts an
hour. A. five cents a kil0watt the current would
cost S52 70 an hour $5S22 for ten hours S69 S64
year Win no service except the ten hours a
month estimated necessary for fire lighting the
cost OF current would therefore, be S6s9 20 greater
than tho cost OF gas. more than double. The
Street Cleaning Commissioner Dir. Woodbury. has
urged that his department be permitted to use the
salt water fire system for flushing and washing the
streets. Should this be allowed the difference in
the cost OF and electricity would be sun further
acceutuated
THE Iron Age" in n description OF the PhiladeI
pha high pressure fire system. gives the followin,
Stirte OF me comparative cost or operating steam
and gas engine plants.
Steam
engines
Capacity ner - hours tgaions). I6 600 900
" AGES per mont $3.50 $3.50
Gas per month (ten hours. 400
,ll. WliaIe, etc
repairs -.--...--.-........---..-..-- So S.