New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-19
low BEST TO FIGHT FIRE.

In the current Coasters Magazine" Mr.. AL
bert BlauveIt discusses intelligently some of the
means which are either actually employed in
the protection of property against fire in large
cities or are recommended for that purpose.
His dominant idea is that at present f1remen are
too often obliged to fight smoke, not fire,
owing to the difficulty which they encounter in
finding the latter Immense quantities of water
are at times thrown into a burning building
through windows without reaching the seat of
the evil, In consequence the damage is greater
than it should be, and incidentally great deal
of water is wasted.
Mr. Blauvelt is a firm believer in the virtues
of automatic sprinklers. These devices come
into play when the heat in their vicinity is in
tense enough to melt fusible plug. They are
prompt in action, operate just where they are
needed and extinguish a fire cheaply. The pro-
duction of such apparatus is now in the hands
Of a few manufacturers. and the first cost of 1t
is high Fears are occasionally expressed, more
over, that it might damage more merchandise
, than it would save How far misgivings of this
character are justified the writer for Casters
Magazine" does not attempt to say, but he hopes
for the development of a sprinkler inexpensive
enough for general use. In fact he would like
to have its introduction made compulsory by
municipal governments. Already in some cities
the local authorities require the erection Of
standpipes in high buildings, to facilitate the
work Of the fremen. To insist on the use Of
the sprinkler would be equally legitimate if
the step were deemed desirable.
Though approving the idea of a standpipe,
Mr. Blauvelt points out that the device is more
or less unpopular with fremen To some ex
tent it has proved disappointment 1t has not
done away with the necessity for putting up
ladders outside Or for climbing stairs within.
Rarely is the standpipe near the spot at which
an outbreak occurs and when the fire is finally
found the nozzIes are likely TO be too short or
too straight for effective service Several modi-
fications of the equipment are proposed, there
fore, to remedy these defects.
Regarding the value of high pressure pipe sys-
TENS little skepdcism is evinced In the few
American cities where they have been intro
duced or authorized, such action has usually
been taken at the suggestion of the under
writer's. In turn, the insurance companies have
shown disposition to lower their rates when
their advice is followed. 1t is broadly limited,
however, that there is danger Of overestimattng
the value OF this particular safeguard. More
obscurey it is intimated that it may have posi-
tive drawbacks. Mr.. Blauvelt affirms that he
and most of the other fire protection engineers"
of this country are convinced that the water
from high pressure pipes should be admitted
to interior fixed pipes only through hose con-
trolled by fremen, and that direct, permanent
connections should be avoided for a while
Fire commissioners, underwriters and prop
erty owners may not altogether agree with the
opinions advanced by Mr.. Blauvelt; but they
will find his article worthy of examination. He
is remarkably frank but hardly aggressive,
and he shows that he understands what he is
talking about.