The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-06-06
Another Test of the Water Supply

John M. Shermer, Inspector of the I'm
derwriters' Association of the Middle De-
partment, when in Mount Holly, on Sat
urdaY testing the water supply, said that
it was the desire of his company to pull
together with the people, and show them
the deficiencies for which they are being
charged. There will be no general rate
of insurance for the mercantile section of
the town, but each building will be rated
separately, and property owners will be
able to get reductions by making necessary
changes to secure greater safety in case
of fire.
The committee representing the Middle
Department of Burlington County, has
settled upon the general rate to be charged
outside of the mercantile district, and the
figures are made known through John r.
Howell, showing a reduction of 20 per
cent, as follows. On brick dwellings, so
cents instead of 80 cents on the 500; on
furniture, 80 cents instead of 81 90.
On frame dwellings and furniture, 80
cents instead of $1.00, for five years The
increase in the mercantile district is not
expected to be over 10 per cent. There
will be still further decrease over the
above figures on private stables, school
houses and churches.
eight streams in operation at the same
time, the pressure, as taken at the Union
Hose house, dropping from 40 to 30 pounds
With two one inch nozzles in use, the
Good Intent engine was throwing 442
gallons per minute. On the Relief engine
there was a 1 inch and II inch nozzle,
throwing 500 gallons per minute. There
were three 1 inch plug streams, each
throwing IA gallons, and three Il inch
streams. throwing 173 gallons each, the
total production being 1896 gallons per
minute This figure should have reached
1000 gallons. showing a shortage of 404
gallons, when eight fire streams are used
from one line of water mains,
The object TO be attained by this test
was to ascertain the number of gallons of
water that could be thrown per minute in
order to show its volume The data
secured from the plugs can at any time be
exceeded by taking water from the creek,
and this is matter to which MI Shermer
promised to give consideration. There
were 100000 gallons of water in the
reservoir when the test was made, and
this was only lowered two and half
inches. The lowest pressure, 20 pounds,
was at the residence of Edward Lewis; the
| highest, Al pounds, being at the Union
| Hose house.
The Inspector was promised that in the
future the fire plugs would be flushed once
every sixty days, and this will take off a
five cent charge. Another five cent charge
would be eliminated if all the hose was
dried indoors The fact that Durand' ice
house was in dangerous proximity to the
pumping station, being only 81 feet dis
tant, was source of complaint. Superin-
tendent Deacon said the Water Company
would protect itself to the extent of plac
ing iron shutters on its building. The
size of the water mains in the out
lying districts is too small and there
are too many dead ends" in which
there was no circulation, making the pipes
liable to become clogged and impairing
their usefulness when needed.
In the test made several months ago, 6
rate of 50 cents was secured by the in
spection of George J. Porter, but his re
port was turned down by the Under
writers Association because, it is alleged
he did not understand his business, ant
the test of Saturday was made to give al
opportunity to correct the mistakes, anC
thus far it is known to have resulted in
decrease of IA cents, with a still furthe
reduction in sight
Mr.. Shermer seemed to have a thorough
knowledge of his business. Unlike MI
Porter, he gave respectful attention tC
those who sought information. Although
the various companies in town have no in
side drying racks, yet their hose is no
exposed to the weather in winter Mum
erous minor points of this character wer
called to his attention, and he promised q
take them into consideration.