The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-04
KICKS ABOUT new FIRE MAINS
OBJECTIONS BY CHIEF CROKER
WHICH EXPERTS CALL ABSURD.
The Chief Changes Front About the Prof.
ect He Approved Last Summer-He
Can't lie Prompted by Dlsint crested
Motives, Commissioner Oakley Says

| Tho Chief Changes Front About the Prof.
ect He Approved Last summer-He
Can't lie Prompted by Dlsint ereste ed
Motives, Commissioner Oakley says.
For some reason which Mayor Mcclellan
and the officials of the Water Supply Depart
ment are entirely unable TO explain Chief
Croker OF the Fire Department has sud-
denly found fault with the plans for the
establishment Of high pressure water
mains in the business section OF the city
to protect the district from fire. These
plans were drawn by several of the best
known engineers in the city and approved
by experts in hydrostatics. When the
scheme was proposed Chief Croker was
strongly in favor of 1t and more than once
drew attention to the safeguards with which
Philadelphia had provided itself byinstalling
an auxiliary system of water mains
About week ago Mr.. Croker wrote
letter objeoting to the carrying out of the
plans. 1t IL UNDERWOOD that In this letter
he went into technical reasons why the
mains should not be laid. He insisted that
the mains could not stand the pressure Of
pumping water through several hundred
feet of pipes and found fault. also. with
the hydrants and MOBILES which have been
recommended. The Mayor sent the letter
to Fire Commissioner Hayes for report.
Mr.. Hayes returned it without comment,
intimating thereby according to the Mayors
conclusion that 1t needed none.
In the opinion OF the engineers OF the
Water Department, the objections raised
by Mr. Croker are trivial and without
substance. Commissioner Oakley said yes
terday:
= - o. ~ l. - Al. -
ing Of the mains and the work will be begun
without delay. The city has appropriated
the money for the mains and the fact that
Mr.. Croker at this late hour butts In with
some technical arguments on subject on
which he can have no scientific knowl-
edge will not hinder the letting of the con-
tracts.
Chief Croker IL n good fire fighter, but
he Is not hydraulic expert and can only
explain his attitude by saving that It has not
been prompted by disinterested motives
All that the Mayor would say was that
he had sent Mr. Crokers letter to the Board
OF Fire Underwriters with a request for
a report. At the public hearings held last
year the underwriters were the strongest
supporters OF the project.
Chief Engineer |. NJ. de Verona of the
Water Supply Department said: The as
sertions as to the insufficiency Of the pipes
provided-faiure 10 deliver the supply
alleged defects in hydrants, lack OF pres
sure ana alleged lallure OF hYdraulio enRi-
nesrs, whose life work is the design and con-
struction Of distribution systems for large
cities, TO take into consideration the friction
Of water in passing through pipes-are
too ridiculous and absurd 70 warrant
serious consideration.
The system prepared for the Borough
OF Manhattan has been most thoroughly
and carefully studied and will certainly
yield all the results expected 1t has re-
ceived the warm Endorsement OF the engi-
neers and other experts who have had
occasion to Examine il and are competent
to make such examination inteligently.'
Chief Croker declined last night to talk
about his letter. Fire Commissioner HIVES
made il clear that he at least, is not opposed
to the salt water main project The Com
missioner said.
IL don't want the impression TO 20 out
that myself, Chief Croker or the depart
ment is against the use OF salt water mains.
On the contrary. we are very much in favor
of IL. Ny only reason for making no COM
ment on Chief Cookers letter Is that | am
not hydraulic engineer. and / took his
word for what's in the letter. II was simply
a letter suggesting some changes which we
ought TO consider before making any move.
We don't want to have to rush work and
make mistakes and go over il again.