Evening journal., 1905-10-28
HELPLESS ONES
TO Be CONSIDERED
Joint Committees Consider
Question of Better Fire
Protection
MORE WATER FOa FARHHURSI

Il am not thinking so much about
the reduction in the cost of insurance
nor the cost of a water system in
considering this matter as about the
helpless ones who would be unable to
get out in case of fire."
The above statement was made by Ed
ward l.. Clark. a trustee of the Poor at
joint meeting OF committees OF the
Trustees of the New Castle County Hos
pital and the Delaware State Hospital
held in the Office Of W. II. Cooper. Jr.
yesterday afternoon to consider the quos-
tion Of better fire protection for the coun-
ty and State institutions at Farnhurst.
There were present at the meeting DR..
| John Ball, William L. Clark, william
Turner representing the county institu-
/ tion and George S. Capelle, william IL.
Swift and DR.. Geo. Paynter representing
the State Institution. In Mr.. Cooper's OF
| fee the committees were met by II. Il.
Ahrens and s. II. Hicks representing the
/ Delaware Water Improvement Company
I Of New Castle which desires to furnish
wate- for fire and other purposes If
thought advisable 10 the buildings at
/ Farnhurst.
At the meeting Mr.. Ahrens acted as
spokesman for the water company and
pointed out the advantage Of having an
adequate and efficient water supply in
case Of fire at all institutions where per-
sons were confined. He advocated supply
from a distance, if available rather than
a plant on the premises inasmuch as that
too. might fail a prey to the flames.
COST OF sERvICE>
In advocating water being supplied bs
his company Mr.. Ahrens described tn,
plant in New Castle and its facilities foi
pumping water. He stated that the Com
pany had mains laid within 1900 feet o
the institutions and said by extending tn,
line by laying 6-inch mains it could fur
nish water to the institutions gates whicl
would have a pressure of forty pound
ordinarily at the hydrants but which il
case Of fire could be increased 10 from
20 to so pounds or even greater if neces
sary.
Asked about the cost Mr.. Ahrens state
that fiat rate Of $1,000 a year would b
requested by the company and a contrac
for a period not less than ten years.
For this sum the Delaware Water I'm
> provement Company would furnish 20.00O
900 gallons of water per year but woul
charge 10 cents per each 1000 gallons use
over and above that amount
As TO the matter Of locating FIRE hy
drants Mr.. Ahrens stated that he woul
furnish and locate free reasonable nun
Der OF them but that connections to tn
buildings if water was supplied to ther
must be paid for by the trustees Th
r matter Of an additional cost Of sever5
p hundred dollars to the company in locat
. ing plugs would make no material differ
ence if contract was entered into.
Asked by Mr.. Turner If, i'm the event a
the trustees not using 2O000.OOO gallons q
water a year there would be a reductio
in price, Mr.. Ahrens replied that tina
would make no difference as the onl
price that he could consider was the SUI
2 mentioned. He said that money ought I
r be saved inasmuch as it would do ava,
to a great extent with the present systel
S and surely should cut down the insuranC
S rates. This led TO a discussion betwee
8 Mr.. Capelle and Mr.. Clark as to the pre-.
=. ent rates paid by the trustees Of the tw
institutions and brought forth the r,
mark from Mr.. Clark as quoted above.
Mr.. Ahrens suggested that he should z
$ to Farnhurst and look over the situatio
and ascertain just where fire hydrants d.
D sired to be placed. DR.. Ball was under Il
impression that the trustees could obtai
better rates than offered by the Delawai
Water Improvement Company. 1t wa
: finally decided that Mr. Cooper, attorne
a for she water company, should draw u
a written statement Of the proposition ,
the company and forward it to the Stat
n Hospital Trustees at their meeting q
l. November l, when the subject would con
d up for consideration. It is probable tn,
the County Hospital Trustees will I
asked to confer with the Trustees Of Il
n Poor at that time relative to the subject.
} The test OF the fire appliances at II
State Hospital on Wednesday last shove
that the fire protection is inadequate. ]
. the two institutions are 537 inmates. !
in the county and 81 in the State Ho
s pital. In case Of a fire Of a serious natui
= the fatalities would probably be gre
even with the best Of fire protection.