The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-08-01
Formal Test Demonstrates That
I25 Pounds to Square Inch
is Possible.
WATER CO.'S PLANT
In Fair Condition According to
Engineer Hatton.
ONLY DAMAGE CAUSED BY
HIGH PRESSURE WAS AT RESI-.
DENcE OF ALDERMAN WRIGHT
WHERE PIPE BURsTED-MAYoR
BLISS GIVES HIS VIEWS RE-
REGARDING THE TEST.
WATER CO.'S PLANT

That 1t is possible for the Pensa,
cola Water Co., 10 furnish a pressure
of over 125 pounds to the square
inch by pumping directly into the
mains was demonstrated yesterday
afternoon at the corner of Palafox
and Zarragossa streets in the pres
ence of the board of public works. a
number of the city fathers and other
interested parties. by Chief Engineer
T. ChaIlley Hatton who for the past
week, has been making an examina-
ton of the plant of the water COM
pany on behalf Of the city. The reg
istered pressure at the plug on the
corner mentioned was 1913 pounds to
the square inch and a stream was
thrown 100 feet with a one inch nor
zle and TIA feet with a seven-eighth
inch noz7ie The pressure recorded
at the pumping plant was 127 younds
and pressure from the standpipe in
the downtown district was 70 pounds.
The test was made from 6 inch
main about so feet from its connec-
ton with IL inch main.
The test of the water pressure was
made at the request of Mr. Hattons
whose report would have been in
complete without it, and followed an
informal test made earlier in the day
by the water company.
One of the fire companies was on
the ground shortly before four O'Clock
and connected up with the fire plug.
AS soon as the city fathers and other
interested parties had assembled the
stream was turned on and was or
such strength that the fire boys HAD
hard struggle to handle the nozzle.
AT one time three of the men, WHO
were holding the nozzle, were slew,d
around at a lively rate and it was
thought, for minute or two, that thu
hose would get away from them. ono
or the men by jumping onto the hose
near the nozzle frog fashion. with all
fours managed to control it until the
others had their second wind, but
Chief Becker gave 1t as his opinion
that If such great pressure was to be
a regular thing he would need more
zen to handle it.
At the police station, where guage
for recording water pressure Is kept,
the pressure was 50 high that 1t near
" put the gauge out of business. The
indicator on the guage was forced
Gear around and started on the
second lap. AS near as can be esti-
mated the pressure at that point was
in the neighborhood of 120 pounds.
1t was believed IN some quarters
that a high pressure would result in
much damage to the plumbing Of the
city. but as far as can be learned
there were only one or two accidents.
The most serious was at the resi-
dence of Alderman w. B. Wright.
where considerable damage was done
as the result of a bursting water
pipe. A small service pipe in the rear
of a. building on Government street
between Palafox and DeLrna also
bursted. but no damage was done.
AT the conclusion of the test Engi-
neer Hatton stated to a representa-
tive of The Journal that his examin-
alton of the plant OF the Pensacola
Water company had developed the
fact that the pumping plant and mains
were of fairly good condition. An in
vestbgation of the mains had disclosed
yery little eIectrolytic damage, IN fact
in only one or two places was any
electric current recorded when test
was made with instruments.
Mayor Bliss. when interviewed az
ter the test had the following to say:
''The test simply demonstrates
what have been contending all
along for over two years. and that is
that 1t is possible for the company 70
give us direct pressure OF 100
pounds Or more to the square inch in
case Of fire. There may be some
plumbing that had given away and II
so it is better that the weakness
should be discovered now than later
On. The water company should put in
automatic cut off valves. the same as
they have in Jacksonville and ether
up-to-date cities. SO that the water
can be shut of by simply pressing a
button when necessity for direct pres
sure arises. The franchise granted TO
the water company makes 1t obliga-
tory on them to have proper means
for cutting off the stand pipe, and the
only proper way to do this Is by an
connected hydraulic valve.
As 1t is now, when they want TO cut
of the standpipes they have to send
a man to the pipe on North Fiji and
another to the tank Of East HILL -
cut them or"