The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-23
SALT WATER SERVICE TESTED
1900 GALLONS A MINUTE on AN
IMAGINARY FIRE.
This Wa Through Twelve short Lines Of
Hose with One Inch and n quarter
NOZZIes-Test Made Of the COney Island
system Satisfactory to ChIef Croker.

SSNNNd
If there had been a fire my where around
West Eighth street and Surf avenue, Coney
Island, yesterday afternoon, IL would have
been out in a jiffy, because there was a
thirty minute test on OF the high pressure
salt water service for fire purposes. For
about half an hour twelve streams were
directed against the air while count was
kept on the hydrant and nozzle pressure
and on the amount of water discharged
in the time. 1t was a highly satisfactory
test, 80 Fire Chief Edward Croker declared.
The test didn't make quite as much fuss
as IL il had been held in the middle OF the
summer season, but there were plenty OF
persons on hand to see il. II had all the
stage settings OF a fire, except that there
we're no fire lines and merely as an Incl
dental there we're no flames. Three red
automobiles came hustling down Surf
avenue a little before 2 O'Clock, bearing a
company Of boficials, among whom were
Fire Commissioner Lantry, Water Com
missioner O'Brien, Fire Chief Croker and
Deputy Chief Binns.
While the automobile squad was of up
to the pumping station at West Eighth
street and the Coney Island Creek, a sort
III Hllli dlhIil NCIlb Olts diN Ju7S ~
time that the chief and he commissioner
were on the job along came two fire COM
panies from opposite directions They
were coming just as fast as II there was
a real fire, and inside two minutes they had
their hoses in line to the hydrants and were
waiting for the signal.
There were three hydrants nearby and
hoses we're led from all OF them. Gauges
TO measure the pressure at the base OF the
hydrant were put on and the first set OF
four hoses began to play on the imaginary
fire. That was we'll up toward Luna Park.
A casual wagon driver caught some OF the
salt water apd got out OF the way in a hurry
The salt SPRAY foated over toward a peanut
dealers place of business and he moved
it at once. The flremen stood holding the
hose while it discharged great volumes Of
water in the air. They were all right until
a set Of three hoses from another hydrant
in back began to work.
Then they got thoroughly drenched
until the order was roared out, Play the
hoses on The ground With seven hoses
Piled from time TO time and numberless
records taken. Then Chief Croker recon-
mended starting the third hydrant. That
went in at first with three lines OF hose
which later were increased 10y two more.
The hydrant pressure from the pumping
station more than half a mile away was
figured at about 100 pounds as a minimum
and 1856 as "A maximum. The pumping
station was supplying water at $50 pounds
pressure and the loss. considering the dis
tribution, was accounted slight. The nozzle
force varied all the way from SIS to 50 pounds
pressure. one line reaching as high as 30
pounds. This force distributed water with
all twelve lines at work at the rate OF 400
gallons a minute. The display was on for
about a half hour, SO hat close to 10000
gallons of water were played at high pres
SUR in the air
This, il was estimated, was equivalent to
the supply that could be got from a main
is inches in diameter. Water was flowing
| through twelve hoses each ~ inches in
diameter. The test was favored by the
fact that the hoses we're in short lengths,
none being more than $50 feet long. Ii
was figured that the loss would be about
seven and n half pounds nozzle pressure
for every. 5O-foot length Of hose added.
The tables that were made out will be
figured down very carefully and the tabu-
lated results will be ready very soon. The
cheapness Of the new system and the ease
with which supply may be obtained il the
great recommendation. Chief Croker said
| yesterday that he hoped that the two Brook
Iyn plants would soon he in readiness.