The San Francisco call., 1906-09-21

tOlOWlnR the instructions OF the
Merchants Association, Secretary L. NJ.
King has submitted an exhaustive re-
port to the directors on an auxiliary
water supply system for fire protec-
tion for San Francisco, and this report
has been ordered printed for distribu-
tion.
The plan recommended is a high
pressure salt water pumping system,
with two pumping plants, and SO ar
ranged that fireboats could be used in
conjunction with the land pumps. The
area which it Is proposed to protect
with a network of mains reaches from
the bay shore to Powell and Sixth
streets. Chief Shaughnessy's plan for
a distribution of cisterns throughout
the lower part of the city is also fav-
ored in the report. and a bond issue
at an early date TO carry out the pro-
posals is recommended.
The advantages to be derived from
this plan are enumerated as follows:
One pumping plant will do the work
OF twenty engines and can be main
tanned at the cost of one. An unlimited
be given and would result in the reduc-
tion of insurance rates and the more
rapid restoration of the city. More
water could be concentrated at any one
point, and the pressure would exceed
that which can be had from engines.
Salt water is more effective in fighting
q Dre Ilan is IreSn wafer. Win lWO
separate pumping plants located on
rock foundation at the foot of Tele-
graph and Rincon Hills and the use of
one or more fire boats pumping into the
putting the system out of commission
would be minimized.
The report was written after an in
yestigation OF the auxiliary systems in
use in other cities. and it was found
that in New York, Boston, Detroit
Dhf1odafnA4o
Milwaukee the direct high pressure
fire pipe system was in use. with mains
laid from the water front, and that in
Boston and New York salt water was
being used. In New York the cost for
installation was 311o0 per acre, a sum
which is equaled by the fire loss in the
same amount of territory in the Dry
Goods District" in I'VE months. In
other words, the system might pay for
itself in five months. If 1T had been in
operation here on April IS ii would
have saved more than 100 times its
cost
DETAILS OF THE PLAN.
The report concludes with the fol-
lowing recommendations:
First-That the Merchants Associa-
ton indorse the proposition to install
system in San Francisco, as has been
recommended by the subcommittee on
water supply and fire protection in its
report TO the committee on the recon
struction of San Francisco; such sys-
tenn to have two pumping stations, one
located at the base of Telegraph Hill
and the other at the base of Rincon
Second-That the district to be COW
cred by the high pressure pipe lines
should extend on the north of Market
street as far west as Powell street and
on the south OF Market as far as Sixth
street, with provisions for extending
the lines when practicable, the exact
distributing system, and streets to be
covered to be determined by the Fire
Department and the City Engineer.
BOND ISSUE FAVORED.
Third-It Is recommended that if the
board of directors approve the PROPOSE
tion to construct a high pressure sys-
tenn in San Francisco special COM
mittee on auxiliary salt water supply
be appointed with power to act for the
purpose of advocating the early con-
struction of such a system and for CO.
operating with the municipal govern
ment in securing a vote of the people as
soon as possible on the question of is
suing bonds for the installation of such
a system.
It is believed that there will be little
trouble In securing a favorable vote OF
crate size is proposed for beginning
as the need for something in that d.
rection is generally felt. In this con-
nection il may be pointed out that in
I Philadelphia the Board OF Fire Under
writers agreed to make a reduction in
insurance rates in the con ngested district
Of twenty five cents on the one hun
dred dollars insured as soon as the high
pressure fire service in that district was
completed and in operation, and this
reduction has since been made
Fourth--It is also recommended that
consideration be given to the plan OF
the Chief of the Fire Department that
cisterns having a capacity of 100 0OC
gallons each be constructed at numer-
Gus points in the city.
At the meeting OF the Merchants
Association on September II, when the
above report was submitted, a special
+ committee was appointed on an aux
Hilary salt water supply, consisting of
DR.. Hartland Law, George E. Dow and
r. H. Swayne.
MANS EAR SEWEn ON AND