The evening world., 1908-01-25
SAYS F|REMEN
DID NOT TAP THE
PROPER MAINS
Foreman Gleason Testifies
There Was Plenty of Water
for Parker Building.

Foreman Gleason, of the Water De
rartment. to-day gave testimony at The
Investigation OF the Parker Building
FIRE. contradictinc the statements Of
many nremen tina, there was AN In
sufficient water supply. Gleason told
the Commissioners OF Accounts. who
are conducting the inquiry. that he
found three engines working In one
block on a single six inch main. None
"f the engines was getting water.
- told the engineers" he said, 20
try the Broadway hyd-ants They said. :"
testified Gleason. that there was no
water there either. ! urged one OF
them to try a Broadway hydrant. wnen
he unsorewed the tap the water pres-
sure was 40 great that water was
forced clear across the street in a yer,
heavy stream"
Die any Of the engines, then tan
ohat supply?' Commissioner Mitchell
asked.
Not for a long time aftergard- said
fleason. 1T was half past ELEVEN
" CLOCK when ! spoke TO the engineers -
Capt. Henry T%estihes.
capt James W. Henry. supervising
and contracting engineer in IN. Fire
department. was another witness
'apt' Henry corroborated former wit
nesses In severai details. He testified. AZ
'hey did. that some OF the engines al
me Parker Building fire were working
a vacuum Instead OF actually punp-
ing water. The vacuum was estab-
hsied because water in sufficient quan-
tty was not o~btainable.
Did You change the positions NJ a,y
o, the engines working on vacuum -,
Commissions Mitchell asked.
II haven't the authority TO order .,,.
engine company to change its position.
was the answer.
y. p!d YOU tell any one in authority
TO change the positions Of the engines
A NO. II wouldn't have done any ,ood
me pressure of water was low svery-
where.
Net on the Maps.
Q. Do you know there are twelve
mains in Fourth venue Al
know II only from personal observa+,on
nh' tho departments map shows only
one twelve-inch main and two .i,-,ncb
y DO you know there are two thIrtv-
mains and two welve.,nch
mains in Broadway" A. / do not Tho
city map shows only two h!rty-six-inoh
.ains
The witness did no know II the de-.
had changed the last issue OF
Q How often are the maps supposed
10 DC revised? A. Once a year. But 1
from personal knowledge that the
maps are not correct as to the Fourth
avenue mains. AT least.
1t was brought out that the ma tor,ty
or the engines were stationed a, a po,n,
south OF The Parker Building while
hydrants were unoccupied a block
north OF the fire. This, II was ex-
was because most OF the COM
responding to the Are came from
the south and coupled to the nearest
hydrants.
Some Engines Got Water.
commissioner Mitchell brought out the
det tuat All adequate upply of water |
MAS obtained by the engine companies
which coupled to hydrants on Broadway
nd west of that th~oroughfare, and that
'"mpanies which changed positions in
'ariably found a better supply for the
Jumps. II is the contention OF the adj
nlnistraton that had the larger avail
thle mains on the avenues been used an
water supply would have been
lad and the fire confined to the floor on
which it originated.
Water Inspector Lapham. OF the
\ alter Department the neSt witness.
estiied that he inspected and exam
ned all the water gates In the IRE dis
riot and found them open and full.
'hief Croker la testified that the gates
we're never all open for fear that the
mains would burst.
Charles II. Bull. assistant engineer OF
Water Department. positively de-
lied In his testimony that the water
ate were kept closed all the time
or fear tie mains would burst.
THE gates are never closed" he said.
and our mains throughout the city are
n fine condition"
Chief Croker had testified tina It was
rule OF the Water Department to
eeep the gates closed because the
could not withstand the full
Engineer Bull also denied the Croker
tatement that the water pressure be-
ow Canal street is as low as twelve
,c1nds. Twenty.one pounds. the witness
Is the average pressure.