The sun., 1908-12-06
TREFTRENGN'S BEST WEAPON
HIGH PRESSURE REDUCING
FIRE LOSSES.
Facts Not Generally Known About the
system In New YOrk-Experience OF
other Cities-san Francisco 70 Have
~, ,OOO, 900 High Pressure Service

Facts Not Generally known Apou' uAo
system I'm New YOrk-ExpeFienee OF
other Ctics-san Francisco to Have
$1,000, 900 High Pressure Service
Tho large percentage Of oombusuble
buildings and the improper oonoiuons
as re.,ards safety that obtain in most
American cities have finally forced upon
the attention OF municipal governments
the necessity of making provision for an
absolutely Trustworthy fre lighting
veapon. II is the opinion Of fire under
writer's and expert engineers, says Herbert
4, Wade in his article upon High Pressure
wire Protection in the current Revtew OF
f7erieus. that the high pressure service u
/ most imperative In cities OF any great
elze. that it is the best weapon against
ire vet evolved and that Its installation
should be required in all cities where there
are oongested and hazardous risks because
of the percentage Of dangerous buildings
IN close proximity.
aD,,ring a transitional period. as II
we're" Mr.. Wade says in summing up
his subject, when new construction is
mainly fireproof or fire resisting fire pro-
teotion for our cities is an expensive ana
l,nportant consideration. However, IL
IA the price that must be paid Tor errors
~ the past. and the American people can
not compare conditions in their own cities
with those Of Europe, where for centuries
building has taken place with due regard
TO the danger Of fire; 30 that Tor American
cities with their tall buildings most un-
fayorably located in congested distriots
tbe main fire protection in the future must
oonsist in an adequate water supply at
higher pressure than the average domestic
a1nply administered by fire departments
NO WAYS inferior TO those OF the present
day as regards organization and person
mel, but even better equipped Tor meeuhs
extraordinary emergencies.
aFor such conditions the independent
biph pressure fire service OF to day 10 the
most useful means that the fireman has
Al his disposal. and engineers and under
writer's believe with all confidence that "
viii 40 prove in any serious test with an
actual fire.
The writer points out at the outset that
An adequate water supply, available at
anv mart of the city and to an unlimited
voiume ia the chief asset in reducing fire
los,es in American cities. There are very
Few cities on this side OF the Atlantic that
have a city water works capable OF exert
inp enough pressure to throw streams OF
water to the upper stories OF high build
ines and fewer yet in whose streets are
aid mains large enough and strong enough
u carry n volume of water under sufficient
pressure to be wholly adequate In time
~ AFporUanCv
In most cities the mains and standpipes
IA, the buildings were installed in the DAY
of low pressure, and even with faoiiltee
at hand for getting strong head on tne
water used in fire fighting the weakness
81 the pipes negatives any atVenipt az
Increasing the pressure.
In too many cities. too. the increase in
population and spread of building have lar
outdistanced the limit Of usefulness OF the
water available for fighting fires. 1t is
IN itst such communities. and their num-
ber is great, that the insurance men have
raised rates to such an extent that lar
seeing citizens in control OF the govern
rnent are beginning TO see that although
the expense Of installation OF high pres
SIRE system is great q compensation out
I al all proportion to the first outlay Wlil
speedily follow through the reduction OF
the insurance risks.
The city Of Cleveland was the nrst
veIoped the modern idea OF high pressure
IRE service. 1t wasjin 1888 that the munic-
irality authorized the laying OF
six. inch cast iron main from the river
10 the top Of nearby bluff, a distance
ef ZOO or 800 feet. Whenever there was
4 Are in the vicinity Of this main fire.
hnat. one of the earliest Of its kind, coupled
IA, to the river end of the pipe and sent
stream of water up to the spot where
this auxiliary supply was most needed.
milwaukee,. Detroit and bunaio later
adopted this special fireboat auxiliary.
In the two latter cities the original single
line of pipe was expanded to system,
and now the substitution OF permanent
pumping stations to take the place Of
\ the fire tugs in insuring quick and steady
application of high pressure is being
contemplated. In Milwaukee q 10 per
cent. reduction Of insurance rates has
followed the installation OF this adjunct
10 the water supply and IN Buffalo there
has been a reduction OF 80 cents on each
81 600 Of insurance.
The city OF Boston was the next to take
ip the new idea. In 1897-e8 there was
Installed there permanent system OF
cast iron underground mains. 5000 feet
al length, which was to oter an auxhlary
supply Of salt water, pumped from fire.
boat constantly at berth at the bay END
Of the main. This extension OF a special
hirh pressure service over q limited
area was extensively initiated until frst
Philadelphia and then New York made
the wide step OF installing over q large
area a high pressure system controlled
By permanent pumping stations.
In giving an outline Of the spread OF the