New-York tribune., 1908-07-13
SEND STREAM II STORIES.
Record at Test of Ne1c High
Pressure .System.

A stream OF water from the top nozzle OF
water tower at the tests OF the new salt water
high pressure held in Union Square yesterday
morning reached the roof and washed the flag
pole on the seventeen story Metropolis Building
18th street and Broadway. While this Is ne
highest distance that any stream has ever been
thrown il does not mark the limit OF the new
system Had the tower been extended to It's fuil
length. Chief Croker said that IT could havs
topped a building several stories higher
The purpose Of yesterdays tests not 70
reach the fullest capabilities OF the new ~acsr
power but to accuston the h-emen to the use %
the new hydrants and apparatus For that reason
the strength OF the flow not run TO the top
notch but was sent to the hydrants from the sta
tions with less than three hundred pounds press
In spite Of this 1essened power, three lengths OK
the recently purchased rubber hose burst uudec
the strain This hose part OF the hundred thou
sand feet bought for the Fire Department under
the new specifications. according 10 Chief Croker
had been subjected TO this amount OF pressure
before being accepted.
When the hose burst with report Ike pistol
shot bystanders were driven from the nearby
streets and even the fremen had 20 abandon ths
other streets while the water was being smut on
One of the flying lines struck and Injured tNo
fl emen. Jacob Hover Of No 154 Ludlow street.
who was struck in the right eye. and William
Wilson Of No $40 Hudson street. who suffered
scalp wound. They were attended by Dr. Archer
Of the Fire Department
FOrty-eight lines OF hose, clever hundred 1eet
long were run from nine hydrants Each OF the
hvdrants fed four streams. and these streams
were carried through 3-inch hose with twenty
four 2-inch nozzle outlets. and the smaller SIZES
of IL and I u inch nOzzies were distributed
among the other twenty-rour lines When the
water was turned only thirty-stx OF tnese
lines were working Three hydrants were net
turned on. and twelve streams were idle
The thirty-six lines. however. according to L
NJ de varona. chief engineer OF the Departments
OF Water Supply. Gas and ELECTRICITY were more
t.an are ever needed az fre- From the Two sta
tons at Bank and Oliver streets. the water was
pumped 10 the hydrants at the rate OF thIrty-slx
thousand gallons a minute Computations made
by the engineers Of the Water Department showed
that had this flow of water been continued for
thirty-six hours II would equal the total OF the
water required for fire purposes within the last
year
In the first test the pressure al the hydranrs
ran to Z55 pounds. but the test proceeded the
needle showed 80 pounds At the nozzles TINS
power was gauged from 10 pounds 70 80. vary
ing according TO the length OF the line the size
of the nozzle and the fictiOnal resistance encoun-
tered in the distance 10 the outlet
While the streams were playing in Broadway
the surface cars ran as usual and the passengers
frequently emerged from the watery nrfns me
completely soaked II became necessary TO sta
ton inspectors at the ends OF the line 70 warn
the conductors TO lower the screens OF the open
cars The mist from the thirty-six lines OF water
ike cloud. and Jne sun ---~"
rainbow over the scene
After the first test eighteen Of the lines We're
sianlesed into nine streams The water tower OF
company was placed opposite the Metropols
Building and four lines from a single hydran'
fed the upper and lower streams The pressure
oxs-+a5 on -bA surface lines was about the same
as in the first test and this emerged az the nozzle
with a mark OF 191 pounds
The angle of the high nozzle was pointed toward
the roof OF the high Fuildtng- The stream rTaleu
,a-4 and as it gained strength. touched the
fagnoIe which rises thirty feet from the seventeen
sto-v roof At this time the pressure marked On
the gauge was I'D pounds
Chief Croker said the tests We're satlslacloLy ="
- ,-+ic,,lar with the exception OF the effects
on +ba hose IN the earlier trial the Departments
had 70 quit before it had given an adequate tss1
Of rba fun strength The docks along the west
street waterfront We're flooded. and the CITY mas
beeu sued for damage TO property on tne plsls-
:, fs Manned 70 have another test next sunday
which viii bring the fretoats into play