Arizona republican., 1909-09-29
INSPECT PHOENIX SYSTEM
Chief Shaughnessy on Tour
of Country to Examine
Most Efficient Methods Of
Fighting Flames in Use
in Other Cities

cisco may spend in the most judicious
manner possible the s5,200,000 raised a
year ago by a bond issue for the in
stallation of the finest fire-fighting
system in the world, p. II. Shaugh-
messy, chief of the fire department.
has been sent to every large city in
the country to obtain from them the
best they have in their systems. Chief
Shaughnessy came to Phoenix Monday
night. inspected the fire department
here yesterday, and then left for Los
Angeles. which is the last city to be
visited on his return trip.
In an interview with a representa-
tive of the Republican yesterday the
chief outlined the gigantic system
which San Francisco will have within
year and half. Some cities may
require two lessons" said the chief.
but the city of San Francisco needs
but one. When the system which we
are now at work on is completed. no
world catastrophe can ever lay the
city in ruins again
year-ago San Francisco bonded
itself in the sum of s5.20O.0O0. The
bonds will be sold as the contracts call
for payment.
The system consists of four seper-
ate methods of fire protection, so that
should one fail or two. or even three.
the fighting of the fire will continue
unabated. They are, first, a gravity
system; second, a pumping plant;
third. fire boats; fourth, cisterns.
High pressure mains viii be dis
tributed over two-thirds of the area
of the city Through these mains will
flow the water from three reservoirs
in different parts of the city. This is
the gravity system. One of the reser-
voirs contains 100000 gallons and
the other two 5000. 900 each. The res
ervoirs are placed on the highest
points of the city, so that the pressure
will deliver the water to a far greater
heighth than steam could force 1t. If
the building on fire Is not over 125
feet in heighth the water from the
first reservoir will be used The sec
ond win force the stream up to 400
feet, and the third to a heighth of
$50 feet. These reservoirs will be the
mainstay of the city for fire protec-
ton
In case the mains should be broken
or the reservoirs exhausted, the sec
ondary system will be put in use. Two
pumping plants, one at each end of
the city, will be erected for the pump
q .s,,rr
plants be damaged or their usefulness
impaired. then two powerful fire boats,
capable OF pumping 10000 gallons a
minute, will be brought into play.
The fourth and last protection
against fire is absolutely unique in this
country 1t consists of 110 reinforced
concrete cisterns distributed over the
city. They will hold $4,000 gallons of
water each and are to be held in re-
serve except in case of dire necessity.
Both of the fire boats have been
launched, the sites for the pumping
plants purchased and the mains are
on the ground. As soon as the sys-
TEN is installed there will be reduc-
tion of 20 per cent in the premiums
paid on all fire Insurance in the city.
The money saved by this reduction
would paw for the cost of the whole
enormous plant in two years.
In speaking of his tour of the coun-
try. Chief Shaughnessy said:
Il was granted months leave
of absence and sent by the city of San
Francisco to visit every large city in
the country went to Portland,
Seattle. Grand Rapids, Mich, Chicago.
Buffalo, New York, Boston, Philadel-
phia. Washington ST. Louis and
Kansas City. In my opinion New
York and Philadelphia have the best
high pressure systems in the country,
but New York and Baltimore have the
finest engine houses and equipment -
When he was asked about the sys-
TEN for fire protection in Phoenix, he
said: You have a pressure here of
about ninety pounds. which should be
sufficient for the present size of your
buildings. As the city increases in size
and you begin to erect skyscrappers,
, the pressure win have to be increased
to reach the added heighth.-
While in Phoenix Chief Shaughnessy
obtained a general description of the
alarm system in use here from Chief
Sullivan of the local fire department
He also visited relatives. Mr.. and Mrs
| c. F. Justice.