The San Francisco call., 1910-10-19
MUNICIPAL WATER
SUPPLY FAVORED
National Fire Underwriters Rec
ommend That City or Dis
trict Acquire System

OAKLAND. Oct. 1s.-Numerous i'm
provements in the fire protection serv-
ice Of Oakland were recommended by
the committee on fire prevention of the
national board Of fire underwriters in
their regular public report sent out to-
DAY
The most important recommendation
IS that reliability and adequacy Of
FIRE protection be insured either by pub
lie ownership. by the municipality or
by water district embracing Alameda.
Berkeley. Oakland and adjoining sta
tions: or by legislative enactment and
proper binding agreements between the
city and company, by which the city
can secure such improvements as are
NEEDED
IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED
The board recommends that the
water company at once take measures
to secure such additional sources of
supply as viii be required to provide
for consumption demands at all times
According 10 the report. there should be
additions and improvements TO va
rious pumping stations situated in this
city, and more main arteries covering
the district north of Eighth street. west
20 Wood. north to Lake Merritt, and
out san Pablo avefue to Berkeley.
Rega riding the salt water auxiliary
system in the business district, the
report says:
The system as completed 10 date Is val
usble suxilisrv 10 the FIRE fighting facilities
for the section of the city bounded by Fff-
teen;h. Webster. First and Clay streets,
which includes practically ali Of the princi-
pal mercantile district. The hszsrds at the
station and the single force main form mod
erately unreliable festures. Eaca pumping
unit viii furnish protection TO the section
covered abouf equivalent that provided
hT two second size FIRE engines having
water supply in addition TO that available
from the domestic system; the distribution
system deliver. without excessive loss
~ head, the discharge from the two present
units aud the third for which space is pro
vided.
Win the added supply from the San Fran
cisco tneboat. which under favorable condi
ions viii b. available within al hours time,
and with the reliability improved and csps-
oirv increased as recommended. the system
viii largely Offset The weakness Of the do
Extensions are to be made according TO the
appropriations made in the annual budget
which is thought win be sufficient 10 com
g plete The system as at present planned with
in about three years: II j. expected that the
ad6tionsI pump will be installed within
4 Tesr
FIRE DEPARTMENT EFFICIENT
The report continues
The fire department is efficient and under
progressive management With the installs-
ZION of hose companies authorized and
the recommended extension Of the auxiliary
high pressure system. the principal meresn-
10 alarms is good in the mercantile district
4 and elsewhere is well arranged for the force
available: suitable provision is made for pro
tecting territory left uncovered. Fire meth
ods appear 10 be generally good, as shown
hr the excellent fire record.
Improvement Of the fire alarm sys-
TEN is considered in this language:
With the authorized improvements. the sys
lem should provide good protection for the
business section snd many parts Of the
builtup residential districts. bat the use of
saturated paper insulated cable is not in &C
cordance with the best practice. and large
territory viii still be unprotected or pro-
tected only by boxes Of inferior type, inco1-
spicHously located.
The Melrose system is inadequate and Of
little importance. but it's territory viii be
covered by the oakland system when funds
sTailable
The investigation was made by z. P
Walther. structural engineer: G. L.
Bean. hydraulic engineer; R. c. Den
nett, hydraulic engineer; F. A. Ray
mond. fire department engineer, and
Kenneth Lydecker, assistant. They are
connected with the national board at
New York.