The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-06-27
INSUFFICIENT pom En-.

w hAA SAN AAOcS 80 AAAo ~A'o |
Pressure Dwindles to About :
20 Pounds What is Needed.
Weighed in the balances and
found wanting" is about the
sum and substance of the test
mace tuesday afternoon of the
power available for throwing
water in case of fire.
Promptly at 2.30 o'clock the
fire whistle was blown and short
~ thereafter water was turned
on at the hydrant in front of the
court house. Two hose, 100 feet
ra,n IL. length, hau been attach
ed to this hydrant, to the one at
the corner of Fourth and Elm,
and at the corner of Third and
Elm. With two hose playing only
the force was very good, with
four it was only fair, and with
six it was poor. 1t was better
than many expected, but it was
plainly evident that under extra
ordinary circumstances the force
would not be sufficient.
Mr.. @. T. Williams, chief Of
the voluntary fire company, says
that the force is a little better
than he thought but that, while
it would do fairly we'll if all other
conditions were favorable, under
extraordinary circumstances it
would be wholly inadequate to
meet the demand. He called at
tention to the fact that in this
test only 100 feet of hose was
used. With increased length of
hose of course the friction would
be greater and the power would
be CORRESPONDENCE less, and he
does not believe that it would be
possible to get near enough to a
wooden building on a side street,
for instance, to throw the water
with sufficient force to do any
good; and Of course it is necessa-
ry to throw water with some
force to be effective.
Ex-Mayor E. ]. Britt, foreman
Of one of the fire reels, who was
in charge of the test, was also
interviewed and he is likewise Of
the opinion that the force is not
sufficient to cope with a fire un
der anything but the best condi.
tons. He called attention to the
fact that while he was mayor
valves were put in all over towr
by means of which water can bt
cut out everywhere except where
it is desired to concentrate force
and that in this way perhaps thu
force could be increased to some
extent, but he does not believe
at that that the force would be
sufficient.
superintendent Mcclure, of tn
water and light department, say!
that the test demonstrates wha1
he has claimed all along, viz.
that the town badly needs anoth
er pump. There are two pump!
at the power house with capacit!
of 254 gallons per minute each
These were running during thu
test at a piston speed of 13t
strokes per mipute-running at f:
speed that could not be main
tanned without tearing the pumps
to pieces. The tank was cut gu
and water was being pumped di
rectly from the river into tn,
mains. At the beginning of tn
test there was a pressure Of IL
pounds on the mains. When tw
nozzles were put on the pressure
was pulled down to 80 pounds
four nozzles pulled the pressur
to 55 pounds; and six nozzle
pulled the pressure to 40 pounds
With the friction of the pipe
and hose, with six nozzles tn
pressure would not be more tina
20 pounds at the nozzle-no
more than enough to throw
perpendicular stream Is fee
from an inch nozzle.
Supt. Mcclure claims that
pump with capacity of 1000 ga
Ions per minute is needed, whic
would give a pressure of s
pounds anywhere along the lir
when six hose are connected an
would throw a stream about e
feet high.
With six hose connected,
even with four, it would see
that the pressure is not sufficie
to successfully cope with fire.
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