Norwich bulletin., 1910-08-26

intended and were located where it appeared best at that time and in most cases good Judgment was used in their location.
 In addition to the cisterns being sup
 piled with water from small pipes some were piped to receive the roof water from churches or buildings with roofs of large area These were built so that the cover of the cistern would
 be in the sidekalk about 10 inches above grade of street which allowed an overflow pipe to the gutter, thus keeping the cistern filled in wet sea- sons unless emptied by use at a fire With this description Of the old cis- terms. their construction and the way they were filled with water I will en- deayor to give my reasons for retain ing old cisterns and locating new ones where possible.
 Wherever possible have had all old cisterns brought up to grade, cleaned out, and connected up with supply pipes from inch to 8 inch size with gates near the cisterns that can be controlled by the stolzer of the en- zines, with gate key carried on each engine. The pressure at the gates will vary from 95 lbs. in the business dis trict to 25 lbs. on hills in resident sec tions. It is well known that there are many kinds of fire cisterns in use in concrete construction and piped up with water under pressure, such as surface water reservoirs used in many cities Also the method of dropping a rubber bag into catch basins and in man holes and filling from hydrants with lines of hose, any kind of cis- tern tank, box or barrel with provision for filing with water of sufficient quantity to supply one or more en- zines is the object sought and attain ed if the fires are extinguished.
 Perhaps the best argument for re- taining fire cisterns Is, if they are To-
 II ~x-s~ T of sufficient capacity to care for at least two engines, there is little lia- bility of being buried under falling walls or being obliged to move as you would have to from hydrants in case of a large fire if taking water under pressure from hydrants at the curb. Also that ever important problem of the interchangeability of couplings when assistance is sent other cities. If they carry their own hose the problem is partly solved with cisterns whether the hose couplings are standard or not. This alone is sufficient to war rant the expense of maintaining cis- terms
 The matter of keeping the cistern filled while playing can be left to the stolker of the engine, 1t being supposed that the gate controlling the water to the eistern is placed near the cistern and with a reasonable size pipe with water under sufficient head to keep the cistern full.
 To sum up, of what advantages are fire cisternS2 areas they are invaluable in case of a conf1a gation, by not being obliged to pick up and get away from falling walls.
 2nd. If outside assistance is re- quested from some city not having couplings that will interchange, it will make no difference if they bring suf- fcient hose with their engine and draft from cistern.
 3rd. It will compel those in charge of engines to see that they are in good condition for draughting water, as it is well known that taking water from a hydrant under pressure is better for sick engine than when draughting.
 4th Again in cities with rivers, ponds or canals, flowing through or around them; cisterns can be utilized by stationing the larger engines at the source of supply and pumping into the cistern and from cistern to fire, in case of break in mains.
 5th. Should a break occur in a water main during a large fire the water can be sent into the cistern by damming up the flow sufficient to supply en- zines.
 9th. In cities of small size, water mains are apt to be- laid too small. and the size is not increased without the usual amount of talk and trouble. So that even a good water system and a pressure sufficient for a small fire and a few streams, engines stationed at cisterns will be found invaluable in case larger and heavier streams are needed.
 Finally my experience has been to try. and keep in good condition all fire cisterns of whatever size or type, even with an abundance of water under pressure, and with rivers and ponds near at hand, as the time comes to all when every available source of water supply and every available engine is required to stop large fires.