The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-02
HIGH PRESSURE
SYSTEM URGED
Fire Board Asks $6se,4e5 For Max
ing Start in Installing New
Equipment.

To make start ON the establish
meHt OF "a high pressure system of
lire protection for the city OF Detroit.
the fire department, In It's annual bud
get submitted to the controller, Tues
day afternoon, asks $6S6,465.50, in
Guiding Si37 1880 for distribution
system and S249,l50 for a power plant
operated by gas. This brings the 20.
tai amount asked up To $500, 1928.
Aside from the enc Item mentioned.
however. the estimates total less than
was asked last year, and are only
sl0S,000 In excess OF the amount nj
lowed In 1910.
Tine request for The csc ,465 DO is
based on "A report submitted 10 the
IRE commission by the engineering
firm OF Smith, llinchman & Grylls,
which is now made public by the COM
mission In the form OF printed pam
phlet of 20 pages
The engineers were employed by
the commission some time ago TO
Investigate the question of n high
pressure system for Detroit, and haze
gone into the subject very thorough
ly.
The plan outlined by the engineers
contemplates eventually the erection
OF four stations, located approximate
Is AT the foot of Riyard-st., the east
Grand boulevard. Twelfih-st.. and the
West Grand Boulevard. II is the In.
tention of the fire commission, II the
appropriation Is allowed 10 provide
FIRST for the central or downtown dis
trict. bounded on the west by Wash
ington boulevard. Wayne-st aud
Third-ave.; on the south by the river,
on the east ny ST Antoine and Ran
lobbyists. and on the north by Ora
tot and Madlson.ayes and Winder-st
;. The downtown section Is now pro-
tccted by q series OF and l0-incG
ripe lines and 90 hydranls. but The
engineers call attention to the fact
that these lines were attacked By
eiectrolysis soon after being laid. and
la prevent further damage from this
source they are bonded into the street
Hallway returns. But the report adds
The efectrolysis and the pittns
ilcident TO the lying in the ground
have so seriously affected their
strength that il is probable they viii
not safely last many years. There is
q question whether IL would be VICE
u relay steel pipe on account OF its
short life
The engineers sum up their report
In this language:
Summarizing the whole situation.
II Is found that the fire boat pipe lire
has been superseded as q fire extin
gushing apparatus by the more effec-
tive high pressure system: that tho
capacity of the present pipeline sys-
TEN Is much less than the best mod
ern practice recommends that II is
not possible 10 make the pipe lines
part of a more modern system even
II their probable length Of life were
such as to warrant IL. In view OF these
facts. IL Is recommended that for the
central district. all further work be
done along the line OF the high pres
sure plan, providing for hydrants OF
1000 gallons capacity spaced at in
tervals OF $50 feet, cast iron mains
OF a minimum size of IL inches, and
a gas engine driven pumping station.
of a capacity OF 10000 gallons q min
ute at 800 pounds pressure"
The other estimates submitted b.
tho fire department are divided as
follows: Salaries. 1892 $3.50. as
against $747.554.S0. allowed in 1910;
maintenance. s210. 263.43. against STA.
1920; improvements, s100.S25.75,
/, against siS2.6S5
The city plan and Improvement
commission asks $4,000.