Norwich bulletin., 1911-03-23

mofning the report of Charles R. Bar kerj and c. T. Bissell, the engineers vestigatsd the condition in this city regarding fire protection for the Ma tional Board of Fire Underwriters. which organization submitted the re- port to Mayor Thayer, the heads oi the fire and water departments and report covers 22 large printed pages and shows how exhaustively the in- vestigation was made.
 : There is treated in the report the water supply, which having been so low during the past winter 1t is be- 1ieved was the cause of the investiga- tion, the fire department the fire alarm system, fire department auxil1aries, building department, explosives and fnfiammables, electricity and confia gra tion hazards, together with the recon : 1nendations. There is description of the city as to it's population and loca- tton in which it says:
 Fire Loss.
 The gross fire loss for the past five fire department, amounted to s45s,052, the annual losses varying from $8.S74 in 1906 to $300.154, $293,000 of which was for one fire, in 1909, and the num- Der of fires within the city limits from 11S in 1906 to 146 in 1903. The aver
 
 yearly number of fires 133. The aver age number of fires DOT year for each 1000 population was 5.1 and the an- nua1 loss per capita 33.52, the latter a high figure.
 The report does not explain it, but there Is included in this. amount the large loss at the Shannon building fire, minus which unusual happening in the fire history of the city the year ly average would be greatly decreased and the per capita loss greatly re- duced. In the report on the fire de- the equipment 1t has and the manner in which it is used. Chief Stanton is commended as a competent and pro- gressive head of the department The recommendations are along the line of what has been suggested yearly in with the exception of the placing of the West Side station at the corner of West Main and Asylum streets instead of at Thamesville. s
 Water Department.
 In the. water supply review is giv- en of the department work. the ca pacity of the reservoirs and the meas urement:s. while the adequacy of the supply is dwelt upon, together with the action taken towards getting a new supply and the Trading Cove brook supply. The recommendations that work be begun on Stony brook and at the pumping station have already been put under way. In regard to the water department the conclusion of the engineer is that changes in administra- tion due to political influences have been frequent. The absence of a prop erly organized management for the control of these important works has been serious handicap to their suc- cessful development and operation; complete plans and records. a compre- hensive scheme of development and better financial support are essential
 The supply works are decidedly in- adequate, as shown by the recent water famine. The city was fore warned ten years ago that additional have been taken to improve condf- tions. Owing to the delay in getting the pumps Tt Trading Cove brook started and getting Fairview reservoir filled the water in Fairview will be undoubtedly low during the coming serious, as little dependence can be placed on Trading Cove brook after the spring rains.
 Treasures are general sufficient for sprinkler protection and small num- Der of direct hydrant streams in inn portant districts; on the higher e1eva- tions fire engines are needed to give protection, as about 20 per cent. of the hydrants have less than 50 pounds static pressure.
 Reasonable protection for important mercantile and manufacturing districts requires a fire flow in excess of maxi mum domestic consumption of 5000 gallons per minute, with a pressure of at least 75 pounds at the hydrants, thus providing for effective direct hy- drant streams. The distribution sys- tenn should be capable of delivering hfc int .~A buildings in the districts, from ny- ldrants so located and of such type as to permit supply to be delivered through hose lines, mono exceeding 500 feet in length. Tn residential districts at least 1,5oo gallons per minute is needed. Fire flow tests show that these quantities are not available in any locality.
 The supply mains are not of sufd- cient size. and make the Yuse of large main from the supply works soon bs be developed imperative; in outlying sections the mains are not sufficiently supported, and the long lines of small pipe prevent adequate fire How in many otber sections. For good fire protec- tion 1t is essential that loss of pressure by pipe friction be minimum; this is only possible in well gridfroned system of mains of good size.
 The system Is only fairly well
 
 ternatic inspections are lacking.
 Distribution of hydrants is wide in many localitfes. Most are unsatisfac- tory in size, as over 90 per cent. have finch branch and barrel The ab- sence of gate valve on connection to main of the majority of hydrarts ne- cessitates cutting out & section of main, thus depriving other hydrants of sup ply when repairs are necessary The use of hydrants for other than fire purposes is poor practice; general condition of hydrants is poor and many outlets are too small for fire depart ment hose.
 Structural Conditions.
 Regarding structural conditions and hazards. it says: The building ordi- nance makes good restrictions regard ing limitations of floor areas in ordf- nary construction and for small chim- neys, but is seriously deficient other wise. It does not provide for protec- ton against horizontal and vertical spread of fire, contains no provisions Tor modern types of construction and fails to provide for private fire pro- lection and prevention. The many other duties of the inspector of buiId- ings give very little opportunity for building Inspections. The fire limits restrictions are extremely inadeuuate in that incombustible roof coverings are not required and metal-clad build ings are permitted. The intermingling in the principal mercantile district of frame and joisted brick construction with the attending shingle roofs, re- suits in an increased fire hazard,
 The recommendations are as fol-
 WATER suppiv