The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-09
FIRE DANGER N
GRAND FORKS At
Minimum POINT
Insurance Company Repre-
sentatives Find Conditions
Here Are SD.
PRESSURE TESTS
IMPORTANT FEATURE
Found That Largo Hydrants Give Ex-
client Service-Some Recommanda.
tons are Made-Inspection Made
For Benefit Of Insurance Compauies,

Engineers representing the General
INSPECTION company who inspected the
city OF Grand Forks last summer to
determine its standing from the view
point Of flre protection. have words Of
commendation for the system in the
report just fled with Mayor M. F.
Murphy and Chief A. H. Runge Of the
fire department.
Recommendation for changes have
been made affecting some features Of
the system. but these are Of q minor
nature.
Reports Of the tests on hydrant
pressures. showing strongly in favor
Of the eight-inch hydrants; as the
most effective; contamination Of
some electric wiring in the downtown
district; addition Of more men to the
dre department and the establishment
Of plan by which the men would
inspections Of the congested district;
Improvement Of the fire alarm sys-
tenn. and better high power engineer
facilities for the waterworks station.
are among the features brought out
In the report.
This inspection was made for the
benefit Of Insurance companies. CIV
corning the city on which to base
rates, etc.
ConGested District Condition Good.
Discussing conditions in the con-
gested district, the engineer says:
THE congested district consists Of
about twelve blocks. on both sides Of
Third street and DeMers avenue. Kitt-
son avenue and Bruce avenues. The
buildings are about forty-five per
cent brick and ffty-six per cent
frame. and range from one to FIVE
In hn}0
her of stories is 81. The walls are
usually standard thickness or nearly
30. About fifty per cent Of parapets
are deficient in heighth or thickness.
The roofs are mostly of compositions
OF gravel, some metal; sky lights. not
numerous, and mostly standard con-
struction. Vertical and horizontal
percentage protected. Heating Of
buildings in mercantile district is
largely furnished from central steam
plant. Lighting is mainly gas and
electricity with some few gasoline
lighting systems. There are several
buildings with private protection con-
sisting of stand pipes or chemical ex-
tinguisher. also one department store
equipped with automatic sprinklers."
New electrical wiring is pointed to
as being fairly good. but some Of the
old wiring Is poor and the engineer
advises that 1t should be corrected.
High Grade of Efficiency.
Commenting upon the waterworks
department in the general summary
OF protective features. the report says:
Management good. Organization
free from political influence which
produces a high grade of efficiency.
Supply adequate. High service pump
ing capacity deficient. Machinery in
good condition-plant well maintain-
ed. Distributing system fair to good.
Very small amount Of four-inch pipe.
Type of hydrant and hydrant spacing
In the congested district good. else
where fair. Hydrants not frequently
inspected. Domestic consumption low
due to we'll developed meter system.
Records good"
Want More Inspection.
Passing from the waterworks de-
partment to the fire department. the
report says:
Supervision and discipline good.
Department energetic and efficient,
out lacking In men and suitable aerial
truck. Number of men not sufficient
to make extensive inspections of the
mercantile district. Such inspections
are OF significant importance as fire.
men become familiar with location OF
elevator shafts. stairways. well-hoies
and the like. which knowledge has a
oiot!nct bearing IN facilitating their
work. This inspection service tends TO
eliminate the accumulation of rubbish.
debris. packing material, ETC.. which
frequently causes fire, and when
burned. even IL started from another
source. produces dense volumes Of
smoke. Offering a serious interference
to and delaying the work of the fire
department. The fire alarm system
is In need Of Improvement to insure its
reliability. A%0
The engineer then makes a detailed
statement concerning the pumping
station facilities. He shows the man
ner In which water ie secured. the ex-
tent OF the equipment, etc.
Main System.
There are 2.071 service connection.
In the city, Of which 1920 are meter.
ed. The total length of mains is e6.1
miles, divided as follows:
sixteen-inch ...... .6.S77 II.
Twelve-inch ........S.lc3 It.
Ten-inch .4.375 ~
Eighth.inch 1O.740 IT.
Six-inch .lO2.24s It.
Four-inch ..........5,37s It.
noticed In the street mains.
There are total Of 253 hydrants IN
CONTINUED on page s.)
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