The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-08-21

Clellan was at the tank some time
after the fire that night and found in
the tank over IS feet of water, and it
will not do to say that all that water
was put in there after the fire as
against the statement of Mr.. Gillian
that the pump was running all the
evening after 6 o'clock.
| There is another thing which re-
quires explanation, and that is
the fact that the hose attached
to the hydrant near 9 Mrs. Baer's
residence furnished but little force
or water at the fire, while an
other hose attached to another
hydrant furnished a stream of water
adequate for the demand Of the &C.
casion.
Mr.. Arthur Green says that he had
charge of the hose furnished by the
navy yard crew and that while the
attachment was few minutes later
than that of the other hose, there
was an abundant supply of water, and
of sufficient force. 1t does not require
much of a philosopher to reach the
conclusion that the main where the
hose which Green mentioned was at
tached was in proper condition and
that the other was INSTRUCTED.
Another thing which philosopher
must admit is the fact that If there
had been 10 feet of water in the tank
at the time of the fire, or even less,
the flow would have been such that
| if the main were unobstructed and the
equipment in proper condition, that a
stream of double the force OF the
one secured would have resulted. Who
can testify that the mains were in
proper condition that night? And es-
pecially the one through which sui
fcient flow was not secured. When
had the hydrants been tested? And
why was 20 minutes required to find
d "uC1C luS SO1AASSIAOA SOuA~
be made? What explanation has the
i fire chief to make for wasting so much
time in finding a place to connect the
hose? 1t is said that passing from
the hydrant where the hose was at.
tached up to the standpide there are
not less than or elbows. If this
| is true, how can it be expected that
a flow of proper force can be secured
through a 4-inch main? 1t might be
we'll to consider all these facts be-
fore reaching the conclusion that the
electric light company was to blame
for the failure of the one hose to fur
nish a sufficient current of water. The
electric light company is in favor OF
the employment of an expert, and will
bear One-half the expense OF a COM
petent expert to investigate conditions
in order to find out the cause OF the
want of force in the stream OF water
on the occasion of the fire. The COM
pany asserts that in view of the agl-
tation that has been started, as 1t be-
|lieves without adequate cause, the
city should be interested sutflc-
iently to bear half Of the expense of
hiring an expert to determine the
question.
1t is not to be understood that the
electric light company is Indifferent to
Its obligation to furnish water for the
city when there is sufficient water
provided for this purpose. 1t certain
~ would be criminal for the company
to take any other view of its obliga-
lions and most reckless in view OF
the property interests OF the members
of the company and the liabilities
which might ensue because OF a fail
ure to exercise proper diligence IN
pumping water. We think, however,
that as long as the record OF the COM
pany in the past is sustained by the
city having lost nothing on account
of it's negligence that a degree OF
charity should be exercised and es-
pecially on the part of those whose
interests to be protected are not
greater than the interests of the own
ers of the plant.
This article is furnished by and pub
ilished at the request OF the manage
ment of the electric light company.
Mr.. and Mrs. Phil Schlumberger LETT
! Friday for Denver where they VIII at