Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-08-07
Exhaustive Study. Of Con-
ditions Here With Rec
concentrations.
URGE IMPROVEMENTS.
Paid Department is Needed-Engines
Do Not Make Good Tests-Mains
Are Too Small.

In an exhaustive study OF the fire
protection of Alexandria which was
made by Engineer A. c. Hutson, three
weeks ago, for the committee on fire
prevention of the National Board OF
Fire Underwriters, the service OF Al
exandria was found entirely made
quate for city Of its size and many
recommendation were made which
must be followed to bring the fire
department up to date.
Among the most important rec
ommendation is that the distribut-
ing system be strengthened by the
installation of many new mains; that
the hydrants in the manufacturing
section be replaced and that
number of new hydrants be provld-
ed as soon as possible; that a fully
paid chief be appointed in place of the
present partially paid chief; that the
contemplated new station for the Re
lief Hook and Ladder Company be
built for a paid company and that a
( fully paid company, be established,
with new automobile equipment con-
sisting of 65-foot aerial ladder and
hose wagon; and that fire alarm
system be installed.
The report commences with gen
pral description of the City Of Alex
andria and the fire hazards. 1t states
that the fire loss since June 1, 1911,
has been s63,S56 which is a moderate
figure. The number of fires was low.
Water Supply.
A complete review of the facilities
s>of the Alexandria Water Company Is
given and its relation to the city gov
ernment. Results of the flow fire tests
were unsatisfactory, the engineer
finding the discharge Of gallons per
minute from the following mains:
King and st. Asaph SITS. GOO
King and:Lee SITS. :. ..63o
Union and Cameron SITS. ...445
Lee and Princess SITS. ........TS0
Duke and Union SITS. :. 4S0
Wolfe and Union SITS. :. ;. ..tSo
Washington AMI Gibbon SIS $50
Duke and st. Asaph SITS. ..4l0
Pitt and Wilkes SITS -. :. $50
Gibbon and Fairfax SITS. ....27O
Patrick and Queen SITS. $50
Henry and Pendleton SITS. $50
From only one-half of the hydrants
could as much as 500 gallons, the ca
pacity of each of the fine engines in
service, be obtained with hydrant
wide open. Gage readings taken at
the closest hydrant to Nos. !, :, 5
and gave pressure in the mains at
time of flow of 27 to Is poundc, indl-
eating that very great loss of head
occurs in the i.y ydrant and hydrant
branches; the Ill flow from Nos. D,
6, 10 and II was due almost entirely
from the. weakness of the gridIron
system, resulting from the extensive
use of 4-inch pipe and the poor -loca-
ton of what few large mains are IN
the system The tests Indicate that it
is doubtful if tw., engines could re-
ceive sufficient suprjly from any two
adjacent hydrants in the nigh value
sections, and in the major portions OF
the city few hyGrants could supply
even one of the small engines in ser
vice.
From the investigation Of the wa
ter service the following conclusions
were drawn:
"The water company, il not legally
bound to furnis', fire protection
shoual consider its moral obligation
to give at leas:: fair service, sore
what commen su,ate with the fire de.
partment and tEc probable outside
aid: as it is as present, the quantity
available in most Of the higa-value
sections is so small as TO BE almost
valueless for any but small fires.
The city is also at fault in not en-.
deavoring ito bring about an agree
ment with the water company to furn
ish satisfactory fire flow, and il
not providing a more efficient kint
of hydrant; where pressures are a
low as in this city, steamer outic!;
are essential to good service, ant
small hydrants introduce serious