The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-21
SAY FIRE HAZARD
FEAR IS MAGN|F|ED
Department Heads Testify That
Water Distribution Is Con-
stantly Improving.
J0YNES FOR HIGH PRESSURE
Chief Believes Independent Sys-
tenn in Congcstcd District
Would Solve Problem.

Testimony offered by the heads of
the Water, Fire and Electrical De-
partments. before the Council subcom-
mittec sitting last night az n special
board OF inquiry on the city's water
supply and distribution. allaycd to q
large degree the water famine fear en-
gendered by more or less alarming re-
ports or the situation prepared under
the direction of fire underwriters
Trimmed of minor differences. the
prevailing opinion was that Richnoud's
pumping and reservoir equipment can.
with small alteration. be made TO take
care OF population OF 900. 900. and
that the enlargement of these facilities
at this time would be IN the nature of
anticipating needs from fifteen to
twenty years distant, rather than meet.
ing present demands
ON the subject OF fire hazard unanim-
ty OF opinion was less marked Chief
Joynes. of the Fire Department.
thought that the water supply in the
so-callcd congested district was in
many respects inadequate. and was OF
the opinion that some means should be
taken to insure TO the department more
water in case OF big fires. Supcrlnten-
dent Davis, OF the Water Department.
district but thought that for the most
part the supply was equal to the de-
fnand
TO Gull Engineers
Chairman Morgan r. Mills. OF the
investigating committee, called the
meeting at $50 o'clock, and the hear
ing lasted an hour and a half AT 10
o'clock the committee adjourned. to
meet again at the call OF the chair
The clerk was directed to request the
Mayor to invite for a conference ut the
earliest moment tho several fire en-
f,in IN lnt.
survey OF the city In the interest of
the underwriters. 1t was stated by
the Mayor at the water conference last
week that there would be no difficulty
in securing their attendance.
The meeting last night was attend
ed by Councilmen Mills and Atkinson,
of the Investigating Committee; Com
missioners Jenkins. Mann and Tyler of
the Fire Board: superintendent Davis,
and Assistant Superintendent Lawton.
OF the Mater Works: Chief Joyncs, OF
the Fire Department, and Superinten-
dent Traford of the Electric plant.
Need Sixty More Plugs.
Chief Joynes enumerated several
points in the city where the depart
mcnt had found difficulty III obtaining
Il sufficient supply of water. The list
included hydants at Fourth and Grace,
Fourteenth and Main, the alley near
Fourteenth. between Main and Cary, r
and Twenty eighth. and at several
points in the Valleys lower manufac-
turing district He estimated at least
sixty more plugs were needed for the
protection of the city.
While conditions have been improv-
Ing for the past several years said Mir
Joyncs. tho situation In the congested
districts needs correction. In some
cases he said, the engines working on
n fire could not secure water enough
to throw stream thirty feet. In
other instances. the water supply was
so limited as to forbid the employment
of the necessary number or engines.
A high pressure system for the bust
ness section. drawing its supply from
AN Independent source. thought Mr.
Joyncs, would solve the problem
Failing this, he said, the erection of
wator towers in the central district
would give ihe required protection
Most OF the residential districts, ho
thought were adequately protected
Wants New Feed Main.
superintendent Davis told the COM
mittee that the report of the under
writer's engineers overstatcd the fire
hazard AMI understatcd the city's
water equipment. In his opinion. all
that was necessary to give the longest
ed business district on Broad Street
and Main street abundant water for
even the worst fires, was to construct
II new thirty-inch main from the reser-
voir To Broad Street through Bowe
and along Marshall to Seventh street.
The Improvement, he said. would cost
about $4,000.
The supply to the fire plugs in the
lower Main street district
said Mr.. Davis, was constantly being
improved. He admitted the desirable
ity OF high-prcssurc system in the
central district drawing its supplv
from the canal or other open water.
Easing his estimate on Rlchmond's
srowth In the past ten years. Mr.. Davis
pumping and Settling Basin cuuipInemt
will be adequate for the c!ty's needs
, ."r s mt least least twenty years The daily
ons, and the pumping capacity is about
-, 100000
Approaching Limit Vow.
-ric Plant, touched the water problem
only in so far as his department
is called upon for power to oper-
ite the pumps. lie submitted charts
ssinio "c,rg me me pumping capacity of the
f'lectrlc Rant. During Il three wccI,
period last June when the machinery
II the pumping station was being re-
, ,nat,red. the Electric Plant pumps sup
ng daily about 100000 gallons I've
gave IL as his opinion that the city
Nater consumption Is already approach
ng uncomfortably near to the normal
pumping capacity OF the steam and
electric Plants. and that II would be
wise now to begin planning for en-
arged pumping facilities.
Mr.. Trafford found much to commenn
n the report Of the underwriters en-
slnecrs and agreed with them that NJ
would be desirable for the safety ~
ne water supply that a new and In
iependcn power transmission line be
quit from the Electric Plant To tho
'l..r.
ines-both strung on the same nol"s
me same accident would be likely To
put both out of commssi
building Permits
Building permits We're issued ycsler-
day as follows: