Norwich bulletin., 1917-10-16
Fire Underwriters Recommendations
Chief Stanton Says Many Water Mains in Business Section Are Too S1n.A-Room Enough at Central Station for Any Additional Apparatus, Says Councilman crools- Water Department Ready to Garry Out Recommends tions if Financial Backing is Assured.

low land rather than through any fault That $60 be paid Mrs. Henry Peale for damage resulting from water backing up into her premises at 85 Asylum street.
 the recommendations adopted. The auditors report was presented,
 accepted and ordered printed in the
 Councilman worth presented a peti- I ton from c. B: Bromley & Son ask | Ing that they be allowed to erect gag pump in front of their property
 titioned for permission] to erect .S pump in front of their place of bust" ness on Water street. The new peti- l ton asks that the permission granted be for Mechanic street instead of Wa ter street. The petition was referred to the public works committee.
 Councilman Worth also presented petition from w. S. filling asking per mission to excavate in front of the filling property on Shetucket street for the installation of a heating sys- tenn. The petition was referred to ths public works committee with. power . The Fire Accommodations. Alderman Guy B. Dolbeare then. brought up the matter of the recom- mendations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. The recommends tions he said effect both the fire and water departments. The fire depart ment he said, Is sometimes hampered in its work through lack of coopera- ton on the part of other departments of the city. Alderman Dolbeare said that 1t had been remarked to him that 1t was queer Norwich had a higher in surance rate than New Haven. This, he said. was due to the fact that New Haven has larger water mains and more hydrants. Norwich has a total of 66 fire alarm boxes. IS of which are private. In fCrty-one years Norwich has increased, it's fire alarm boxes from 10 to 4S. less than one box year.
 Alderman Dolbeare favored an ordi- nance calling for the use of non-com- bustible or slow burning materials in future roof repairs.
 Councilman Crooks made a motion that the recommendations be read by read and taken up for general discus sfon
 In regard to the recommendation that twelve inch mains be laid in cer- tain sections of the city Alderman Dolbeare said he understood that thu laying of four-inch mains has prac- tically been discontinued.
 No More Four-ineh Mains.
 Albert S. Comstock, president of the water board, said that some time ago it had been decided to lay no more four inch mains. He said that there was no law governing the matter but that experience has shown that 1t is better to lay larger mains. Mir. Com stock said that the water department is ready to carry cut every one of th1 recommended ations made by the fire un- derwriters if the finance committee number of Improvements which hove been in mind from t:-le to time and which 1t had been impossible to carry out because of the lack of funds. The city expects much reVence from the water department each year and the money cannot be used for inn movements and turned over to the city too.
 Mayor Brown asked Chief Stanton if he would like to say anything.
 Water Mains Too Small.
 Chief Stanton said he was ready to answer any questions that might be asked. It Is a matter of fact, said the chief, that many mains in the business section of the city are too small. The recommendations made by the fire underwriters, he said, have been made in his annual reports and the annual reports of the board of years.
 Small Water Flow.
 Chief Stanton said that although there is a pressure of 102 pounds or Water street when the reservoirs are at full pond the small mains do not provide a flow large enough for two effectual streams.
 Councilman Craney asked if 1t would not be possible to pump from the river in case of a bad fire. practically impossible as there Is but one place where the engines could be placed in order to draw from the river and that it must be borne in mind that ic fNv ho st cam fire engine boilers. The only spot available for such pumping is cn the city's property near the dump on the West Side and that this is so It is hard work to get in near the river. He felt this~spot ought to be cleared out and kept in reserve for the fire department for such use. matter of the rental of this property l lay with the public works committee l and he would offer a motion that the | public works committee be asked to | look into the matter and ascertain if | the rental conditions were being com piled with.
 Unwise to Move Station.
 Tn regard to the recommendation that the West Side Chemical company be moved to a location near Asylum and West Main streets Alderman M. c. Higgins said he felt that it would be very unwise to deprive that thickly settled part of the city of .ts present fire protection by making any such change.
 Alderman Dolbeare said that if the West Side company remains at. its present location it will be necessary 70 rebuild the station in the near fu- ure as it is in poor condition.
 Room for Additional Apparatus.
 Councilman Crooks said that there Is ,mple room at the cenHal station foT my additional apparatus and that if t was decided to close up the Main street station the auto chemical now l coated there could be housed at the station. He said that if Box
 GAIT Pleasant street schoolhouse) | mould be pulled in the city companies would be on the spot ahead of the Vest Side company, this being possi- 'le because of the auto apparatus. In when an alarm is pulled