Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-25

department with regard to stations, apparatus and equipment are recom- mended by the committee or fire pre- vention of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. The recommendations are made in a report by the committee to the National Board of Fire Under writers following an investigation c<-s-- ducted here last June, the report hay ing just been made public by the com mittee.
 A reinspection of this city was made in June, by Engineers Charles R. Barker, P. c. Charnock and W. w. Corry, in cooperation with Inspec- tor John F. Driscoli of the New Eng land Insurance Exchange, to ascertain Board report of March, 1911.
 According to the report made by the investigators to the National Board of Fire Underwriters 1t is found that has been increased by the development of Stony Brook supply. which drains an area of 2.51 square miles. An inn pounding reservoir of 3Ss,00o,0o gall ions capacity. formed by the construe- tion of an earth dam with concrete core wall, having spillway at eleva tion 267, was completed in 1912 and is located about four miles west of the principal mercantile district.
 A venturi meter was installed on the supply main from Stony Brook, but complete records are not available and method of keeping consumption rec ords are unsatisfactory. The aver age daily consumption for 1916 as shown by the records available, was 2.55O,00 gallons; there is no record of the maximum day. Meters are in stalled on 1,41s of the 4,100 services in use April l, 1917.
 Average Pressure e3 Pounds.
 The average pressure, as observed at 37 hydrants in different parts of the system ir June. 1917, was 6s pounds, with maximum of 1o2 and mini, mum of pounds; in the principal mercantile district the average was 96, minimum s4 and maximum 101; the pressures are, in general, about 10 pounds higher than in 1911. Pressures are more uniformly maintained than in 1911 as shown by the charts taken from the recording gage in the w:ter office. Charts are not changed daily, and are not taken from the recording gaze at the repair shop.
 There has been laid within the city limits 1S,727 feet of mains since 1911, not including the Stony Brook sup ply main; of this S,462 feet was 4 inch pipe. showing that proper con- sidera ton has not been given to fire protection The number of hydrants has been increased by 4S, and 74 old style hydrants have been replaced. It is estimated that about so per cent. of the hydrants have finch barrels and branches and only about Is have gate valves on branch All hydrants now have standard size 1-2-inch nipples. The hydrants installed were on extensions: the area served per hydrant in the principal mercantile district is 52000 square feet and in representative residential district is 155. 900 square feet. Gate valves are not systematically inspected and the inspection of hydrants Is not of suf- fent frequency thorouEhness, many of those operated were in poor condition.
 Hydrant Flow Slightly Improved.
 The flow from 27 hydrants in nine well distributed groups was measured by engineers. The tests show an inn provement since 1911, but this is ma terially less than that which should have been made available, and does not provide sufficient quantities at pressureS adequate for direct hYdrant streams in any part of the system; as respects the greater part of the prin- cipaI mercantile district this is due mostly to failure to connect by mains of adequate size the supply lines from the two sources, the 10-inch line in Main street being practically the only connection main of value. The deduc- ton in size of a part of the Stony Brook supply line from that recon- mended is also responsible in part and in other parts of the city the small pipes and high eleva tions have con effect: other needed mains have not been installed. although rec commended by the pe1intendent.
 Paid Force Increase.
 With reference to the fire depart ment the report says:
 The full paid force has been in- creased by 1 men and the call force reduced by men; the average re- sponse of volunteers responding is about 20.
 The cost of maintenance of the fire department, exclusive of the amount spent for new apparatus, for the fis- cal year 1916-17 was $S4,450, or $1.l5 per capita, based on an estima ted pop Elation of 30, 900. Since the 1911 re- port, $17,969 has been spent for new apparatus and hose; this included one automobile pump, chemical and hose wagon, one automobile combina ton hose wagon, a roadster for the depu- and 400 feet of 3-inch hose. Since this inspection, a new automobile has been purcha sed for the chief.
 Three companies each have a per and Ladder Company 1 have no per manent officers, but one man in each company acts as lieutenant. The steam fire engine formerly with En- zine Company 1 has been placed in re- serve at headquarters The hand drawn reel with Engine Company 2 has been replaced with the horse drawn combination hose wagon form
 
 has an automobile combination wag- on.
 No Reserve Horses
 No change has been made in the equipment of Hose Companies ? and 5. Horses are old and not suitable for service; none are kept in reserve; dependence is still placed upon hors- es outside the department for Engine and Ladder Company 2. The discipline and personnel of the department con- tinues good. The fire department records show that during 1916, SO per cent. of the actual fires were ex- tInguished by chemicals.
 The amount of good hose is now about $500 feet, an average of about 1900 feet to each hose wagon in ser vice.
 Quarters Too Small.
 The quarters of Hose Company 1 are too small, in only fair condition, poorly located for quick response and provides poor accommodations for the men; this company should he moved to headquarters. A new company preferably located in the unoccupied station on Thames street near Geer