The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-05-16
MAKE COMPLETE SURVEY
OF CITY WATER system
National Board Of Fire Underwriters
Declare Change Must BE Made
Soon Or Insurance Rates
VIII Go Up.
WATER PRESSURE INADEQUATE
Underwriters Cite Many Instances In
Which Fire Fighting Facilities
Have Been Hampcred BY Poor
Water Supply and Distribution.

At a probable cost of $4,000 the ad-
ministrative board has asked for bids
for making a complete survey of the
Richmond water supply and distribu-
! ton system. This action follows
closely on the heels of report from
the National Board of Fire Underwrit-
ers. which declares that unless some
remedies are found for the inadequate
water supply system in this city in
surance rates on all property within
! the city limits mast be raised. The
survey contemplated by the admins
trative board will be comprehensive,
will point out the needs of the water
| system. and will be paid for out of
! the expense funds Of the water de-
partment.
| Mr.. Hirschberg. chairman of the ad
| m INSTR alive board. stated yesterday
that the condition OF Richmond's water
supply and distribution system was
! pointed out last week to delegates
/ here attending the convention Of the
American Water Works ASSOCIATION.
and at that tins bids for the survey
were asked In the meantime it is
pointed out that the city has not had
money with which to carry on any
great number OF immediate impr ove-
ments. but that changes in the water
system are being made gradually.
The report OF the underwriters is
based chiefly on observations and call
leufattons made during the visit to this
city Of thelr- enAInearr-Jv-H-H eHia41
! in February, who came here for the
4 purpose of noting whatever improve
ments had been made and to advocate
the carrying out of such other i'm
!provements as had been recommended.
but not complied with. He reported
that excep: for the increased supply
! Of water to South Richmond the prin-
cipal features contributing to the
adequacy OF the water supply had not
| been corrected
Few improvements Made.
| Certain improvements have been
made, the underwriters bulletin paints
out. consisting chiefly of the laying
! OF short sections Of water mains in
various parts OF the city. 1t further
states that the obsolete and very un-
satisfactory practice OF setting ny
drants on four-ineh branch connections
! is being continued. ,hirty-eight out Of
a total Of 1856 being SO connected" In
regard TO this Mr.. Hirschberg said !;
When the fire prevention committee
states that we are making hydrant
connections with four-tnch pipes thNy
are mistaken. Three years ago the
administrative board passed an order
that all connections should he six-irch
and every connection for hydrants put
In since has been slx-inch, We are
changing the old four-inch mains and
| hydrants as fast as our money VIII
allow"
J In the report from the FIRE board a
I = EYn In
Richmond is pointed out as conclusive
evidence OF the immediate need for the
employment OF an expert water works
consulting engineer TO solve the prob
lem OF rsarranginG the services and
strengthening the distribution system
The Crenshaw warehouse fire. In 0c-
tobor, 1915: the Imperial Coffee COM
pany FIRE on December II. 1915, and
the Chesapeake and Ohio building fire
lin February. 1917, are all cited TO show
che defects la Richnsond's fre-fghting
/ facilities
/ water Pressure Inadequate.
| These fires. the report says, show
the serious inadequate water pressure
at the disposal OF the fire department.
This organization. II is shown. has
been slightly increased in sire. with
the addition OF a number of men and
the purchase OF additional machinery
! in various parts OF the city Many i'm
provements have been recommended
for the fire alarm system. but so far
as calculations have been able to de-
termine. the only important improve
ments are: an additional repeater. con-
nected in series Increasing the mum
her OF box circuits to fifteen. and a
new hfty-circuit department telephone
switchboard Installed at headquarters;
an increase in the number Of fire
alarm boxes TO a total of 3oa, and the
| installation of one and one-half miles
| OF underground cable to South Rich
mond. Criticism, is made OF the fact
that although frequent recommends
! tions have been made for the Correction
II the adannate and nnraliahle sea-