The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-13

the people OF Fargo, viii not object
| to paying the deficit"
The 1873 budget, which toEailed
| SZl6.U00, ana last week was passed
| by the commission, carried total APP
| propriations of more than $4,000
for the waterworks, which in addi-
ton gets all receipts from water
consumers.
Working Pressure 1928 Pounds.
The working pressure OF water
mains in Fargo Is 125 pounds, and
under specifications by which they
are purchased are tested at 800
| pounds, was the statement today Of
Frank Z. Anders, city engineer, who
designed the present plant and sys-
tenn. =
mr.. Anders. while declining to be
quoted On the pressure controversy,
said that an s5-pound pressure, or
| even q 100~pound pressure, would
not damage plumbing In private
homes in the city, and added that
while pumps Of the watsrworks were
not geaTed to handle more than IS
pounds pressure, they could easily
be altered to handle a higher pres
sure, should the occasion arise.
Holds Action Arbitrary.
That the city commission ordered
the waterworks department to
furnish something for nothing, Is the
contention OF Mr.. Blakemore, who
declared IN his statement that the
commission acted arbitrarily in orr
dering the higher pressure.
THE commission appropriated 8
certain amount to be paid by the
oity for every hydrant Of water used
for city purposes, including fire pro-
lection" said Mr.. Blakemore in q
statement Thursday evening. 1.-THE
rate they decided to pay furnishes a
50-pound pressure. which Is not ades
quate for fire protection.
Therefore, because they have the
power to do so, they arbitrarily or
dered the waterworks department to
furnish something for nothing.
There is no such thing as free
water with g. pressure system. If the
amount appropriated for city water
is not sufficient to pay for The ex-
cess pressure demanded on every
alarm of fire, the water rates will
have to be raised.
THE extra pressure was demanded
because Of the threatened increase
in insurance rates, which would be
inconvenient for large property own
ers. If enough had been appropriated
to cover the required pressure, the
sum would have been raised by taxa
ton, and big property owners, who
profit from low insurance rates.
would have borne their just share
OF the cost Of fire protection. AS it
Is, the commission has SO fixed it
that the cost will have to be borne
by all citizens in higher water
rates"
Says Pressure Excessive.
e.
sive. II is the highest pressure our
engines can produce. The mains
are not built for such a strain. They
are likely to be ruptured by it, and
Of course II a main is opened, all
water supply will be cut off, leaving |
the fire department helpless.
"The pressure will also put a strain
on the plumbing in private homes,
and may cause individuals great in |
ana expense.
Nine out Of ten fires are put out |
with chemicals, without the use Of a |
drop of water. Yet at every alarm, |
we are required to run our pressure |
up to the maximum.
II had already ordered the water |
works employees to give a 50 to Ga |
pound pressure on the first alarm Of |
fire, and a 75-pound pressure on the |
second alarm, when we are sure that |
water is needed at all. Seventy |
pounds allows a margin Of safety for
the mains.
Every city gets away from the
use OF direct pressure in a fire |
Like other cities, we |
have fire engine, capable of run |
ming the pressure to 100 pounds in |
two minutes. BY the use Of an en- |
CINE, high pressure is produced
where 1t iB needed. without putting a |
strain on the whole waterworks sys4
tenn. The city should supply motor |
power so that the engine could be
taken to every fire, especially in |
the business district. Then there |
would be no danger of the water |
failing to reach the upper floors.
"At the polls in 1915 the people
passed an ordinance which Is a
clear mandate to the commission on
he question Of appropriation for |
water used for public purposes. That |
ordinance has been repeatedly VOL |
LIED, by our appropriation ordin- |
lnces. The whole question is whetr- |
Or the city commission is ready to |
bay FOR what it wants, or whether it |
Is willing to take it without pay |
ing"
TMM I AF@ IN nTa@eSFw