Evening star., 1923-07-09
H|GR-PRESSURE FIRE
PROTECTION MAINS
STRONGLY BACKED
Commissioner Rudolph Says
Organizations Urging Plan
Will Get Hearing.
BUSINESS MEN FAVOR
PROJECT In ESTIMATES
Downtown Fire Hazard to Be
Argued in Appeal to Congress
for Appropriation.

| AVI AppIVPIldtlOH'
High pressure water service for
fire fighting in the business district
may get into the estimates this year,
despite the statements in some
branches of the District govern
ment that there were other needs
which might be given right Of way.
Commissioner Rudolph, chairman of
the board, said today, upon returning
from short vacation, that the mat
| ter would be given serious consider
alton when the estimates come up to
them for review or revision.
In the meantime, business interests
and civic organizations are lining up
as one to press the matter before the
commissioners. With such organi-
cations uniting on the need of such a
proposition. it was pointed out today,
| they Will be given serious consider
alton by the congressional commit
tees, as it has been pointed out many
times on Capitol Hill that when the
people of Washington want anything,
If they will agree beforehand, they
will have a better chance of getting
1t.
Start Now Advocated.
Brig. Gen. Anton Stephan, president
Of the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, today stressed the i'm
portance of starting right now to
| provide separate high pressure
water system for fire fighting in the
business district. The Capital city
should have 1t, he pointed out, not
| only for the protection of the high
valued business property but also
the federal government property. in
many of the buildings of which are
priceless government records, pre-
| served since the birth of the nation,
and which have been a source of great
| worry on account of the fire danger.
Gen. Stephan said the business in
terests are for the hlgh.pressure sys,
tenn. both for the protection. for busi-
| ness property and the Increased pro-
lection 1T viii provide for the resi-
Dental districts by releasing fire.
fighting apparatus which will not be
| needed downtown when the high
pressure system is installed. So i'm
portant does Gen. Stephan regard the
need of such a system now that he
will bring the matter to the attention
| of the board of governors of the
| merchants association at its meeting
| this month. At that time prepara-
| tions will be made to press the mat
! ter before the Commissioners.
Recalls Disastrous Fire.
Serious fires recently in the District
have brought to the mind of the peo-
pie the fact that high pressure is an
imperative need. Gen. Stephan point
ed particularly to the warehouse fire
at 1st street and Florida avenue north
| east last winter. when the engines could
not get water from the mains to
pump to the fire. Without high pres
| sure an increase in the amount Of
motor r-dfiTen fire apparatus would be
of no use.
With the Board of Trade, which
renewed the campaign for a high
pressure system last week, now is
lined UP the Merchants and Manufac-
turers Association. The Chamber of
Commerce, through its board of di-
rectors, last week went on record as
favoring the inclusion of a request
for 1t in the estimates, following the
announcement OF the Board of Trade
OF it's plan. to press the proposal.
1t will be brought directly before
| the Commissioners this week, when
chalrmen of committees of the Board
of Trade will call there and present
| the importance of the matter of ask
| ing Congress this year for a fund
with which to begin the installation.
The arrangement of the conference
according to Richard Connor. as
! sistant secretary of the Board OF
Trade, merely awaits the return TO
the city Of Francis r. Weller, chair
| man of the boards committee on
water supply. AS soon as he returns,
| a time will be asked of the Commits
sioners when they can see Mr.. We'll
| Ter, David M. Lea, chairman of the
committee on insurance and fire pro-
lection, and Mr.. Connor.
Bell Studying Conditions,
Both Commissioner Rudolph and
! Commissioner Oyster have been in
favor Of the high pressure system for
| many years. Maj. ]. Franklin Bell,
the new Engineer Commissioner,
wants to familiarize himself with
local conditions before making up
his mind.
Although the two civilian Conn
| nlissioners are advocates of high
| pressure as a general proposition.
they will not decide until they begin
conferences on the estimates whether
| 1t should be asked for this year
Officials of the water department
! nBure tne present COST or installing
the system as $1,500, 900. The arEu-
| ment has been advanced at the Dis
trict building that II might be wiser
| at this time to spend a much smaller
amount on the purchase of additional
fire apparatus.
Save Much Apparatus.
Advocates of the high pressure
system point out, however, that when
these new hydrants are installed
pumping fire engines no longer will
be needed in the high-pressure Sec
tion, which would take In the down.
town business area.
officials admit that the pumping
6re engines now used downtown
could then be utilized to increase fire
protection in the remainder of the
District.
Even though the cost of putting
| in the high pressure mains has now
| amounted to $500, 900. or three times
4 what it would have cost when first
proposed years ago, the entire sum
! would not have to be appropriated
| in one year.
In building the new water conduit the
! Gallinger Hospital and similar large
projects the funds have been obtained
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