Evening star., 1923-08-12


fire to prove the need for high
pressure system here. or will the city
benefit by experience elsewhre?
Letters received by The Star from
mayors of several cities, give an in
teresting view point on the advan-
tages of high pressure.
New York system.
The movement in New York was
started in 1903 when several large
fires occurred there and several dis
astrouS ones OF great magnitude
throughout the United States. It was
finally decided to install a high pres
sure system. and it was completed in
1905
The presence of much intiammable
material in the business section and
the lessons from the Baltimore con-
f1aeration. led to the installation of
u high pressure system In Cleveland.
In Cleveland, it is pointed out, within
few city blocks OF the congested
downtown business section are To-
Gated extensive lumber yards. which
in the past have been the scene Of
several highly damaging confiagra-
tions. Due to these conditions in
surance rates ran high. In April,
1904, a movement was started by the
Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and
the Cleveland inspection bureau for
the construction of an Independent
high pressure fire system for the pro-
tnd I'M
trictS.
Benefits from the introduction of
high pressure systems have more
than paid for it, according to letters
from mayors. In Baltimore the off1-
cials have such faith in the high
pressure system that they are pro-
posing to expand it to areas now un-
protected by such system.
Find system Essential.
E From Philadelphia comes the informa-
ton that the value of high h-pressure
service in the high value district and In
the large industrial district in the years
since it's organization can hardly be
estimated. In fact, it was said, any ef-
fort to fight large fires in high build
ings would be futile without such a sys-
tenn. In reaching to the great story
heights of the modern building and in
supplying the vast quantity of water
in the great areas of the modern build
ing in sufficient quantity to reduce the
temperature of combustion no supply
other than high-pressure system
would be adequate. The realization of
this in Philadelphia has been sufficient
ly strong to warrant, during the past
several years, the requests on several
occasions for appropriations to provide
considerable extension to the present
distribution areas the hope ultimately
being to have the extension provide
Philadelphia.
The cost of maintenance of the serv-
ice now in use and the initial expendi-
ture is easily set off by the success the
city has had in preventing large con-
flagrations. In fact 1t Is said, Phila-
delphia has an enviable record in pre-
venting the spread of fires, which is the
dread of the fire bureaus in all large
cities. and much of this is due to the
high pressure service which is at the
command of an efficient fire bureau.
Insurance Rates Cut.
Cleveland gained a reduction in in
surance rates amounting to about per
cent as result of the installation OF
it's high pressure system. While this
benefit was welcome, still another was
derived from the protection against ex>
cessive property loss in case of large
fires. 1t was pointed out that Cleve-
land has never had a fire that it has
not been able to isolate and subdue
within a comparatively short time.
Since high-pressure system was
inaugurated in Boston there have
been several fires which might have
reached confiagration size had the
system not been available. From the
commissioner of public works there
comes the information that there Is
no question but that the morale of
the fire-fghting forces has improved
through the knowledge that these
efficient streams are available. There
also is less confusion in tracing hose
lines to their source of supply at a
ul6 uIS ~AcTS thcT0 10 likely TO De a
large amount of equipment in serv-
ice.
Big Saving Yearly.
One of the most gratifying effects
of the introduction Of high pressure
in New York was the immediate drop
In insurance rates. In December, 1908
about six months after the systeM
had been put in regular use, the New
York Fire Insurance Exchange made
4 general reduction of rates through
ott the high-pressure zone in Man
haitian, a reduction amounting to
100000 annually. In Brooklyn, like
wise. a reduction Of S250.0o0 followed,
so that the improvement has already
saved the taxpayers in the commn-
nifty about S750.000 a year. Thus, 1t
was pointed out by New York off,
cials. that the installation of high
pressure water Is not a matter of
fire protection alone but a good In
vestment