Evening star., 1926-11-19
WATSON WILL SEEK
DATA ON PRESSURE
26 Cities Will Be PoIIed for
Information on Added
Fire Protection.

Preparations for q comprehensive
study of tho high.pressure fire pro-
lection system in 25 cities in the
United States have been completed
by the committee appointed by the
District Commissioners to report on
the advisabtnty or installing such
system in the congeSted value area OF
Washington.
Fire Chief George S. Watson. chair.
man of the committee, has completed
the draft or a QUESTIONABLE which will
be sent to the mayors of these cities
and their replies will form the basis
OF the study. Twenty-one questions
concerning the high pressure system
are contained in the questionnaire.
Answers Are Sought.
They are: "What induced your nnu-
nicipality to install the high-pressure
water system?
"When was It installed?
"Has it operated satisfactorily
"Has 1t accomplished all the pur-
poses for which it was installed?
Based on your experience, IL you
were not provided with such a sys-
tenn now. would you be in favor of
installing one?
what was the cost of installing the
system, including power plant, pump
ing station, mains, connections, ETC.?
What would be the approximate
cost of duplicating 1t today?
How many feet of mains. ana OF
what size, are in operation?
Were you able to dispense with
any fire apparatus upon installing the
system? If so, what?
Were you able to reduce the num-
ber of fire companies in the area az
fected? If SO, how many?
WAS it necessary to purchase spe-
cial apparatus, such as so-called high
pressure wagons?' If SO, what?
What size of hose Is used in con.
nection with the system. and what
was the last cost per foot?
Interest in Losses.
"In the area covered by the system,
do you also maintain and use low
pressure mains and hydrants?
What is your practice with regard
to the use of the system Il. e., Is it
used for small fires upon which engine
streams would ordinarily be played,
or is it reserved for fires which in the
judgment Of the officer in charge may
assume conflagration proportions)?
"At what pressure is the system or
dinarily operated; (a). when not in
use: tb). when in use?
What were the annual fire losses
for the five years preceding the In.
stallation and for five years imme-
diately following?
"Is water from the system used
for any purpose other than for fire
fighting hose streams? If so. what?
What decrease If any. in fire in.
surance rates followed the installation
OF the system?
How was the installation financed?
(By bond issue. direct taxation, as
sessment upon abutting property,
etc?
''What IS the present annual mainte-
nance cost Of the system?
Have you any other data avail
able that has not been specifically
requested?
Concerned With Cost.
The committee at present is deeply
concerned with the cost Of a high
pressure system. An estimate several
years ago placed the cost at $780,.
600, but Mr.. Watson believes that this
figure will have to be revised upward
because Of an increase in the cost of
materials, coupled with the proposed
plan to extend the congested-value dis.
trict to include the Capitol Senate and
House Office Buildings and their CEN
trail heating plant, as well as the new
Federal buildings to be erected in the
Mall triangle south Of PENNSYLVANIA
avenue.
Delegates Have Forum.
An open forum on the general
theme Of the convention, which has
to do with the responsibilities OF the
land grant institutions in the adjust
lnent of agricultural industry to new
economic conditions, afforded dele
gates this morning an opportunity to
exchange experiences and present
practical methods of solving problems
OF modern agriculture.
DR.. y. c. True gave the report Of
the photographer and the report of
the committee on agriculture, me-
chanic arts and home economies.
Dean H. L. Russell of Wisconsin
spoke on Agricultural Education in
the Orient and Australasia" and
President X. L. Buttertleld of Michi-
gan State College told of the aims of
the Country Life Association.
Special sections of the convention
extension, engineering, home eco
nomics, research, liberal arts and
resident eaching-finished their tech.
nical programs yesterday. Many of
the delegates left for their homes last
night.
The following officers were elected,
II. \. Morgan, of the University of
Tennessee, president; Miss Martha
Van Rensselaer, of Cornell Univer-
sity, vice president: S. B. Haskell Of
Massa chusetts Agricultural College.
secretary.treasurer, and c. A. Lory
of the Colorado College OF Agricul-
tare. as a member Of the executive
committee for a five-year term. It
was decided also to change the name
OF the organization from the Associa-
ton Of Land Grant Colleges to the
Association of Land Grant Colleges
and Universities.