Year: 1872




The proposition which we put forward that
the inexhaustible supply of water furnished
by our rivers should be utilized SO as to guard
against the danger Of fire has been received
with general approval The best mode for
carrying out the suggestion is, however, a
matter for discussion. Our first idea was to
employ at intervals force pumps connecting
with regular system of pipes. On reflection,
however, we have adopted a modification Of
this plan, which, at less cost, will give us Q
more effective and permanent means of COM
batting the spread of fire. This new proposition
contemplates the building of new main on the
west side of the city similar to the one at pre-
sent in course Of construction by the Board Of
Public Works on the east side. BY means of
these Independent mains constant and enor-
nous supply Of Croton water would be fur
nished in the lower part of the city. In order
to secure o powerful head of water the east
main will not be tapped for public use until it
reaches Chambers street, and we propose that
the one on the west side should be tapped
about Canal street. The cost of building the
additional main would not much exceed the
cost of laying the pipes for the river water,
which we at first proposed, and the main
would have the advantage Of being available
not only in case Of fire, but for all the ordi-
nary purposes of life The increase in the
water supply would be blessing to the west
and east sides Of the island, especially in the
downtown districts


So far as the utilization Of the river water
in case Of great emergency, is concerned, this
can be nHet more effectively by the simple or
ganization which we proposed in our article Of
yesterday than by the more expensive and
elaborate means we at first proposed. In cases
of ordinary fires the existing supply Of water,
strengthened by the new mains which we
propose, would be amply sufficient to meet oil
contingencies. Should need arise. the power
which we should have of concentrating thesup
ply of water from the steamboats, would be o
hundred-fold what any fixed system could give.
As the steamboats, would, in case of great
emergency, be under the orders of the Chief
Engineer, we could rely on having them used
to the best advantage The volume of water
derived from this source could neither be
lessened nor cut of by the progress of the fire,
as must be the case where confagration ex-
tends over a wide area and the water supply
is derived from fixed hydrants.


Another important advantage that cannot be
too much insisted on is, that if. as we suggest,
the ferryboats were compelled by law to carry
donkey engines of certain power. with
nozzles affixed of regulated gauge, they
would be as available in case of fire in
Brooklyn and Jersey City as they would be in
New York. This consideration alone ought to
decide public opinion TO adopt the new plan
which we propose. The common interest of
Brooklyn and New York in the measure would
be a further inducement to the Legislature to
act promptly in revising the charters of the
ferryboat companies, so as to compel them to
place powerful donkey engines on every steam
boat, and 80 contribute to the safety Of the
cities from which they derive such large
revenues This is the least return they can
make for the many valuable privileges con-
ferred on them by the people.