The New York Herald Newspaper, February 15, 1876, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1876.—WITH SUPPLEMENT. NEW YORK'S PERIL, What May Happen to the City Any Moment. LESSONS OF RECENT FIRES. $750,000,000 Worth of Property | In Danger. OPINIONS OF EXPERTS The Street Mains Unable To Carry a Sufficient * Supply. There can be no doubt in the minds of those who have watched the record of fires in this city during the | past five years that cértain localities in New York are | im an unsafe condition should a great fire occur, In- | deed, it is very clear to most people who have re- flected on the subject that the city has every reason to congratulate itself on its fortunate escape from disas- trous consequences from the late fire in Brogdway. The result on that occasion shows that prompt and earnest action is needed to provide the city with better means .£f overcoming and extinguishing any large fire that may start in the heart of the bulieas Section, On the map which is herewith given will be noticed a shaded section showing the location of a peculiarly valuable | business portion of the city. Starting from the corner of Chambers street and West Broadway | the line marking this section runs eastward past Broadway nearly to Centre street, northerly to Howard street, then to the westwayd dite block, then to the north two blocks, they She to the west and oue to the north, stopping af Shring street, The line rune along Spring to the west as far as Greene street, down Greene street to Canal and West Broadway to the starting point. e It would not be possible without a lurge and un- necessary expenditure of ‘time and money to ascer- tain precisely the value of the capital invested in this section, but experts have given estimates that are not i any seuse exagerated The value of the buildings alone, it is thought, is fully $00,000,000, | Added to this enormous figure the stock of the differ- | ent dry goods stores is estimated at $225,000,000, and, it ts said, that in various other lines of wholesale and | retail business within this narrow compass the value of the stock in trade cannot be stated at any tigure less than $20,000,000, Inquiries made of prominent gentle- men in tho insurance business have disclosed the fact That this district is very well insured, the policies covering fully two-thirds if nota larger proportion of the | eutire value of the butldings and their contents, The | insurance on the buildings ayerages over forty per ent of their tull value, and on the goods tho insurances are at the lowest sixty-six and two-thirds per cent of their value, In numerous instances the goods are fully insured, as where they are consignments tn tran | sit on which temporary holders do not want to take any risk; so the figures given are somewhat under- estimated than over. So much for the value of the property and the §nsurances thercon. Now. the great question arises, What would be the consequence of a great fire, such as (hat recently started on Broadway, if the weather was so cold at the time of its occurrence as partially to cripple the efforts of the firemen, or a Baie such as passed over the city a week before hap- pened to prevail? The answer may be easily imagined, | for in such an event, even if the flames | Swept only one third of the area described, every insur- | ance company in the whole city would put up its | shutters, and almost utter rain would come upon the | merchants, That such a disaster is possible ts a belief | uow very generally entertained, and the commercial community is anxiously considering the ounce of pre- | vention instead of waiting for the costly pound of cure. The water mains are belteyed to be wholly insush cient In their carrying capacity to supply the demands an such anemergency, The Hekaip map shows the different lines of water mains and the calibre of each. These conductors run from the 86-inch pipe down to 10-inch one, The intermediate mains are the 24, 20 ‘and 16-inch pipes. Ono the map the position of these Pipes can readily be traced, and an estimate made of the force and quantity of water that could be relied upon to extinguish or check a great fire, As it is, without any check to its full force, it bas been said tis supply would be found insufficient, bat bow much less effective would it be in case of another fire further up town, or in the eventof any accident to any one of the few large mains. During the sessions of te Senate Commitice a good deal of evidence was elicited. | showing the insufficiency of the water supply down town, and this seems a fitting time again to direct atten- tuon to a subject of such vital importance to the com- mercial interests of the metropolis. Many of the houses tm this section are little better than tinder boxes, ‘The floors and partitions are of Southern pine, and the goods are such as ignite readily and add greatly to the intensity of a conflagration. Advantage should be taken of all available means for checking firo in its progress, and every safeguard known to science should be secured by the city for the protection of the merchant and property owner, In view of these facts and the startling trath con- tained in them it behooves the authorities of this city to bestir themselves and remove the actual danger to which we are exposed. The Heap has frequently pointed out the necessity tor such action, yet the heads | of departments and other officials have suffered the ‘warning to pass by unheeded, so that to-day, with really one of the Snest Fire Departments in the world the city of New York may at any moment be compelled to share the fate of Chicago and Boston, With « water front of nearly twenty miles in extent there need be no, further efforts made to bring fresh ‘water in for fre purposes. The plan proposed by the. | Board of Health a fow years ago, to erect stationary pumps, with independent mains and hose hydrants, would place in the possession of the Fire Department an inexhaustible supply of the necessary clement. The | ery against salt water as being ruinous to goods ehould not have any weight, as it would be better to “ruin” a few thousand dollars’ worth of goods in the incipient Pages of a Ore than to permit the destruction of mill- fons upon millions, NEED OF MORR WATER, With the view ofascertaining the opinions of experts in relation to our water supply and to the capacity of our aqueducts, mains and hydrants in the case of a fire as large as that which occurred on Tuesday evening fast, a Hyxacp reporter made inquiry yesterday at the offices of leading fre insurance companies. The gen- teman whose statement immediately follows is the president of one of the oldest and soundest Gre insur- ‘ence companies in the United States, Upon being approached he opened a book and read:— “It is of yital importance to the city that additional ‘mains be laid at the earliest practicable day. Formany years past the department has kept 4 gauge of the daily quantity of water flowing over the Croton dam, in ad- dition to that which is conveyed to the city by the aqueduct, and during the past ten years an average daily quantity of 340,000,000 gallons has run to waste ver the dam in addition to the quantity that was brought to the city.” He then went on to say:—"'Mr. Edward H. Tracy, then Chief Engineer of the Department of Public Works, Made this statement in bis annual report for the year 1873. It was the advice of a practical engincer well schooled in his profession aud who had thoroughly inve: ‘Ugated the situation. Though more than two years b: elapsed, yet no regard whatever bas been paid to this advice, As will be seen from the sequel, it is the Opinion of every one at ail familiar with the subject that the water supply of New York city ts wholly in- Adequate to tle demands of our rapidly increasing population, a very large proportion of which resides in those sections of the city, and at the same time under those peculiar conditions, where fires are most likely to cecur and be followed by the most disastrous con- Sequences. Those who build fast, as a rule, build Poorly, and fhe majority of our tenements have beea constructed with the view of affording the meanest possible shelter at the highest possibie price; hence it ywabout these tenements that we fiud the greatest number of human beings huddled together, with the POORKST VACILITIES POR RSCAPR ‘mecase of ire 1} was in congiderawon of this circum- OU Rew Avr BR Bee PLY. Map Showing the Location and Actual Carrying Capacity of the Croton Mains Below i Bleecker NAESDRET ER molt 3 Eije__= 3| ul pa | > | Sots Os BROADWAY ae OuUTH | Ls ” ” ” ot et eee ee ese en ere 2) Se meee rmn mn enn nme] 6 n stance that Chief Engineer Tracy was led to urge the importance to the city of additional mains being laia. He also, 1n the same report, stated that, to construct a new aqueduct to carry twice the quantity of the pres- ent one, would require no more right of way than the present one, and not more than twice the quantity of masonry !n construction, and it is highly probable that @ better lime can be found to construct it upon than one near the location ofthe present aqueduct, This sound advice {rom @ practical engineer was also unheeded. The late fire in Broadway, near Grand street, which within the brief period of four hours swept out of ex- istence $4,000,000 worth of property and brought with it disaster, ruim and death, taken in connection with the fact that the water in she Croton Reservoir is sev- eral inches lower now than {t was a little time ago, shows the terrible calamity which might have happened to phis city on Tuesday nigh} had the Are not baansuas Street- Startling Facts. ook & Ladder E47 Engins Cs Ol Co ll h pipe ” ” td under such digect control. It is not wonderful to me that the fire was not put out sooner, but it is wonder- ful, really wonderful, that {t was subdued before the whole block was laid im ruins, No other fire depart- ment in the world could have done the noble work that was accomplished on that occasion by the firemen of New York. I don’t prevend to be « practical engineer, but Laman old officer inan old fire insurance com- pany, and feel as if 1 knew how much water it takes to put outa certain amount of fire, and with no desire to unnecessarily alarm the people I feel it my duty to State that in a great many sections of New York a fre might break out at any moment which would baffle every steam engine and the efforts of every fireman In the city ; not because our engines are inferior; not be- cause our firemen are not brave ard skilful, but because our water mains.are not large enough, our hydrants jog sipall pnd too far apart to enable good engines Jo 3] ema U.S.S: BA, Ae EXCHANGE Pls i] come into action, and noble, fearless men to do their work, ‘THE ALDERMEN TO BLAME. “Everything has been done to iopress these facts Upon the city authorities, They hi set aside the Opinions, advice and warnings of the best engineers, Fitz John Porter, our late Commissioner of Public Works, recognized the startling facts and recommended larger mains and more water. Our Board of Aldermen pay no attention whatever to these recommendations, It isa matter of doubt whether the impressive lesson of Tuesday evening even will teach them what our great city needs for the protection of its property and Population. “The vicinity of Ann street and Broadway, just where the Herato office stands, or that particular neighbor- would feed a conflagration than could be found save in the lowest wards. I sincerely hope that the Herat will take up this subject and never drop it until we have that amount of water which would be needed in case of a great fre.” ‘ The gentleman quoted above expressed himself so fally that tn the interview with him may de found the niversal sentiment expressed by every other insu- rance officer of thirty or forty companies with Whom the Heratn reporter conversed, ’ OPINION OF CHIRP ENGINERRS BATES AND SHURA, Our reporter called on Chief Engineer Bates, who referred him to Assistant Chief Oscar Shea, stating at the same time that he was too to lay before the public his views, and further remarked that the Heaatp was taking hold of @ matter of vital importance, hood, is one of the most dangerous 1 know of, There | not only to the department, but to the public in arg fower hydrants sar it and more buildings that } eanoral, 3 ~ Chief Shea states that in June last Chief Enginees Bates laid before the Commissione! lengthy commu= Bication relative to secking a better supply of water. Reroxtes—What were your mata objections? Chief Suza—We contended, and do yet, that the mains are not ofa suicient size, and of she small number of hydrants, The style and size of buildings are constantly undergoing changes, and have been, to # very great extent, for the past ten years, The im- provement in the supply of water bas, Lowever, fallen far behind the times. At present the pressure on hy- drants ranges from six to twenty pounds, most of the hydrants being attached to mains of six inches in di. ameter, which !s entirely too small to supply large en- gines, Rxrorrer—Where are located the objectionable. points of the city? Chief Suza—There are many I might allude to, Take New Church street, from Morris to Liberty; West Broadway, from Chambers to Canal, and the section of the eity bounded by Canal, South Fifth avenue, Houston and Crosby, the supply in the latter vicinity has not been increased since the change from small | buildings, Icam assure you there is not a sufficient: | supply of water for even the old fashioned buildings. The fact is the whole portion of the city south of Fourteenth | Street should receive immediate attention, Mercer | street has only asix inch pipe, which is second to none | When we consider the large sized buildings, On Broudway there is a thirty-six inch main pipe used to supply the lower portion of the eity and is con- nected at Houston, Grand, Canal and Pearl streets with, side mains cpartment has no hydrants con- nected with this main; we sould be allowed at once to tap this main on every biock by hydrants, to be j Used only in case of large fires, There is another ex- tensive main on Mott street (forty-eight inches), which we should also have the right to tap, RevoxreR—What ts your opinion of corner cisterns? Chief Smza—1 am satisfied that they would be = good thing, The large mains 1 speak of conld be tapped at streot corners and havo cisterns built with an opening into the main, By this means two or three engines could be concentrated on each corner and all procure a good supply of water. It would certainly bo a great heip at large fires, Then in cold weather, afer shutting down the engines, the water could be drawa out of the cisterns only to be opened and filled again in cxse of fire. Rerontsk—How is the supply of water on Nassad street? Chief Suza—Nassau street and Park row are in 9 very exposed condition, especially on the latter street, The broad opening at the Post Office admitg, in case of aheavy wind prevailing, tor a fire to make a clean sweep, Broad street is another important point for consideration. by OPINION OF THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS. These gentlemen seem to have but little actual knowledge as to the real condition of the water supply, with the exception of President Perley. Mr, Hatch states that he knows there {s not a sufficient force of water in the lower portion of the city, but has no prac« Ucal experience of the fact, only so far as he has gained from the Chief Engineer. Commissioner King states that, having been for many years out of the depart ment, he was not so well posted as in former years; but from such information as he had gleaned since he has been a Commissioner he 1s satisiled that, unless prompt steps are taken to place throughout the city 1} ized mains, the Fire Departirent,, with ten’ times its . number, could not be held responsible for an extensive conflagration. President Perley says that it has long been a constant subject of study with him, He has ofttimes wondered that New York has not met with heavier losses owing to the want of water. The dry goods district.has been one of marked attention wy the department, and ho caused Chief Engineer Bates to make a more thorough inspection of all the localities in tng city where large buildings are erected and inflammable material cen- tred, Some steps must be taken, he said, to give the department the entire control of the water supply ia the lower portion of the city at fires. Unless this ta done there is no knowing what may follow. Now There ts no more benevolent bill now pending before the State Legislature than that ot retiring wortout and f it is awell known fact that there ld veterans’? in the present department | who, before the paid system came into existence, had | done noble service, while at the same time there are | many who are now in the present department hkewise entitled to every consideration; but it appears among the members there is a great deal of dissatisfaction ex. pressed to one section of the bull, which gives the Com- missioners unlimited power. The bill provides that the Boara of Fire Commissioners can ‘retire such men as they consider unfit for duty on halt pay. But at any future time they can at their own judgment cutthem of from the retired list. Thus the fremen claim that they may be retired on a pension, and ina few months after the Commissioners can remove them if they feel disposed. When the present department was first organized it was composed principally of men who had served their time out in the old Volunteer De- partment—viz., five years, while many bad served tem aud fifteen years, This present paid system has been in existence nearly eloven years. Adding this and their previous services in the old depariment goes to show that these mea bave been faitiful servants to the public, and if, in the wise judgment of the Commis- sioners, they should be retired tt should be on nothing short ofa pension for life, and that no Board of Fire Commigsiouets, in the preset or the {uture, should be vetted with the power to thin them out at their pleasure. Many of the leading members of the depart- ment contemplate holdings Sreeting: wie a view to urging the passage of the Retaring bill, but to op; the dismissal of men after once having been renee Another one of the unfortunate victims of the Broad. way fire was carried to his last resting place yesterday, from bis residence, 5 Christopher street. Now withstanding the unpleasant state of the weather there was a largo gathering of friends, The funeral services | were held on Sunday afternoon, owing to the fact that the remains were to be conveyed to Paramus, N. J., for interment, It was intended that the fuz cortege should start at ten o'clock A. M., but the heavy storm somewhat disarranged the programme, and it wad after eleven before the remains were conveyed from the bouse. A detaifed force of police from the Ninth precinct headed the solemn procession, followed Fire by two companies from the Depart 0 then followed the hearse, with the re. mains of the decoaged surrounded by eight pail-bearers, all of whom were assistant foremen of the several com. panies in the lower districts, Next came the members. of Engine Company No. 30, of which the deceased was agsistaut foreman, tho relatives and friends following in carriages, The procession proceeded through Fourth street to Broadway, down Broadway to Chambers street, to the ferry. All tho firemen, with the excep. tion of the members of No. 80 Engine, wage here dis- missed, the latter escorting the rematus to Paramus, .J., where the remains were taken to the old Dutch church. A brief serv was held and the body then Jaid at rest in the family burying ground, A FATAL ACCIDENT. A fatal accident occurred at nine o'clock yesterday morning in the engine room of the establishment of Harper Brothers, publishers, Franklin square, by which Mathew Fagan, a fireman, lost his life, It ap- pears that the deceased attempted to oil the machinery below tne large crank, and for that purpose had fo stoop very low, While thas engaged he raised his head, when the crank strock it with full force, frace turing the skull and killing him almost instantly. No person was in the engine room at the time, out a few | moments after the accident occurred the engineer en- tered and saw his fellow workman lying dead, his bead frightfuily disfigured. Information of the occurrence was gent to the Coroners’ office, and after viewing the body Coroner khof gave an order for its removal to bis late residen: The deceased was forty-two years of age, was married, and resided at No, 540 East Four- teenth st, THE CENTENNIAL REGATTAS. WHAT ARE OUR PROFESSIONAL OARSMEN DOING ?—= WILL THERE BE A WARD CREW FoR "76? New York, Feb. 14, 1876, To rar Eptror ov tax Heranp:— The signs of the times all point to great activity ana excitenfent in boating circles during this centennial | year, and to the lovers of this healthful pastime a rich | treat is doubtless in store in the shape of the contests that will take place on Saratoga Lako and upon the | Schuylkill, So far as I am informed, caretu! propara- tion is being made by our college men and to worthily meet any crews that may come fro1 | bus what are our professional oarsmen doing to ready to meet the men that are coming froi the Tyne and the Thames to endeavor aside the verdict of 1872, whem tho brothers walked away with the laurels? And th! me to ask where are the Ward brothers, and w! te sis? they doing to seal the verdict pronounced upon them by all the world? Where is ? Is ho asleep of | mending bis nets? And Gil: handsome Gil, another good one—what ts he doing? And whatis hilis, the Joseph of the flock, doing? As for Han! the O14 Man of the Sea, if 100 old to do duty himsel surely he mast have son ora json to take his place, This wou ily must bave « crew left—and ft could not apne oes one— among #0 many brot! are not at work? Have they gy roud moment of their when, in on toga Lake, they crossed Hue undispur of ia J