The New York herald. [volume], February 15, 1876, Page 3, Image 3

About The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920

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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 EXPEHTS
The Street Mains Inable To Carry a
Sufficient Supply.
There can bo no doubt in the minds of thoso who
have watched tho record ol fires in this city during the
past five years that certain localities in New York aro
in an unsafe condition should a great fire occur. Indeed,
it is very clear to most people who have reflected
on the subject that the city has every reason to
congratulate Itself on its fortunate escape from disastrous
consequences from the late fire In Broidway. The
result on that occasion shows that prompt and earnest
action is needed to provide the city with better means
jpf o^'reotning aud extinguishing any largo tiro that
may st trt in the1 heart of tHo busTucsslection. On the
map which is herewith given will be noticed a shaded
section showing tho 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 Coutrc street, northerly
to Howard street, then to tho westwajd bne block,
then to the north two blocks, tliet^ Sne to the west aud
one to tho north, stopping hi Soring street. Tho lino
runs along Spring to the west as far as Greene street,
down Greene street to Canul and West Broadway to
tho starting point.
It would not bo possible without a largo and unnecessary
expenditure of time aud money to ascertain
precisely the value of the capital invested in
this section, but experts have given estimates that
aro not in any sense exugerated Tho value of the
buildings alone, it <s thought, is fully $:;00,000,000.
Added to this enormous flguro tho stock of the diller??nt
rfrv "nnila ?tf.nri?K i< pe(imnr?(l ?it I.fill fUlf) nrn!
It is said, that in various other lines of lyholesulo and
retail business within this narrow compass the value of
the stock in trade cannot be stated at any tiguro less
than $200,000,000. Inquiries made of prominent gentlemen
in tho insurance busiuess have disclosed the fact
that this district is very well insured, the policies
covering fully two-thirds if not a larger proportion of the
entire value of tho buildings and tlicir contents. Tlio
insurance on tho buildings averages over forty per
ent of their lull value, and ou tho goods tho insurances
are at the lowest sixty-six and two thirds per cent of
their value. In numerous Instances the goods aro
fully insured, as where they arc consignments in trun
alt on which temporary holders do not want to take
any risk; so the tlguros given aro somownat underestimated
thnn over.
So much lor tho value of the property and the
insurances thereon. Now the great question arises.
What would he tho cousequence ol a great fire,
such as llrnt recently started ou Broadway, if the
weather was so cold at tho time of its occurrence
as partially to cripple the efforts of the firemen, or a
gaie such as passed over the city a week before happened
to prevail f The answ< r may bo eas.ly imagined,
for in such an event, even if tlio flames
swept only one third ol the area described, every insurance
company in tho whole city would put up its
abutters, and almost utter ruin would come upon the
merchants. Thnt such a disaster is possible Is a belief
uow very generally entertained, and the commercial
community is anxiously considering the ounce of prevention
instead of waiting for the costly pound ol cure.
The water mains are believed to be wholly tnsuihcieut
tn their carrying capacity to supply tho demands
in such an emergency. The HkIiai.d map shows the
different lines of water mains and tho calibre of each
These conductors run from tho 36-inch pipe down to
a 10-inch one. The intorniodiate mains are tho 24, 20
and 16-inch pipes. On the map tho position of these
pipes can readily be traced, and an estimate made of tho
force and quantity of water that could be relied upou
to extinguish or check a great Are. As it is, without
any check to its full force, it has been said this
supply would bo found insufficient, but bow much
less effective would it be in case of another fire further
up town, or in the event of any accideut to anyone of
the few large tnalna During the sessions of the
Senate Committee a good doal of evidence was elicitedshowing
the insufficiency of the water supply down
town, and this seems a tilting time again to direct attention
to a subject of such vital importance to the commercial
interests ol the metropolis. Many of the houses
in this section are little better than tinder boxes.
The floors and partitions are of Southern pine, and
1 the goods are sucli as ignite readily and add greatly to
tho intensity ot a conflagration. Advantage should
ho taken of all available means for chocking flro
In its progress, and every safeguard known
to science should ho secured by the city for
the- prelection of the merchant and property owner.
In view of theso facts and the start ling truth contained
in them it behooves the authorities ot this city
to bestir themselves and remove tho actual danger to
which we are exposed. The Hrkald has frequently
pointed out the necessity tor such action, yet the heads
of departments and other uilicials have suffered the
warning to pass by unheeded, so that to-day, with
really one of the finest Fire Departments tn the world
the city of New i ork may at any moment be compelled
to share the fate of Chicago and Boston.
With a water front of nearly twenty miles in extent
there need bo no^ further efforts made to bring fresh
wafer in for lire purposes. The plan proposed by the.
Hoard ol Health a few 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 element. The
cry against salt water as being ruinous to goods should
not have any weight, as It would bo better to "mm" a
few thousand dollars' worth of goods in the Incipient
ptageg of fire than to permit the destruction of millIons
upon millions.
NEED OK BORE WATER.
W.th tho view of ascertaining the opinions of experts
In relation fo our water supply and to the capacity of
our aqueducts, mains and hydrants in the case of a Are
as large as that which occurred on Tuesday evening
last, u Herald reporter made Inquiry yesterday at the
offices of leading Are insurance companies. The gentleman
whose statement immediately follows is the
president of one of the oldest and soundest tire insur nee
companies in the United states.
Upon being approached he opened a book and read:?
"It is of vital importance to tbe city that additional
mains be lold at the earliest practicable day. For many
years past the department has kept a gauge of the daily
quantity of water flowing over the Croton dam, in addition
to that which la conveyed to tho city by the
aqueduct, and durmg tho past ten years an avernge
dally quantity of 340.000,00!) gallons has run to waste
over the dam in addition to the quantity that was
brought to tho city."
lie then went on to say:?"Mr. Edward H. Tracyt
then Unei Engineer of the Department of Public Works,
nam- mis siuiemeoi m uia nuuitut tcjivti mi m<-jrrwi
lt>73. It was the advice of a i>ractlcal engineer well
schooled m his professionand who had thoroughly Investigated
the situation. Though more than two years have
elapsed, yet no regard whatever has been paid to this
advtco. As will he seen Irom the sequel, it is the
opinion of everyone at all lauiiliar w.th the subject
that the water supply of New York city Is wholly Inadequate
to ti e demands of our rapidly Increasing
population, a very large proportion of which resides in
those sections of the city, and at tho same time under
those peculiar conditions, where Arcs are most likoly
to occur and be followed by the most disastrous consequences.
Those who build last, as a rule, build
poorly, and ^he minority of our tenem uts have heeu
constructed with the view ol ailordtng the meanest
possible shelter at the highest possible price; hence it
is about ihese tenements that wc And the greatest
number of human beings huddled together, with tho
rooKKST VACiurirs run secant
is esse of Art. 11 was in consideration ol litis circum
NEW YOK
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j Map Showing the I
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sinnco that ctoief Eagineer Tracy wu led to urge t'
mil orwucs to ins city or additional main* oeinn m.
He also, In tbe fame report, elated that, to constru
a new aqueduct to carry twice tbe quantity of the pr<
1 rnt one, would require no more right of way than I
present one, and not more than twice the quantity
masonry In conaiructloa, and It le highly probable tt
a better line ean be found to conatruet tt upon than o
near the location of the present aqueduct. This son
advice from a practical engineer was alio unbeedi
The lato Are In Broadway, near Grand street, whl
within the brief period of four hours swept out of <
Istenre 14,000.000 worth of property and brought wl
; it disaster, rule and death, taken In connection w!
tbe fact that the water in^he Croton Reservoir n w
oral inches lower now than It was a little time ai
shows the terrible calamity which might have bappcr
to this city on Tuesday nujb; had the Art aot ba?u>,x
/
K HERALD, TUESDAY, F
R WAT 3
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be under such dinect control. Ii .a not wonderful to i
d. that the Ore was not put oct sooner, bnt tt is w>ndi
let fat, rosily wonderful, thai It was subdued before t
a- wbofo block waa laid tn ruins. No other Ore depa
be ment In the world could have done the noble work it
of was accomplished on that occasion by the firemen
int New York. 1 don't pretend to be a practical engine
ne but I am an old officer in an old fire insurance co
nd puny, and feel aa If I knew how ranch water tt takes
id. put out a certain amount of fire, and with no desire
cb unnecessarily alarm the people I feel It my duty
>t. state that In a creat raanv sections of New York a f
ith might break oat at any moment which woald bai
Ith every eteam engine and the efforti of every fireman
iv- the city; not became oar engtnoe are Inferior; not I
jo, caaee oar Oremen are not brave and skilful, bat becai
ed oar water mama .are not large enough, our hydrai
uu tao amaU and teoXar anarl to enable good engine*
EBIIUAKY 15, 187G.-WITII
2E SUPP
^arrying Capacity of the
l't Startling Pacts.
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no com* into action, and noble, (earless men to do their
sr- work.
be Till! ALDRRMK* TO BLAXR.
rl- "hverythlng has bees done to impress these facts
at open the city authorities. They have set aside the
of opinions, advice and warnings of the best engineers,
er, Fits John Porter, our late Commissioner of Public
in- Works, recognized the startling facts and recommended
to larger mains and more water. Our Hoard of Aldermen
to pay no attention whatever to these recommendations,
to It Is a matter of doubt whether the Impressive lesson
Ire of Tuesday events* even will teach them what our
(he great city needs for thtfprolection ol its property and
In population.
be- "The vicinity of Ann street and Broadway, Juat where
lie the Herald office stands, or that particular neighbornta
hood, ta one of the most dtngeross 1 know of. There
i vi fewer bjdxauts a/ux it aad mere buUduun that
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111
won IJ feed a conflagration than could b? fouud ?,? ? in '
tho lowcat ward* 1 sincerely hope mat the Hsaai.n
will lako op ibis subject and never drop It until we
have that amount of water which would be needed in
??' ui a great gr<, "
Tb? gentleman quoted above hlmaelf to
fully that In tba Interview with him may he found the i
universal sentiment expreascd by every other Inauranee
officer of thirty or forty compaoiei with whom
the Hkrai.d reporter converted.
onxiox or cHir.r Exaivaaaa iATaa axn *?xa.
Our reporter called on Chief Engineer Batca, who
referred bim to Aaaietant Chief ^Oecar Shea, mating at
the eame time that he waa too happy to lay before the
public lilt view*, and further remarked that the Herald
waa taking bold of a matter of vital Importance,
not only to the department, but to the public in
Ctnirid. L
3
Chief Shea states ILat In June last Chief EnglneeV
Bales laid before the Commisiionera a lengthy comma l.-alton
relatvo to seeking a better aapply of water.
Kkfoktkb?What were your mulu objections?
Chief Sttca?Wo contended, and do yet, that that
mains are not of a sufficient size, and of the small
number of hydrants. Tbo stylo and size of buildings ,
are constantly undergoing changes, and have been, to ?
very great exteut, for the past ten years. The improvement
in the supply of water baa, however, fallen
far behind the times. At present the pressure on hydranta
ranges from six to twenty pounds, most of tbo
hydrants being attached to mains of six inches in dL.
atneter, which Is entirely too small to supply largo euginca.
Kxcurtkr?Where are located tno objectionable
points of ttie city 7
Chief Sura?There are many i might allude to. Take
Now Church street, from Morns to Liberty; West
liroodwuy, from Chambers to Canal. and the section of
the city 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. I can assure you there is not a sufficient
supply of water lor even the old fashioned buildings. Tho
fact is the w hole portion of the city south or Fourteenth
street should receive immediate attention. Mercer
street has only a sis inch pipe, which is second to none
when we consider the largo aized buildings.
On lirondway there is a thirty-six inch main pipe
> used to supply the lower portion of the city and is connected
at Houston, Grand, Canal and Tearl streets with
sldo mains Nuw tho department has no hydrants connected
with tills mam; we should bo allowed at once
to tap this ma n on every block by hydrants, to bo
used only In case of lurge fires. There Is another ex"
tensive main on Mott street (forty-eight inches), which
we should also have the right to up.
Kki'oktkr?What Is your opinion of corner cisterns?
Chief StiKi?1 am satisfied that they would be &
good thing. Tho large mains 1 speak o( could be
Dm late r- -iucu' e iur uccra-ca was loriy i wo yarii
of age, was married, and resided at No. MO Kant Fourteenth
su
THE CENTENNIAL KLUATTAS.
WHAT ARE OVB PltOFESSIoXAt. OARSMZX DOIXO ??
WILL TtlEI.E BE A WARD CREW FOR '70 ?
Nkw Yobs, Fob. 14, 1H 70.
To thi Editor or tiir Hkbald:?
The signs of the limes all point to great activity noo
excilciftent in boating circles durng 11.is centennial
year, and to the lover* of this healthful pastime a ricb
treat I* doubtless In store in the shape of the contests
that will take place on Saratoga Lake and upon the
Schuylkill So far ss I am informed, careful preparalion
Is being made by our collego men and amateurs to
worth lv in " - yrr.'Wi that may rorr.c Ironi i broad,
but what are our proloasional oarsmen doing to get
ready te meet the men thai sre coming from
the Tyae and the Thames to endeavor to sal '?
Ma the verdict Of 1472. when the Ward
brothers walked away with the lanrels f And this leads I
me to ask where are the Ward brothers, and what are j
iii -r dome to .--e.il Hi.' verdict pronounced upon then
by all the world f Where la Josh? Is he asleep or ;
uiendinx bis oetsf Ami (til?Ion?, lank, handsome
Oil, another good one?what la he doing? And what is
Mi.*, the Joseph of the flock, doinr" A? lor Hank, *
the Old Man of the Sea, If too old to do duly himself,
turely be mast bare a soil or a grand on perhaps atls
In take his placet Tb s wonderful family n.cst bare i
crew If it-and it could not help be ng a good ene?
among eo many brother*, and why are ihey aot al
work? Have they forgottea, can they ever forget, the
proud moment of their Hvee when, in 1S72, on .sarm
leva I Il.ev r 1 c.l the use uiui.rr u'ec Victor?
Vnai', '"'it" i'S Ul UM world; AMAIKI*.
1
tapped at sircoi corners ana nave citterns vuilt with aa
opening into llio main. By this means two or tbroa
engines could be concentrated on each corner and all
procure a good supply of water, ll would certainly bo
u groat help at large tiros. Then tn cold weather, aflet
sbuttitK? down the engines, the water could be drawn
out of the cisterns only to be opened and tilled again in
case of lire.
Reporter?How is tbo supply of water on Nassad
street f
Chief Suka?Nassau street and Park row are in s
Tory exposed condition, especially on the l.unr street.
The broad opening at the Post Oflico admits, in case oi
n henvy wind prevailing, tor a tiro to make a clean
sweep. Broad street is another important point fot
consideration.
OPINION' OF tiir firk commissionKKS.
Those gentlemen seem to huve but littlo actual
knowledge as to the real condition of the w ater supply,
with the exception oT President Perley. Mr. Hatch
states that ho knows there Is not a sufficient force oi \
water In the lower portion of the city, but lias no practical
experience ol the fact, only so far as he has gained
from the Chiof Engineer. Commissioner King states
that, having been for many years out of the department,
he was not so woll poslod as in former years;
but from such information as he had gleaned since he
has been a Commissioner ho is satisfied that, unless
prompt steps are taken to place throughout the
city large-sized mains, iho Eire Department,
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 oft limes wondered
that New Vork has not met with heavier losses owing
to tho want of water. The dry goods district has been
one of marked attention hy the department, and ho
caused Chiof Engineer Bates to make a more thorough
Insjiection of all tho localities 111 tup cltv where largo
buildings are erected and inflammable material centred.
Somo steps must betaken, he said, to give tho
department the olire control ol the water tupply in
the lower portion of tho city at tires, t'nless this Is
done there is no knowing what may lollowr.
RETIRING FIREMEN.
Tliero is no more benevolent bill now pending befors
the State I.ogislature than that ot rulir.og worcout ami
disabled firemen. It is a well known lact that there
.ire tnany "old veterans" in the present dcpurtmenl
who, beiore the paid system came into existence, has
dono uoblo service, whllo at tlio same time there ars
many who are now in tho present department likewise
untitled to every consideration . but it appears among
the members there is a great deal of dissatisfaction expressed
to one section of tbo bill, which gives the Commissioners
unlimited power. Tho bill provides tiial
tbe Boaru of Pire Commissioner* can reiiro sucb
men us tiiey c- iikilIot untie for duty on hall pay. ;
ltul it any future limn tliey can at llioir own judgment
cut liieiu of! from itio retired list, Thus the (lretnon
claim that tbey ui?y bo retired on a pension, and In a !
few iiionttia after the Commissioners can remove Ibrm
if lbey feel disposed. When the present department
was t'.rsi organise. d it was composed principally or men i
who hud served I In;: r tnno out iu the old \ .liutiteer Department
via.. Eve years, while many bah served ten
uud fifteen years. This present paid systein has been In
existence nearly cloven years. Add.tig this and their
previous services id tbe old departtnenl goes
to show that these men have been faiiiuul servants to
the public, und :!. in l!:e wise Jungn ut ol the < ntrimissinners,
they should be retired it should be on nothing
short of a pension tor life, and that no Hoard of Ktro
Commissioners, in the pruseat or the future, should
he vi /tod w "h the power to thin them out it their
pleasure. Many ol tlio loading members ol the department
oontemplato holding H meeting with a view to j
urging tho pa* ol the Kctir-ng bill, hut to oppose
the hismi.-siii ol in,-ii alter onee ha . ng been retired.
FUNERAL OF ASSISTANT RUSH.
Another one of the unfortunate victims of the Broadway
fire was carried to hit last resting place yesterday,
from hia residence. No. lie Christopher street Notwithstanding
the unpleasant state of tbe weather there
was a largo gathering of frienda. The funeral servicea
were held on Sunday afternoon, owing to the fact thai
tbe remains were to Lo conveyed to Par am us, N. J., for j
Interment. It was intended that tho luneral cortege
should start at ten o'clock A. M., but the heavy storm
soTiiewli.it i ir g. 'l the programme, and It wag
aftor eleven bclorn the remains were conveyed from
tbe bouse. A detailed force of police iron) the N'lntli i
precinct headed the solemn procession, followed
by two companies from the fire Department
; then (allowed the hearse, with the reins
nsof tho ilecii,eil surrounded by t ght pall-bearers,
all of whom w <1 a. tant foremrn of the several compat
es III Dm : r .1 In.;-- N' I c .lue the members
of Kugine Company No .10, ol whuh i ha deceased was
a.-s.staul foreman, tho relatives and Ii ends Pillowing
in carriage--. The procession proceeded through fourth
street to Broadway, down Broadway to Chambers street,
to ihe lerry. All tho tireinen, with the exception
of tbe members of No. 30 Kngine, wife here dls
missed, Ihe latter escorting the rcmmui to Parxmus,
N .1.. ? re th?> ri-iu.i-.il- w - re taken to t !.- o <1 Hut, h
church. A brief service was held and the body then
laid at rest In tbe lamily burying ground.
A FATAL ACCIDENT.
A fatal accident occurred at nine o'clock yesterday
morning in t - engine mom of the est.ild. hincut of
Harper Brothers, publishers, Franklin square, by
which Mathew Pagan, a Qreman, lost his life. It appears
that the deceased attempted to oil the machinery
below tne large crank, nod lor that purpose had Jo 3
sloop very low. While thus engaged ho ra.sed Ins
head, when the crank struck It with full force, fracturing
tho skull nnd killing him almost instantly. No
peraon was in the engine room at the time, out a few
moments after tho accidont occurred tho engineer entered
and - iw Ins fellow workman lying dead. Ins head
frightlully disfigured. Information of tbe occurrence
was sent to tho Coroners' ofllce. and after viewing the
body Coroner Kickholf gave an order lor us removal to