A WATER CERTAIN FOR FIRE.

A WATER CERTAIN FOR FIRE.

A water curtain for fire is not a new idea, although it has been slow in taking root. The Ocean Steam Ship company has adopted it for many years for the protection of its pier and storage warehouse at Savannah. Ga., and not very long ago in this city, when a factory fire threatened a big gas storage tank, and the flames were almost licking its sides and heating them to a dangerous degree, a powerful stream was thrown against that which was being thrown by the water tower, and till the factory fire was controled this improvised water curtain effectually saved the gas tank. During the Baltimore fire, also, one large building was more than only partially protected by an application of the same principle. The idea has recently been put into practice in London, where a building specially fitted up with a water curtain equipment has obtained a substantial reduction in its fire insurance rate. On every side of the building separate water pipes, perforated on the under side, are attached to the roof a few feet from the walls. These pipes are connected by valves with a central one. in which a water pressure of eighty pounds to the square inch is maintained, if a fire in a nearby building threatens to spread, the opening of a single cock, accessible from the street, will throw from the pipe on the root thousands of jets of water so close together that they form a perfect water curtain between the flame and the threatened side of the building. The force with which the streams are thrown from the pipe makes it impossible for the water to be evaporated by nearby flames and prevents absolutely any flames from passing through it. The water may be turned on to protect only one wall or all of them, as circumstances may make necessary, and another set of drenchers, working on the same principle,but throw-ing the water horizontally, protects the roofThe valves which control the system on the London building are operated from the sidewalk, and the police stationed nearby have been instructed how to operate them London authorities have declared that the system is a notable advance in protection against fire. In the British metropolis a separate pump in the building has been necessary to keep up the pressure in the pipes.

A water curtain for fire is not a new idea, although it has been slow in taking root. The Ocean Steam Ship company has adopted it for many years for the protection of its pier and storage warehouse at Savannah. Ga., and not very long ago in this city, when a factory fire threatened a big gas storage tank, and the flames were almost licking its sides and heating them to a dangerous degree, a powerful stream was thrown against that which was being thrown by the water tower, and till the factory fire was controled this improvised water curtain effectually saved the gas tank. During the Baltimore fire, also, one large building was more than only partially protected by an application of the same principle. The idea has recently been put into practice in London, where a building specially fitted up with a water curtain equipment has obtained a substantial reduction in its fire insurance rate. On every side of the building separate water pipes, perforated on the under side, are attached to the roof a few feet from the walls. These pipes are connected by valves with a central one. in which a water pressure of eighty pounds to the square inch is maintained, if a fire in a nearby building threatens to spread, the opening of a single cock, accessible from the street, will throw from the pipe on the root thousands of jets of water so close together that they form a perfect water curtain between the flame and the threatened side of the building. The force with which the streams are thrown from the pipe makes it impossible for the water to be evaporated by nearby flames and prevents absolutely any flames from passing through it. The water may be turned on to protect only one wall or all of them, as circumstances may make necessary, and another set of drenchers, working on the same principle,but throw-ing the water horizontally, protects the roofThe valves which control the system on the London building are operated from the sidewalk, and the police stationed nearby have been instructed how to operate them London authorities have declared that the system is a notable advance in protection against fire. In the British metropolis a separate pump in the building has been necessary to keep up the pressure in the pipes.