FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING
In replying to a petition of the county commissioners for a supply of water, referred to him by the city commission, Water Commissioner W. H. Sherman of Salt Lake City, Utah, said that in his opinion the city had no water to spare for the relief of county districts now facing a shortage. Commissioner Sherman further stated he would not furnish water to the county unless ordered to do so by the city commission. The county commission complained that the reservoir by which the farmers ward district in the county was supplied with water has been rendered practically useless by reason of the fact that city contractors, digging sewer trenches, diverted the flow of certain springs that fed the reservoir. In answer to this the city engineer has reported that while the flow from the springs was temporarily diverted, every precaution was taken to restore it to its original subterranean channels and that the city is not liable for any loss to the county in consequence.
The suggestion of Chief Michael A. Dunn, of Hoboken, N. J., that a Bureau of Fire Prevention be established in connection with the Department of Public Safety, may be carried out in the near future. Chief Dunn has long urged that passing of a new city ordinance allowing the firemen to make the necessary inspections. Although this work has been carried on to a certain extent for a number of years the firemen have never had authority to enter buildings. In his last annual report to Director of Public Safety McFeely, Chief Dunn Tecommended: “That the city ordinance be revised and brought up-to-date whereby the Fire Department may have the right to enter and make inspections of the yards, cellars, areas. hall9, lightshafts, etc., of all buildings in the city, and invest this department with authority to have all hazardous and dangerous fire conditions from such buildings and places where found eliminated.” It is possible that the scope of the department will extend to the public school system where the firemen assigned to do this work will instruct the children as to fire prevention.
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit ushere.
