NOVEMBER, 1909. _ .S. . i -.Vcr£ 1 vitiv . r Hf Illf ! 5 i HI - No. 105. —Wr National Board of Fire Underwriters COMMITTEE ON FIRE PREVENTION REPORT ON THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA. iMjr. j3k;M - £ ■ ■ . ’ -Ja i . si •A . V' i • f T' -• Jtj -,v NATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS 135 WILLIAM ST., NEW YORK J. Montgomery Hare, President, New York. Charles G. Smith, Secretary, New York. A. W. Damon, Vice-President, Springfield. Marshall S. Driggs, Treasurer, New York. H. K. Miller, General Agent. W. E. Mallalieu, Ass’t Gen’l Agent. COMMITTEE ON FIRE PREVENTION George W. Hoyt, New York. Chairman. W. N. Kremer, New York. E. H. A. Correa, New York. A. H. Wray, New York. C. F. Shallcross, New York. U. C. Crosby, New York. R. M. Bissell, Hartford. Edward Milligan, Hartford. J. A. Kelsey, New York. The investigation of conditions in Dubuque, Iowa, was made during September, 1909, by a party organized as follows: F. P. Walther, F. A. Raymond, G. L. Bean, Structural Engineer. Fire Dept. Engineer. Hydraulic Engineer. Kenneth Lydecker, Asst. Engineer. Acknowledgment is made of valuable assistance rendered by the Hon. Henry A. Schunk, Mayor, the officials of the various city departments concerned, and others. G. W. Booth, Hydraulic Engineer. Office Engineers. A. C. Hutson, Office Engineer. November 26, 1909. Dubuque, Iowa. INDEX. SUBJECT. City in General. Water Supply. Fire Department. Fire Alarm System. Fire Department Auxiliaries. Building Department... Explosives and Inflammables. Electricity. Conflagration Hazard .. .. . . Recommendations. General Summary. •y N PAGE 2 2 II 16 18 19 21 22 23 26 3 ° 973198 - . ;T , • ■ ■t'.s *.7iErn - ■voh izel ‘M.li - ■ : : • :r. sin s.-jrH .1 av- so : •J" • : > as azzqttuv . ■ 1? . • •. t .rti insttittmi n: National Board of Fire Underwriters. COMMITTEE ON FIRE PREVENTION. DUBUQUE, IA. NOVEMBER. 1909. KEY Congested Ito/pe District Blochs m wtucb the conHogrotion hafondis marked Fire Limits shown thus WATER SUPPLY Moms 8inches and larger m diameter (Moms not marked are 8-inch) Mams 6 inches m diameter Mams 4 Inches m diameter Hgdrant Tests designated bg numbens. thus. FIRE DEPARTMENT Present companies shown m black. Recommended compomes Shown m red.~~ Companies designatedbgsgmbols thus v£/ Engine', vL/, Ladder, dose ; (0). Chemical . 2,3 eta 9 Chemical Tanks on above. SCALE . OF FEET c~ National Board of Fire Underwriters. COMMITTEE ON FIRE PREVENTION. DUBUQUE, IA. DUBUQUE, IOWA. REPORT No. 105. CITY IN GENERAL. Mayor.—Hon. Henry A. Schunk. Population estimated at 45,000, the 1905 State census showing 41,941. The city’s growth has been steady, due to its favorable location as a shipping and manufacturing center. Principal industries in¬ clude wood-working, railroad and machine shops, church supplies, clothing and brewing. The lead and zinc mines, formerly important, are not worked at present. Four railroad systems and the Missis¬ sippi river afford good shipping facilities. The major portion of the city lies on a ledge extending along the river, with elevations ranging from 18 to 76; residential sections located on the bluffs to the west of the city proper have elevations from 140 to 315. The city covers an area of about gy 2 square miles. No long steep grades in the high value districts. Grades on thoroughfares leading to the bluffs are from 4 to 14 per cent., but all fire apparatus has level or downhill runs to mercantile and manufacturing districts. Streets in the downtown districts are mainly 64 feet wide, with a few up to 86 feet. Blocks are bisected by alleys 30 feet wide. Of the total of 100.34 miles of paved streets and alleys, 82.20 miles of the former and 11.13 miles of the latter are macadamized and 6.93 miles of the former are brick. Paved streets are mainly in good condition but unimproved ones are generally in poor condi¬ tion. Grade railroad crossings to the east of the principal mercantile district sometimes delay fire apparatus. Overhead wires would offer serious obstruction to the work of the fire department in the mercantile sections. Records of the U. S. Weather Bureau station at Dubuque show that average wind velocities are moderate, varying from 5.4 to 8.6 miles per hour, with prevailing direction from the northwest. Winds of from 25 to 39 miles velocity occur about 38 times, and of 40 miles or over about once yearly, some gales lasting for from 24 to 36 hours. The business district is sheltered from the northwest winds by the bluffs. Severe electrical storms are frequent. Some long periods of intense cold occur, as the maximum temperature has been below freez¬ ing for from 41 to 71 days per year, the lowest temperature recorded being minus 32 degrees with a period of 16 days below minus 10 degrees. Maxi¬ mum frost penetration about 7 feet, with an aver¬ age of about y/2 feet. The fire department loss records are incomplete, due to the failure of local insurance agents to co¬ operate, and losses were unobtainable. The aver¬ age number of fires per year, during the past five years, was 217, and was fairly constant, varying from 196 in 1905 to 235 in 1906. The average num¬ ber of fires per thousand population, based on the estimated average population of 42,800, was 5.1, a very high figure. FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. WATER SUPPLY. OWNERSHIP.— .Works owned and operated by the municipality supply water to the built-up por¬ tion of the city. The plant was started in 1870 by private interests, sold to the Dubuque Water Com¬ pany in 1898, and purchased by the city in 1900 at a cost of $545,000. ORGANIZATION.— Personnel. — Works are under the control of a Board of Water Works Trustees of three members, appointed by the Mayor, one each year for a three-year term. The present members are Messrs. Jos. P. Scanlon, President, Dr. James Alderson, Vice-President, and Chas. Sass, Secretary. B. F. Stedman is Superintendent and General Bookkeeper, and has charge of all maintenance work and extensions to the distribu¬ tion system. The total number of men regularly engaged on the clerical, operating and maintenance forces is twenty-two. Tenure of office is uncertain. The superintendent ind chief engineer of pumping stations are ap¬ pointed by the trustees; the superintendent employs men under him, subject to approval of the board. Records. —Meagre and far from up to date; printed reports conflict with each other and with verbal statements. A plan of the distribution sys¬ tem in the form of a wall map shows mains and hydrants, except those installed in the last few years; no gate valves are shown. There are no plans of supply works, nor detail records of loca¬ tions of mains, hydrants, valves or services. Eleva¬ tions generally unknown. Records of pumpage and fuel consumption are kept. Quarters. —The main office is on the first floor of the city hall, 13th and Iowa streets; the meter, repair and testing room is in the basement of the 2 FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Water Supply.) same building. There is a small storage yard at the foot of 8th street. Fire Service and Emergency Operations.— Fire alarms are not sounded in any of the quarters of the water department; the pumping station is generally notified by the telephone company, but there is no arrangement for this service. Tele¬ phones of both companies are located in the office; of one company at the pumping station and in the homes of the superintendent, street foreman and one laborer; there is no telephone in the home of the chief engineer, who lives some distance from the pumping station; a private line connects the Eagle Point and Level stations, strung on the same poles with high tension wires. There is no increase of pressure at the pumping station at time of fire, ex¬ cept to keep the reservoir filled. No water depart¬ ment employee is assigned to attend fires. The street repair gang can be readily summoned at any time, and a wagon fully equipped is kept in readi¬ ness within two blocks of the city hall. GENERAL OUTLINE OF SYSTEM.— Sup¬ ply is from driven wells and an underground stream; distributed in two services. Low service supplied by direct pumpage, with equalizing reser¬ voir, which also acts as an impounding reservoir for the underground stream. High service supplied from standpipe filled by pumpage from reservoir. Elevations in this report are in feet above city datum, which is mean low water of the Mississippi river and is 586.67 feet above mean gulf level. SUPPLY WORKS.—General.— The original supply was from what is known as the Level, being the flow from an underground stream im¬ pounded in a small reservoir and distributed by gravity to the lower parts of the city; this sup¬ ply was supplemented in 1888 by a pumping station at Eagle Point, on the bank of the Mississippi river, near the northern city limits, the source of supply being two artesian wells; an emergency connection to the river is also provided, and 27 shallow wells were driven at later dates. The High service sup¬ ply was originally from a deep well and pumping station at the foot of Eighth street; the well has practically failed and this plant was dismantled. Present supply is from a pumping station at the Level reservoir. Wells.—The system in use at the Eagle Point pumping station consists of 2 deep and 27 shallow wells; the deep wells, driven to a depth of 1,300 feet, into the Potsdam sandstone, are 12 inches in diameter and cased to a depth of 300 feet; these wells are stated to have a combined natural flow of about 100,000 gallons per day, and when operated under an air lift have furnished 2,500,000 gallons; they are about 150 feet apart and have separate lines discharging into the reservoir at the pumping station. The shallow wells are 6 inches in diameter and driven about 92 feet below low water in the Mississippi river into a water bearing strata of coarse gravel, above which is a layer of hard clay. All are connected in one system, and so arranged that they can be cut out separately for cleaning; their capacity is unknown. It is doubtful if they could be depended on to furnish more than 1,500,- 000 gallons per 24 hours. In November, 1907, with an average daily consumption of 2,465,000 gallons, recourse had to be made to the river, as the level had fallen in the shallow wells so that the pumps could not get sufficient supply even with the use of the vacuum pumps; the air lift was operated on the deep wells daily. There has been a noticeable decrease during the past eight years in the yield from the deep wells, and most wells of this class in this locality have failed. River Connections. —At the Eagle Point station provision is made for taking supply from the river through two lines discharging into a screen well by siphon action, the siphon being primed from the pump suction; these lines extend to below the low water level of the river, are protected by loose rock breakwater but without protection to their outer ends; one is 16-inch pipe for its full length, the other is 16-inch reduced to 8-inch and branching into two 6-inch lines. From the screen well a 16- inch suction line leads to the pumps. There are also two 6-inch suction lines from the river channel direct to the well system collector; they are exposed and unprotected, one of them being broken off close to shore. Level. —The water for this supply is obtained from old mine workings through a covered conduit and tunnel driven to intersect this underground stream. The water is collected in a reservoir from which it either flows by gravity to the Low service or is pumped to the High service. It is estimated that 250,000 gallons per day are available from this source. PUMPING STATIONS.—General.— There are two pumping stations, the Eagle Point supplying the Low service, and the Level supplying the High; the latter is electrically operated by power generated at the former. Coal used is Illinois bituminous pur¬ chased under contract without bond provision; de¬ livered direct by rail; usually about 200 tons are on hand. The chief engineer at the Eagle Point station has been employed there for 16 years and in charge for 3 years. Eagle Point Pumping Station. — General .—Built in 1888 and enlarged in 1899; located in the north¬ eastern part of the city, on the bank of the Missis¬ sippi river. Supply from deep wells flows directly to a collect¬ ing reservoir and may be increased by means of an air lift; from the shallow wells the supply is usually pumped to the reservoir by a centrifugal pump located in a pit, at elevation of 3 feet above low water; maximum head pumped against, 19 feet. The station is above high water and no trouble has been experienced from floods. Equipment .—See Table No. I. In a pit in the 3 FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Water Supply.) Dubuque, Iowa. older part of the pumping station are two 2,500,000- gallon units, so connected as to pump either from the wells to the collecting reservoir or from the river, wells or reservoir directly into the distribu¬ tion system. In the new part of the station is the unit ordinarily used, a 5,000,000-gallon ■ pump so connected as to take suction from the reservoir or river and pump direct to the distribution system; it was stated that suction could not be maintained from the river, the suction piping being long and the lift high. Maximum pumping capacity sup¬ plying collecting reservoir is 6,500,000 gallons, in¬ cluding the centrifugal pump and :air lift from deep wells; available for supplying distribution system, 10,000,000 gallons per day. Under ordinary con¬ ditions, the deep wells furnish their natural flow, the centrifugal pump lifts the supply from the shallow wells to the reservoir, and the 5,000,000-gallon unit pumps directly to the distribution system with the Level reservoir as an equalizer; pumps are run con¬ tinuously at speed sufficient to keep both reservoirs filled. The suctions of the centrifugal and 2,500,- ooo-gallon units are augmented by means' of a vacuum pump. The 2,500,000-gallon units are not kept warm, nor operated at regular intervals. A compressor furnishes air for operating the air lift on the deep wells, there is an engine and belt driven dynamo to generate power to operate the plant at the Level, and a small engine and belt driven dynamo for station lighting. Plant is run con¬ densing. Four boilers, aggregating 450 horse power, sup¬ ply steam for plant; two of these are ordinarily used, being ample with light firing, the other two being held in reserve. Steam piping flanged and covered, but not in duplicate, leads being taken from main header to all parts of plant requiring steam. Construction .—The station is a high i-story, mod¬ erate area, brick building, divided into four sections by brick walls with unprotected openings; base¬ ments under two sections. Slate and gravel roofs on wooden supports, mainly on steel trusses ; wooden lantern skylight on boiler room and thick glass sky¬ light on dynamo room. Wooden wainscoting and furred walls in part. Wooden floors in first of pump and dynamo rooms; dirt or cement floors elsewhere. Wooden ceilings, forming large blind attics, in two sections; plastered ceiling in dynamo room and open in boiler room. Wooden lockers and some wooden partitions about plant; also, two small frame additions and wooden cover to adjacent res¬ ervoir. Hazards .—Exposed by lumber yard northeast and southeast, 100 to 200 feet distant. Hazards of boilers well guarded. High tension electric current generated in plant for operating; the Level pump¬ ing station; wiring and switchboard poorly arranged and no protection from lightning. Steam heat. In¬ candescent lighting from private dynamo; wiring and switchboard non-standard and hazardous. Oils inside in metal tanks, fairly well cared for; oily waste immediately burned under boilers. No ma¬ chine shop or other hazards. Protection. —No private protection except short hose for cleaning purposes. City fire house Y\ miles distant; hydrant in yard and one in street 150 feet distant. Level Pumping Station.— General. —Built in 1899. Located in northwestern part of the city; supply from old mine workings, through covered conduit and tunnel and impounded in reservoir. Supplies the High service. Pumps belt-driven from motor. Equipment. —See Table No. 1. Maximum pump¬ ing capacity 1,080,000 gallons per 24 hours. Pumps take suction from reservoir or Level and pump to standpipe, but cannot be run in combination, as the same motor is used for driving each. Pumps are not operated continuously, # the period of operation being gov¬ erned by height of water in standpipe as shown by pressure gage at station; when the height falls 15 to 20 feet the pumps are started. Power for opera¬ ting motors is received over power line from Eagle Point station, with provision for use of city circuit over the same line in emergency. There is a 60- horse power gas engine which could be used to drive the triplex pump, but it cannot be considered as an emergency unit, owing to the insufficient supply of gas available. Construction. —Plant is a small, i-story and base¬ ment, slate-roofed, brick building with a small, hollow-finished, shingle-roofed, frame addition. Wooden floor first and plastered ceiling. Hazards. —Unexposed. High tension electric current used for power. Wiring not standard but fairly well arranged, except for lack of lightning arresters. Gas engine used for emergency power; equipment safely arranged. Coal stove heat; safe. Gas, bracket glass lamp and lantern lighting. Oils inside in metal tanks and oily waste poorly cared for. Protection. —None. RESERVOIRS. —The Eagle Point collecting reservoir, built in 1899, was intended for a clear water basin, but filters have never been installed; supplied from low lift pumps; it adjoins the station on the southeast, is part in excavation, with masonry walls backed with embankment; 13 feet deep, net capacity 650,000 gallons; elevation of flow line 22; condition good; covered with wooden peaked roof in bad condition but soon to be repaired. Level reservoir serves as an equalizer on the Low service and impounds the flow of the Level; built in 1870, in excavation and embankment. Masonry lined, depth 14 feet, capacity x,000,000 gallons, ele¬ vation of flow line 136; condition good. STANDPIPE.—Built in 1889. Used in connec¬ tion with High service system; located in western part of city; of riveted steel construction, 30 feet in diameter and 75 feet high, on substantial masonry spread foundation resting on earth; capacity 440,- 000 gallons. Flow line elevation, 397. 4 FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Water Supply.) M p C H cd o n> rD S S’ cr cr vo oo O vo Vja vo w s 3 3 o c >3 SC n> P ° 2 3 2- p cp CL ff M P p 3 cn 3 w oj O O i c p p OO o o o o Q- Q- cp p 2 c g 3 p cr p p CL H TO Date of Manufacture. Grate Surface, Sq. Ft. Heating Surface, Sq. Ft. Rated Horse Power, Each. > p *9 S c CD W P C S- ?T *T 3 o cp p td cJ Cd ffi in in 2 £ a? p^ o CD P £ c 3? P- O O^ *< 3 CD CL (D 3 o> D- H) C 3 cr CD T P Condition. n VO o oo 00 vo VO 00 vo vo 00 VO ON vo CM * co pp o & o 9? -£ 9? Date of Manufacture. Steam Cylinders. Water Plunger. > 2 g o p) S H M M CO >3 Stroke, Ins. Rev. per Min. Steam. Water. !*> ^ w » “ CO g M Suet. Disc. C « > w g ? n o 2 | (/) ^ ON -P o o o -p o o o o Q O Cn O O o o o O o o CL n o o Q- *1 P *1 P t ’H P on p ^ p e. 2 .S ^ rf CL CD >-< Slip, Per Cent. Condition. No. of Shifts. Least No. Men on Shift. 5 TABLE No. i.—PUMPING STATIONS.—EQUIPMENT. Pumps. FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Water Supply.) Dubuque, Iowa. CONSUMPTION.— Maximum.— Records are in such shape as to be entirely unreliable; pumpage figures are based upon plunger displacement, with approximate allowance for slip; only one unit is fitted with counter, so the approximation of pump- age by other units is based on time operated. Con¬ sumption is computed from pumpage plus an as¬ sumed fixed quantity supplied by the Level; some of the supply is repumped but this amount under present methods is indeterminate. The maximum consumption possibly occurred in 1906; the average daily for the Low service in January of that year was about 3,600,000 gallons ; for High service, in September, about 700,000 gallons. There is an approximate average daily consumption of 650,000 gallons for street sprinkling, sewer flushing, pub¬ lic buildings, watering troughs, etc. The daily con¬ sumption for the present year was a maximum for the Low service in January and for the High serv¬ ice in August, being 2,500,000 and 520,000 gallons, respectively. The average per capita consumption appears to be about 35 gallons daily. Meters and Services.—Of the 3,034 services in use September 1, 1909, 2,701 were metered; 55 per cent, of the meters have been installed in the last 8 months, and all services from which revenue is derived are to be metered. There were in use Sep¬ tember 1, the following services 2 inches and larger in diameter: Forty-four 2-inch, three 23/2-inch, one 3-inch, one 4-inch, and two 6-inch; also thirteen 6- inch sprinkler connections. PRESSURES.—No recording gage is main¬ tained on any part of the system, but there are ordinary gages at both stations. In September, 1909, pressure readings were taken by engineers of the National Board between the hours of 9 a. M. and 5 p. M., at 70 hydrants dis¬ tributed throughout the city, with results as shown in Table No. 2. TABLE No. 2. —Pressures at Hydrants. District. Pressure, Pounds per Square Inch, With Hydrant Out¬ lets Closed. Average. Maximum. Minimum. Entire City. 53 146 23 High Service. 67 146 27 Low Service. 4 i 51 23 Principal Mercantile . 4 i 49 33 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.— General.— In two services, the Low, supplied by direct pumpage with reservoir at elevation 136 as equalizer, the High, by direct pumpage with standpipe at eleva¬ tion 397 as equalizer, or by gravity from the stand¬ pipe when pumps are not running. Only one con¬ nection between services, a 6-inch in the extreme eastern part of the city. Low Service.— General . —Supplies the eastern portion of the city, principally between the bluff and river, including the principal mercantile, minor mer¬ cantile and manufacturing districts. Elevations range from 18 to 88 and in the principal mercantile districts from 20 to 54. Main Arteries .—At the Eagle Point station the pump discharges are connected to two 16-inch mains extending to the northern limits of the distribution system, there connecting and continuing as a 20- inch main to and through the lower end of the prin¬ cipal mercantile district, acting as the main feed to the major portion of the Low service through which it passes. Connecting with this main and serving as a secondary feeder to a part of the Low service is a long line of 12-inch, which ordinarily furnishes part of the supply to the Level reservoir, but under conditions of extreme draught would deliver a small supply from the Level into the Low service. There are several 10- and 12-inch mains, usually poorly supported, but many sections, particularly in the northern and southern parts of the service, receive supply only through long lines of 6-inch. Minor Distributers . —Principally 6-inch, with some 4- and 8-inch. Gridironing extremely poor in all parts owing to the presence of excessive unsup¬ ported lengths of 6-inch mains as integral parts of system. Many hydrants are supplied with 4-inch dead ends from mains in alleys to hydrants on parallel streets. The lengths and sizes of mains in the principal mercantile district are given in Table No. 3. TABLE No. 3.— Mains in Principal Mercantile District. Diameter, Inches. Length in Feet. Per Cent, of Whole. 4 4-275 29 6 6,670 46 8 300 2 12 800 5 20 2,580 18 Total. 14,625 100 High Service.—Supplies the higher or western portion of the city, located mainly on the bluff and generally residential. Elevations range from 56 to 316. Mains .—The supply to this service is furnished by a 12-inch main from the Level pumping station to the standpipe. Distributing mains are 6- and 8-inch, and, as shown on the accompanying plan, practically none are so supported as to be of much more than nominal value for fire protection. A long 6-inch line extends from this service across the principal mercantile and manufacturing districts, being used only for hydrant and sprinkler system supply. Its small size and long distance 6 FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Water Supply.) from the standpipe makes it of but little value for the purpose intended; a test showed that it could deliver only about 400 gallons per minute at ef¬ fective pressure. PIPES.—Length and Age. —Table No. 4 shows the length of various sizes of mains in service in the distribution system September 1, 1909, as scaled from map. All pipe is tar coated cast iron. The oldest mains were laid in 1870, the 20-inch and one of the 16-inch lines about 1900. Six-inch is the minimum size now laid, except where used exclu¬ sively for domestic supply. About 19 per cent, of the total mileage has been laid in the last 10 years. TABLE No. 4.— Pipes in Service in the Distribu¬ tion System. Diameter, Inches. Length i Low Service. n Miles. High Service. Total. Per Cent, of Total. 4 4.12 .64 4.76 9.4 6 16.20 1 5 • 55 31-75 63.0 8 1 73 i -75 348 7 0 10 1.42 1.42 2.8 12 2 . 85 i -55 4.40 8.8 16 2.48 2.48 4.0 20 2.04 2.04 4.1 T otal... 30 84 19.49 50-33 100.0 Condition and Cover. —There is no pitting, but a slight scale, and considerable sediment in some of the mains, due to use of river water at times. Dead ends flushed occasionally. Pieces cut from mains in making connections show conditions to be generally good. No trouble from frozen mains; maximum frost penetration 7 feet, average about 3E2 feet; mains are laid with minimum cover of 6 feet. Specifications. —None. Standard 200-pound pipe is used, without test. Pipe generally laid by con¬ tract. Electrolysis. —No trouble from electrolytic ac¬ tion in any part'of the system ; no surveys have been made to determine if such action is taking place. GATE VALVES.—Number and Make.—No records of number or locations of valves are on file, not even approximate locations being shown on map of distribution system. Most open to the right but some to the left, and two sizes of nuts are in use; valves are set in cast iron boxes with cast iron covers. The absence of sufficient valves on the two 16- inch mains from the pumping station would, in the event of a break on the easterly main, necessitate shutting down the 5,000,000-gallon unit, while a break on the west line would prevent the use of the two 2,500,000-gallon units. Spacing. —Owing to the absence of records of the number or location of gate valves, it is impos¬ sible to determine if they are properly spaced, but from a survey made of the principal mercantile district and of a representative residential district, the spacing appears to be extremely poor, in most cases necessitating the shutting off of long lines in case of repairs. In the principal mercantile dis¬ trict, the average length of main cut out in case of a break is 1,020 feet, with three lengths ex¬ ceeding 2,000 feet, one of which is 5,920 feet in length; in a representative residential district, the average length is 1,450 feet with three lengths ex¬ ceeding 1,800 feet, one of which is 4,770 feet. Inspections —No regular inspection of gate valves is made; they are only operated as occasion demands. An inspection of 46 valves, varying in size from 4- to 20-inch, distributed throughout the city, was made by an engineer of the National Board in September, 1909; only a few were found in condition to be readily operated; many boxes were found entirely covered and in some cases could not be located at all; most boxes contained dirt and rocks, and some were completely filled with rubbish. Several valves could not be operated at all, some were extremely stiff, a few leaked badly and water was found standing in some boxes. Closing of Valves.—All valves are normally open, except the one 6-inch between the High and Low services; after the hydrant tests, one valve was found closed on one of the main feeders to a group tested, with a consequent material decrease in quantity obtained, as was shown by the second test made of the group two days later. The fire department is notified by telephone of the closing of valves, and again when the work is completed. No records are kept of the operation of or repairs to valves. Valves on Private Lines. —Private fire service and sprinkler connections are stated to be equipped with gates close to the street mains, but no records of the locations of these gates are on file. HYDRANTS.— Number and Type. — There were in service September I, 1909, 381 hydrants, of various makes, most of them Hollys; about 50 per cent, have 4-inch barrels. All are of the post type, mostly with one 2V2 -inch and one 4-inch out¬ let ; a few have two 2V2 -inch and one 4-inch outlet, while others have two 2^4-inch outlets only; most open to the right, with several left-hand. The Holly hydrants are frost jacketed... .All .hydrants are equipped with gate on the branch; a large percen¬ tage have 4-inch connections and many are on dead ends. All being installed at present are of the Holly make, with 6-inch barrel and connection, one 2^2- and one 4-inch outlet. How Located. —Hydrants are generally located at the corners of streets or alleys; many of those on the street corners are fed by 4-inch dead ends from the mains in the alleys. Drainage. —Hydrants are set on a base stone, resting upon a plank-covered pocket of broken 7 FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Water Supply.) Dubuque, Iowa. stone; all have automatic drip and drainage was found to be generally good. Some trouble has been experienced from frozen hydrants, due to the use by unauthorized parties, but not at time of fire in recent years. Inspections.—Hydrants are not inspected regu¬ larly; any reported as needing attention are imme¬ diately looked after and repairs found necessary are made at once; no record is made of inspections or repairs. Of the 117 hydrants operated by the engi¬ neers of the National Board, some were found to work extremely hard and others to be in need of various repairs; two were found inoperative. Distribution.—The average linear spacing of hydrants in the principal mercantile district is 360 feet and the area served by each hydrant 116,000 square feet. In a representative residential dis¬ trict, the average spacing is 500 feet and the area served by each hydrant 152,000 square feet. Use by Street Department and Others. —Des¬ ignated hydrants and 7 cranes are assigned for the use of street sprinklers, bu^.hydrants are used indis¬ criminately. Hydrants are used as desired for sewer flushing and other city uses. Contractors and other private parties are granted permits for their use and there is some unauthorized use of them. HYDRANT TESTS. —Tests of 62 hydrants in 17 well distributed groups were made by engineers of the National Board in September, 1909, to de¬ termine the probable engine supply available for fire protection purposes. In the selection of the groups, the probable carrying capacity of the mains, the strong and weak points of the distribution sys¬ tem and the value of the buildings in the district were considered. Results of the tests are classified in Table No. 5 and the location of the groups are shown on the accompanying plan by corresponding numbers. The hydrants in a group were opened simulta¬ neously and the discharges measured by means of Pitot tubes; the number of hydrants in a group was regulated by the probable carrying capacity of the mains and varied from 1 to 6. In some cases hy¬ drants were included to show that while others were discharging, they would have little or no water. The quantities obtained from the tests are the free flow from the hydrants and give the probable amount of water available for engine supply. In most cases available steamer outlets were not opened, owing to the evident inability of the system to properly supply them with water. Only the 5,000,000-gallon pump was in operation and, during the tests giving the greatest flows, press¬ ure was not well maintained at the pumping station, dropping as much as 10 pounds in some instances. In these cases, the small flows obtained are not chargeable altogether to weaknesses of the distri¬ bution system; with pressure maintained as usual at the pumping station, sufficient quantities would be available in the districts near the main feeder, in the northern part of the city, as indicated by the results of Tests Nos. 3, 9 and 10. However, not more than 4,000 gallons would be obtained in the strongest part of the principal mercantile district, and supply to most of the individual hydrants in this district is very inferior. The remaining groups were deficient either through the failure of individual hydrants or the absence of large arterial feeders with proper cross connections. The Level reservoir, owing to the long length of small pipe connecting it with the main feeder of the distribution system, is of little value as an equalizer, as was shown by the drop in pres¬ sure during the tests. Group 4 was selected on ac¬ count of its location on the High service main sup¬ plying about 70 per cent, of the sprinkler systems in use, and its proximity to the only connection be¬ tween the High and Low services; the results from the test show that with the quantity obtained and the pressure remaining in the mains this line cannot supply much more than one good fire stream and is of value as sprinkler protection only for incip¬ ient fires; it would be of little use in emergency by opening the connection to the Low service. In general, the quantities obtained from the tests were unsatisfactory. The deficiency of flow was due to the lack of secondary feeders, to long lines of small mains not properly reinforced, and to numerous dead ends. The practice of laying mains in alleys with a dead-end connection to street corner for hydrant supply is to be particularly condemned. RECENT IMPROVEMENTS.— The only im¬ provements of the past few years have been the driv¬ ing of a few additional shallow wells and the in¬ stallation of the centrifugal pump at the Eagle Point plant and the centrifugal pump at the Level. Most of the work done has consisted of making needed repairs to the works. IMPROVEMENTS CONTEMPLATED.— No improvements are being made at present, nor are any contemplated for the near future. CONCLUSIGNS.—Organization. —The works are at present managed from the standpoint of revenue production; there is no properly qualified official in charge of the engineering details of the system. Records. —Practically no records were available when the works were purchased, and the present operation is dependent largely upon the personal knowledge of a, few employees. There are no de¬ tail records of the system in use, nor is any effort being made to prepare them. Fire Service and Emergency Operations. —The unreliable method of receiving alarms at the pump¬ ing station is unsatisfactory. Supply Works. —With the system operated as at present, as a direct pumpage plant, practically all parts of the supply works are of inadequate ca¬ pacity. An elevated distributing reservoir of suf¬ ficient capacity, for which there are several avail¬ able sites on the bluff, adjacent to the important parts of the city, will obviate the necessity of many 8 * Location of groups shown on accompanying plan by corresponding numbers. FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Water Supply.) !rl o m * II II CfQ T3 9 & 9. 5’ & co U)' 51 CO 3 S 3 ' nT o r c 3 cr 3 crq TJ fi S 5’ O) n o "3 p p 3 ^ \J ONCn L P W H O VO 00 vj ONcn 4 -U) to h ■3 g.sr=r " §§ 3g§ § mg- c/3 g, q.^ S. d. a. osw cn ■* o o a-2.3 3 c o' m & 2 v5 >5 ™ p 3 — i 5 c, CD 3- 3 a 3 r(a 3 ’ ' O- m 3 .— , 3. ^ 3 5?. rrs « d> P -■ ^ 2 mg 2f Q,rt 3 i in 32 LTcrq c ?C o w a. 3 ;CTQ ►1 CD § LG a- “*■ 00 CO HjJNO to CT‘S‘g' 3 '-CL p p § p p 3 3 3 3 - c^g' — S- 3&*5 £g 3 : l> 5 - 3 - (l (l < mmj££ 3 CP - in Z 3 3 cr o oS 2 3 § CL ? r v O * r> P o’ i _p 4 ^ Oj ^ P P P to Co P P ^ P On On Hydrants in Group. H-c .p OJ Lo -P HH p to HH tO CO U> P — U> ON ON ~ >-< • to • p ON 00 -P On p "* ■* 4 ^. p ON* 00 O'*O'a\ONi 3 'o\ONON’-' 0 No" * 00 On ■ W - ON On 00 (0 to to o eg. 3' ?' g 00. w 00 z c £ a w X o Diameter of Mains, Inches. \jr\ tOP h w PPP DPP ON On to GO o OOtO H-vi CO 4- NO I0U1VO Co 4^ P Go — 00000000000000000 to to CO to M SI 1-t Ln OOOO -P 4^ -P tO On NO cn On OOOO Ln 00 *'■0 Or o o i-h On-P -P W Oj ui On *—< Go to O M to OOOOOOO to NO On O ONV_n OOO tO O P Cn O P OOO P ^ NJ P O GO OOO VJ Cn GO o o On to GO CO COGO OOO ooco u> ON h p OOO GO CO GO COGO CO OOO Go p ON CO o o CO ON CO o o o 3 CP CP c 5- X ^< CP cn CO 00 O O GO On NO CO^ NO M P OnP CO Go O to GO ^4 00 OOGn ONP NG^N «p ON NO NO OOOOOOOOO OOP OOOOO Total of Group. Gn GO P GO tO GO M\t\4Gopp O' ON OOGO P O GO On no 00 OnP ~NO *-■ P OP On to O OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Average per Hydrant. P ON Go NO tONOPPPPPPP OnP Go P GO -^4 NO ^ NO O P ^ On CO OOP —> OO'Gt GO Hydrants Closed. . to* to* • toto* to to to • tototo X • • CO • O' • Ui O ■ OO'-J • WtO w tOWtOHHHNNHtOtOtOtOtO N: Sg Cn tO 00 tO ON ►*< O NO NO tO ON^J cn O P O w n X > 71 o M o > f r o X cn Nfl M 73 2^13 ~ O pi wx “ O w “ w 9 TABLE No. 5.— HYDRANT TESTS. FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Water Supply.) Dubuque, Iowa. of the additions to the supply works and force mains, otherwise necessary. Without such a reser¬ voir to draw upon during extreme drafts, the well supply is inadequate (although there are proper pro¬ visions for drawing emergency supply from the Mississippi river) ; there is insufficient pumping capacity supplying the collecting reservoir at Eagle Point, and no reserve; the total pumping capacity provided for supplying the distribution system is inadequate for furnishing the combined quantities required for domestic and fire service, and pumps are in doubtful condition. There is insufficient storage capacity at the Level, and the pumping capacity supplying the High serv¬ ice is sufficient only for maximum domestic con¬ sumption. The construction of both stations and the exposure to one, with the slight protection against fire, present most hazardous conditions, which, in lieu of the complete fireproofing of station buildings, are best met by the installation of automatic sprinkler sys¬ tems and of standard hose houses fully equipped with hose and nozzles attached to hydrants. The wiring and switchboards at the Eagle Point station also form a serious hazard. Consumption. —Accurate records are lacking; the estimated consumption gives a low per capita rate, due to the large percentage of metered serv¬ ices and the use by large manufacturers of private well supplies, although they have connections to the city mains. The increased use of meters has pro¬ duced a noticeable decrease in the per capita con¬ sumption. Pressures. —Fair in the Low service, but in¬ sufficient for automatic sprinkler operation and poorly maintained under fire draft; even the vary¬ ing domestic consumption produces considerable fluctuation in pressure in some sections. The op¬ portunity for increasing pressures, in connection with the proposed distributing reservoir, should not be lost sight of. Fairly good in the High serv¬ ice and adequate in some sections for direct hy¬ drant streams, but very poorly maintained, owing to defects in the distribution system. Protection for High Value Districts. —Reason¬ able protection for these important districts requires a fire flow in excess of domestic consumption of 4,000 to 6,000 gallons per minute, with a distribu¬ tion system capable of delivering this amount about any block, and hydrants so located as to deliver two-thirds the quantity upon any large fire through hose lines, none exceeding 600 feet in length. The total quantity includes an allowance for loss from broken services, elevator and sprinkler connections, incidental to a large fire. Hydrant tests showed that these amounts are available in very few dis¬ tricts, due mainly to serious defects of the distribu¬ tion system. Main Arteries. —The main feeders to the Low service are too small, and secondary feeders are lacking; cross connections are infrequent. If a distributing reservoir is provided, there should be a large main leading from it to a connection with the 20-inch main artery, at a point in or near the principal mercantile district. The High service is without feeders of sufficient carrying capacity. Minor Distributers. —Nearly three-fourths of all mains are 6 inches or less in diameter ; system poorly gridironed and numerous dead ends, mainly 4-inch, supply hydrants in important districts. To properly supply hydrants the 4-inch mains are of practically no value; even 6-inch mains, unless cross-connected at frequent intervals with larger secondary feeders and with dead ends eliminated wherever possible, cannot be considered satisfactory. Condition of Mains. —The internal condition of mains is good; a small amount of sediment was observed during hydrant tests. No indications of electrolytic action. Gate Valves. —The system is poorly supplied with gate valves, poorly distributed ; in nearly all parts of the system a single break would necessitate the closing of several valves, cutting out long lines of mains supplying many hydrants anjd large areas. Long lines of important mains are without gates. The condition of some of the gates is such that much time would be lost in attempting to operate them and the impossibility of doing so would neces¬ sitate the use of others with a consequent cutting out of additional long lines of mains. That valves are not regularly inspected is evident from their condition. Hydrants. —The hydrant spacing is wide and many have too small interior waterway and con¬ nections to mains. The poor gridironing of the system makes all hydrants except the few directly connected to the main feeders of little value for fire engine supply. Hydrants should be regularly inspected, as many were found to be in need of various repairs. Improvements. —The city has so far outgrown its water works that immediate improvements are necessary to provide for a supply adequate for emergency requirements, either by increased pump¬ ing equipment or by providing storage at sufficient elevation, with extensive changes in almost all parts of the distribution system. The present works are the outcome of successive additions to an inferior system without regard for the future. Definite plans should be prepared so that all new work may be incorporated in the ultimate design of a satis¬ factory system. The method adopted for meeting existing and fu¬ ture needs will determine the design of the distri¬ bution system; it is beyond the scope of this report to make specific recommendations for its improve¬ ments, but if the requirements hereinafter given, relating to available quantities for fire protection, size and arrangement of mains, hydrants, etc., are met, a satisfactory system should result. The distributing reservoir mentioned under Sup¬ ply Works should be of at least 4,000,000 gallons capacity, in order to supply the maximum fire draft for a period of ten hours; such a reservoir, properly connected to the present main feeder and with the distribution system properly reinforced, would fur- 10 FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Fire Department.) nish the desired fire protection in the least expensive and most effective way, and would provide for economies in the ordinary operation of the plant; without it, it will be necessary to install pumping machinery of capacity sufficient to maintain the maximum fire draft in addition to the maximum domestic consumption, with reserve equal to the largest unit, and to lay large mains of ample car¬ rying capacity to deliver this amount of water at points as required. The rearrangement and improvement of the sys¬ tem is of such magnitude and importance as to re¬ quire the services of an experienced consulting engi¬ neer, and his employment at an early date is urged. FIRE DEPARTMENT. ORGANIZATION.—Basis. —Full paid since 1883. Supervision. —Under the control of a board of three police -and fire commissioners, serving with¬ out pay. They are appointed by the mayor, with the consent of the city council, one every two years for 6-year terms. The present members are Messrs. Matthew Stafford, chairman; John Trex- ler, and Geo. Ragatz; Mr. John A. Cunningham, secretary. Finances are under control of the fire committee of the city council, Alderman E. E. Frith, chairman. Officers. —Chief Joseph R. Reinfried is the ex¬ ecutive head of the department. He has occupied his present position since 1884, except for a short interval, and appears to be fairly capable and pro¬ gressive. Assistant Chief D. Ahearn was ap¬ pointed to his present position in 1907, having been a member of the paid department since 1890, and appears to be a competent officer. Fie acts as cap¬ tain of the ladder company. Membership. —Total force, 46; fire force, 45. Expenses. —The appropriation for the mainten¬ ance of the fire department and fire alarm system for the current fiscal year amounts to $49,000, or about $1.09 per capita, based on an estimated popu¬ lation of 45,000. Excluding permanent improve¬ ments to real estate, the expenses have averaged $1.03 per capita during the past five years. Appointments. —Appointments and promotions are made by the chief from eligible lists furnished by the board after non-competitive physical and mental examinations. For appointment, age limits are 21 and 40 years; minimum height limit, 5 feet 6 inches; minimum weight limit, 135 pounds. Ap¬ pointments are probationary for three months. The chief is appointed by the board for an indefinite term and is subject to removal for cause. En¬ gineers and stokers are promoted from the ranks; the present engine crews have had long experience. Retirement.—No age limit has been set for re¬ tirement. About six members are over 55 years of age. A pension fund has been established under which members may be retired for disability after twenty-two years service if 55 years of age, or at any time for disability incurred in line of duty. The fund is supported by a tax levy, 1 per cent, of salaries, and by gifts. Provision is also made for the widows and minor children of members. A benevolent association, comprising about two- thirds of the force, provides sick and death bene¬ fits. Men receive full pay if injured in the dis¬ charge of duty. Companies. — Organisation . —One ladder, one chemical, two engine and three hose companies are in service, at six houses. See Table No. 6. Each engine company has 8 members, each hose and the chemical company 4 and the ladder company 9. A captain and a lieutenant are assigned to each com¬ pany, the assistant chief acting as captain of the ladder company, and an engineer and stoker to each engine company. A third engineer is a member of the ladder company. Maintenance .—Members are allowed 10 days’ annual vacation, 1 day off in 8, and 3 hours daily for meals, in two shifts. Permanent substitutes are employed to fill vacancies caused by vacations and continued sickness. The reserve engineer re¬ lieves the regular engineers for days off and meal hours. The minimum number of men in quarters in the ladder company is 4 ; in engine companies, 3; in chemical and hose companies, 2. Night watch is maintained at the two engine houses and at the central station. Distribution .—Within and adjoining the principal mercantile districts are the ladder, chemical and one of the engine companies; the other engine com¬ pany is in a minor mercantile district about a half mile away, and the hose companies are in residen¬ tial districts from 1 to 2 miles from the mercantile center. The ladder company has runs of up to 2 y 2 miles in residential districts, but the outlying companies carry short ladders. The chemical engine covers the mercantile district and the outlying companies have combination wagons. The two engines in service are well located.to protect the more valu¬ able districts, but engines have long up-hill runs to fires on the bluffs. The following localities are at considerable distances from fire protection of some kind: OlSTAN r F ROM Locality. Engine. Hose Wagon. Ladder J ruck. Chemical A pparatus Lagle Point (Residential and Lumber). 10,500 O O rf 15,500 4,50° Dubuque Malting Co. (Brew¬ ery) . 6,500 6,500 9,500 9,000 St. Ambrose Ave. (Residen¬ tial and School). 9,50° 5,100 10 , 2 C 0 5,100 Fremont and Cascade Sts (Residential and School).. 9,500 5,700 I 2,000 5,700 So. Dodge and Rush Sts. (Residential and School).. 6,400 600 8,500 600 Dbrary -- UNIVER SI TV OF ILLINOIS FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Fire Department.) Dubuque, Iowa. EQUIPMENT.—Summary of Apparatus.— In Service. In Reserve. Engines, capacity: . “ 9°° gallons. i o “ 600 to 700 gallons. 1 2 Total steam fire engines . 2 2 Hose wagons, combination type. 3 o “ “ plain. 1 o “ reels. 1 1 Total hose wagons and reels. 5 1 Ladder trucks, plain aerial. 1 o “ “ ordinary. 1 o Total ladder trucks. 2 o Chemical engines. 1 o Wagons, Chief’s. 1 o “ fuel. o 1 “ supply and telegraph . 4 o “ exercise. 9 o Horses. 22 2 Hose, 2j-inch.7,150' 2,600' “ § and i-inch for chemicals. 800' o Ladders, total length. 618' 73' “ short ladders on hose wagons, etc. 7 o Portable extinguishers. 9 o Deluge sets. o o Siamese connections. 1 o Y “ 3 o Turret nozzles. o o Ladder pipes.•. o o Cellar pipes. 3 o Fire Engines.—See Tables Nos. 6 and 7. The Metropolitan was built in 1906 and the Ahrens re¬ built in 1904; the others have their original boilers, 14 and 30 years old, respectively. The Amoskeag was overhauled and fitted with new valves and valve springs in 1908. All the engines have hand and automatic relief valves; the Metropolitan has a suction gage. Each carries one or two large suc¬ tions with reducers and the Ahrens has also a small suction; the two in service carry play pipes with several %-inch to i^-inch ring tips. In all but the Silsby, steam is maintained in boilers by heaters. Engine Tests. —The engines were tested by National Board engineers in September, 1909, to determine their condition and the ability of the crews handling them. See Table No. 7. The ca¬ pacity of the Ahrens was considerably reduced by uneven feeding of boiler. The Metropolitan was in excellent condition, but its discharge was re¬ duced by the limited amount of water available at the hydrant and on account of the evident lack of practice of the engineer in handling engines of this type when running at full capacity. The Amos¬ keag steamed very poorly, which reduced its capac¬ ity to less than that of a modern fourth-sized engine, or not enough for two efficient fire streams. The Silsby was well handled, but was not urged to its capacity on account of the doubtful condition of the boiler, which showed considerable leakage. The boilers of the Metropolitan and Amoskeag also leaked, around the fire doors. Three of the water and steam gages were out of adjustment. Ladder Trucks. —See Table No. 6. The aerial truck is in fair condition. It carries a 65-foot aerial ladder with a io-foot extension and a 45-foot ex¬ tension and 9 shorter ladders, including 3 pompiers. Equipment also includes a hose jacket, hose roller, flat-tipped cellar pipe, door opener and wire cut¬ ters, but no deluge sets, gas keys, ladder pipes, life nets, marine torches and salvage appliances are carried. The city truck is of the old lever-tiller type, built about 1873, and is in poor condition. It car¬ ries a 34-foot straight and 8 shorter ladders; also a portable extinguisher, hose jacket, door opener and a few small tools. Chemical Engine. —See Table No. 6. This is of the two-horse Babcock type, built in 1891, and is in good condition. It carries axe, rope, two plaster hooks and extra chemical charges. Hose Wagons. —See Table No. 6. These are all of the two-horse type; the three with hose com¬ panies have 50-gallon chemical tanks; Wagon No. 2 is a plain wagon, and Nos. 1 and 3 are reels. There is also an old hand reel stationed in a lumber yard. Two of the combination wagons have 2^2-inch hose connections. The wagons appear in fair to good condition; the reels are old and heavy and carry only a small equipment of tools. Chief’s and Other Wagons. —The chief has a buggy at headquarters. A one-horse repair wagon is provided for fire alarm work. There are 9 ex¬ ercise carts; a two-horse coal wagon is stationed at House No. 2. Engine Fuel. —About 34 ton of Pittsburg gas coal is kept at Houses 1 and 3, and about 1,800 pounds at No. 2, loaded in bulk on the coal wagon. This appeared at the tests to be of good quality. At large fires, after the fuel on the coal wagon is consumed, wagons are sent to any convenient coal yard. Hose. —All 234-inch hose is double-jacketed, cot¬ ton, rubber-lined, purchased under 4-year, 400- pound guarantees. Random lengths are tested to 400 pounds at delivery and hose over 5 years old is tested annually to about 160 pounds. The older hose is stationed with the hose companies. The amount on hand allows about 2,100 feet per com¬ pany. Hose towers are provided at 4 of the houses ; the other companies send hose to headquarters for drying and have no extra hose in quarters. All hose is dried thoroughly after use; that on wagons is shifted weekly. Minor Equipment. —Hose wagons carry two long play pipes with from to 134-inch nozzles, generally with ring tips; one nozzle on each wagon is generally a shut-off. One carries a third pipe and most of them have extra tips. Other equip¬ ment varies; a few wagons have burst hose jackets, crowbars, pipe jacks and “Y” connections; all carry axes. One carries two flat-tipped cellar pipes and. a Siamese connection. Buckets, door openers, deluge sets, modern pipe holders and ropes are lacking. 12 FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. (Fire Department.) TABLE No. 6.—FIRE COMPANIES—LOCATION AND EQUIPMENT. Engine Companies. Company. Location. Members. Engine. Wagon. Hose Carried, Feet. 2J" Reserve Hose, Feet. Ladders Carried. Chemical Extinguishers. Size. Horses. Type. Horses. 18th and Clay Sts. 8 Second.... 3 Reel. 2 1,000-2 1,000 None 1-2 fral. T oriist and 4th Sts . . . 8 First. 3 Plain. 2 1,000-2'^ " None Res. (No. 3)_ At Headquarters. a Second.... (2) Reel. 2 850-2^" 2,600 « None Res At Engine 2. Second... ( 3 ) a. Engineer with Ladder i. This engine is on heater; boiler hot. The cart attends some outlying stations; drawn by chemical team and manned by chemical company. Hose Companies. Wagon. Hose Carried, Feet. 2 F (/) i- . > u 6f 9 7 t R c. E 9 Cl, 4 § 5 h 4 f otar m p S..S uf X rt in c c o o in 3 600 900 650 700 Results of Engine Tests. Si c/) 545 703 43 i 475 •o -d aj C ps'« _Q °o c & ^ rt i—. Cl, 4 - and 3-inch hose be fitted with 2^4-inch National Standard couplings as given in Recommendation No. 19, couplings on 3-inch hose to be properly beveled. Minor Equipment. 24. That the following equipment be provided. a. To Hose Wagon No. 2: a turret pipe. *b. To the aerial truck: a ladder pipe. c. To each ladder truck: a modern cellar pipe, deluge set, hose roller, smoke mask, marine torch, life net, 2 portable extinguishers, 2 pompier ladders, life belts and lines and 4 waterproof salvage covers. d. To each hose wagon: a plaster hook, rope, door opener, Siamese connection, modern pipe holder, shut-off nozzle with adjustable tips up to 114-inch, and 2 portable chemical extinguishers. Fuel. 25. That one ton of engine coal be stored conven¬ iently at each engine house. Operation. 26. That a drill school, in charge of a competent officer, be established where all members, especially new men, shall be drilled in the use of pompier and other ladders, quick handling of hose, use of chemi- * Recommended also by the chiel of the fire department. 27 / RECOMMENDATIONS Dubuque, Iowa. cals and shut-off nozzles, deluge sets, siamesed lines and turret pipes and in life saving. 27. That all engines be tested yearly, pumping for half an hour against a water pressure at least 100 pounds in excess of hydrant (or suction) pres¬ sure. Pumps showing more than 7 per cent, slip should be examined and engines developing less than 90 per cent, of their reasonable capacity should be overhauled <^r their crews drilled; engines unable to discharge 500 gallons per minute after overhaul¬ ing should be replaced. 28. That the second company arriving at a fire be ordered to connect to sprinkler or standpipe con¬ nections where these are available. FIRE ALARM SYSTEM. Headquarters. 29. That headquarters be removed to a fireproof building free from exposures and internal hazards, where apparatus shall be placed on incombustible mountings and circuits shall enter underground and be carried in fireproof duct to the terminal board, and distributed in pipe or duct. Pending this, sand pails and extinguishers should be provided in the present fire alarm rooms. Additional Apparatus. 30. That the following apparatus be installed: a. An additional 5-circuit repeater. b. A 6-circuit, slate, battery-charging board. c. A slate terminal board with i-ampere fuses, p2-ampere heat coils and approved lightning arrest¬ ers for each conductor. d. Metal battery racks, with cells mounted on glass strips on porcelain, with wiring on insulated supports and soldered and painted at cell ends. e. A stamp or punch register at each fire house with a time-stamp at headquarters. The use of the numerical indicators in fire houses to be discon¬ tinued. Circuits. 31. That the reliability of the system be increased : a. By connecting gongs and registers at all fire stations to separate closed alarm circuits from fire alarm headquarters. b. By providing a special ringing circuit, operat¬ ing by magneto or otherwise, connecting each fire station, whereby any company may call all others for the transmission of alarms by telephone. c. By connecting not more than 20 boxes to any one circuit. d. By placing circuits in fire houses in conduit; to enter underground at those houses in or near the underground district. e. By placing circuits underground wherever ducts are provided, using No. 14 rubber covered copper wire in lead sheathing; this district to be ex¬ tended as rapidly as possible to include all thickly built-up sections. f. By removing overhead circuits from poles car¬ rying other than signalling wires, and, when car¬ ried near other wires or through trees, using aerial cable or No. 10 copper with rubber and double- braided insulation. Fire alarm wires to be carried above all other wires. Boxes. 32. That additional boxes be installed, so that a box shall be within 500 feet of every building in mercantile and manufacturing sections and else¬ where within 800 feet of every group of buildings. Attention is called to the locations mentioned on page 17. 33. That boxes be mounted as follows: a. In thickly built-up districts, on substantial iron posts, conspicuously located and painted, and con¬ taining ample room for terminals. * b. In the underground district, as in a, with underground connection by laterals to the subway. c. In other districts, on conspicuously located poles, distinctively marked, with lead wires to boxes carried in pipe to the cross-arms. 34. That all boxes be provided with glass panel doors or keys attached under guard. 35. That future installation of boxes be of the positive non-interfering, successive type, with plati¬ num or silver breaks, a proper shunt for protection against abnormal currents and with outer cases adequately grounded; centrally located boxes of inferior types to be shifted to outlying sections, and to be altered or replaced as rapidly as possible to conform to the above requirements. Telephone System. 36. That the Dubuque Telephone Company make provision at its exchange for calling all companies simultaneously. Operation. 37. That the speed of boxes be increased; if necessary, the tower bell to be operated on a sepa¬ rate circuit or disconnected from the system. 38. That all boxes be placed in good condition and that they be tested monthly and after every electrical storm and record be kept of all tests, troubles and of daily condition of batteries and cir¬ cuits. FIRE DEPARTMENT AUXILIARIES. 39. That the police patrol wagon carry ropes for fire lines and regularly attend all alarms in the mercantile and manufacturing sections. 40. That the gas and electric companies regularly send men to fires who shall report to and assist the fire chief, by cutting off services or as he may direct. These companies should have fire alarm gongs in¬ stalled at their offices or works, as provided in the city ordinance. 41. That the owners of extensive establishments be encouraged to equip their premises with properly installed auxiliary boxes or with some approved automatic or manual alarm system, or both. 28 RECOMMENDATIONS. BUILDING DEPARTMENT. 42. That a building code, conforming to modern requirements for construction and fire prevention, as given in the National Board building code, espe¬ cially as to the limitations of heights and areas, re¬ quirements for modern types of construction and protection to openings in floors and in external and internal walls, be adopted at the earliest possible date. 43. That a suitably qualified building inspector be appointed to enforce the provisions of the new code when enacted, such inspector to hold office during the proper performance of his duties. 44. That the fire limits be extended, that the con¬ struction outside these limits be so regulated as to prevent the deyelopment of dangerous conditions, and that incombustible roof coverings be required throughout the city on all new or repaired buildings. EXPLOSIVES AND INFLAMMABLES. 45. That a complete code of regulations govern¬ ing the manufacture, sale, storage and transporta¬ tion of all explosive and inflammable substances be adopted by ordinance. It is suggested that the rules of the Municipal Explosives Commission of the City of New York be used as a guide in framing new laws. 46. That a properly qualified member of the fire department be detailed to make continuous inspec¬ tions of the business and manufacturing districts for the purpose of securing the removal of rubbish, the elimination of the common causes of fire, and November, 1909. for the enforcement of the explosive and inflam¬ mable regulations, the fire department officers to continue their inspections as at present. ELECTRICITY. 47. That provision be made by ordinance for the proper municipal control over all inside and outside wiring, adopting the National Electrical Code as the standard. 48. That a properly qualified electrical inspector be appointed for an indefinite term, to be removed only for cause, and whose certificate of approval will be required before current may be supplied to a new or altered installation. 49. That a complete inspection of old wiring be made immediately, defects corrected, and that all wiring be subsequently reinspected once a year. 50. That all overhead wiring in the closely built sections, except trolley wires, be placed under¬ ground, and that the use of distributing poles be discontinued. 51. That systematic periodical tests for electrol¬ ysis be made and steps taken to secure the elimina¬ tion of dangerous conditions wherever found. CONFLAGRATION HAZARD. 52. That prompt measures be taken to relieve hazardous conditions by enforcing adequate window and skylight protection. 53. That automatic sprinkler equipments be re¬ quired in all buildings which, by reason of their size, construction or occupancy, singly or combined, might act as conflagration breeders. 29 Dubuque, Iowa. GENERAL SUMMARY. CITY IN GENERAL. Population about 45,000. Important manufacturing and lumber center. Moderate grades in mer¬ cantile and manufacturing sections; steep grades to residential district on bluff. Street widths fair; principal streets paved and in good condition; many outlying streets in poor condition. Numerous over¬ head wires and railroad grade crossings. Average wind velocity moderate, and mercantile district sheltered from prevailing winds. Winter temperatures severe. Average number of fires high; losses unobtainable. FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. Water Supply. —Works owned and operated by the municipality; organization fair, except for lack of engineering ability; no records. Supply from wells and underground stream; distributed in two serv¬ ices; Low service supplied by direct pressure with small equalizing reservoir, High service from stand¬ pipe. Yield of wells sufficient for little more than present domestic consumption; storage small; ample emer¬ gency supply available from Mississippi river. Res;rve pumping capacity lacking in both stations; much combustible material in buildings, fire hazards poorly guarded, and inadequate fire protection provided. Supply practically dependent upon a single main. Consumption small. Pressures poorly maintained under fire draft. Secondary feeders lacking throughout; minor distributers small and without gridiron¬ ing; dead ends generally used for supplying hydrants. Condition of mains good. Gate valves and hydrants widely spaced, poorly distributed, badly maintained and without proper inspection; many hydrants are too small. Fire Department. —Full paid, under civil service rules; supervision divided. Experienced chief. Methods of appointment good, but requirements low. Financial support low. Department under¬ manned. Engine and ladder companies have long up-hill runs to important residential section. One ladder truck in poor condition; other apparatus mostly in good condition. Only two engines in service and reserve engines too small. Hose supply adequate, except for lack of 3-inch hose. Minor equipment deficient; no appliances for throwing powerful streams. Engine fuel good. Personnel and discipline fair. No regular drills for all members. Response to alarms well arranged for the force available. Methods of handling ordinary fires good; not enough men and apparatus for controlling serious fires. Department officers make inspections to familiarize themselves with building conditions. Fire Alarm System. —Automatic system, a part of the fire department. Maintenance poor; appa¬ ratus, circuits and boxes in generally poor condition. Headquarters in building of ordinary construc¬ tion, containing numerous hazards. Apparatus and wiring not well installed or sufficiently protected. No separate alarm circuits. Recently installed boxes satisfactory, but all others have unreliable break and actuating mechanism and most have unreliable cut-outs. Keys are detached and few key signs provided. Boxes recently painted, but some are inconspicuously located. Distribution good in the mercantile district, fair to poor elsewhere. All circuits are overhead, although underground duct is available throughout the mercantile section. Circuits on poles with high tension lines or through trees at many points; wires bare or with ragged insulation. Grounds, crosses and burn-outs frequent. Tests irregular and no records kept. Nearly all alarms transmitted by telephone, causing considerable con¬ fusion and delay. Fire Department Auxiliaries. —Fire department officers perform part of fire marshal’s duties; records incomplete. No recent incendiary fires. Police render slight aid at fires; public service cor¬ porations assist only on request. Telephone service by two companies, widely distributed and generally used for sending alarms; exchange of one company in ordinary building with serious hazards and exposures, and unsatisfactory provision for handling alarms. Small watch service; office in ordinary building with poor wiring; service being improved. Several private sprinkler and manual alarms; sprin¬ kler alarms unreliable, others regularly tested. Considerable private fire apparatus; of value only to individual risks. A small amount of outside aid quickly available; more substantial aid available within 4 hours. Summary. —Water supply inadequate in nearly all sections of the city, and liable to interruption owing to lack of reserve pumping capacity, hazardous conditions at pumping station buildings and prac¬ tical dependence upon a single force main. Fire department fairly efficient but undermanned; much additional apparatus needed; the department has not kept pace with the growth of the city. Fire alarm system inadequate and unreliable owing to hazards at headquarters, poor installation of apparatus and circuits, poor distribution of boxes and poor maintenance. STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS AND HAZARDS. Building Department.—Building laws of little value and practically no supervision maintained over building operations further than an examination of plans and specifications. Fire limits small and frame construction may be erected within them on special permit. ,30 GENERAL SUMMARY. Explosives and Inflammables.—Regulations inadequate to prevent the development of dangerous conditions. Fire department officers make at least annual inspections of buildings and order the removal of rubbish. Much improper handling of gasoline and other hazardous conditions noted; considerable rub¬ bish in alleys. Electricity.—No supervision over the installation of inside wiring other than to a small extent by the lighting company; some new work being installed only in a fair manner and much old work in a hazardous condition. North and south streets of business districts free from overhead wire obstruc¬ tions but these occur on cross streets and in alleys. Reported trouble from electrolysis is slight. Conflagration Hazard.—As a whole, small in the principal mercantile district, owing to its long and narrow character with a prevalence of blank party walls making it difficult for a fire to sweep its length. Severe local group fires, however, are possible, owing to the presence of some large buildings lacking in fire-resistive features, a poor water supply, a fire department too small to cope successfully with the fire conditions that can easily develop, and a poorly cared for fire alarm system. Some serious exposures to the main district, particularly from a lumber section to the east. Except for the large amount of lumber, the general conflagration hazard of the manufacturing districts would also be small and although some heavy group fires could easily occur, no general fire should result. The residential districts involve only a small hazard; the exposure of the low mercantile and manufacturing districts to the high residential districts is considerable. 6252C 31