(Published In 1890.)

The automatic steam and tank pressure arrangement for general and fire purposes in the Broadway Theater, New York City, is shown in the accompanying diagram, where T is a 6,000-gallon iron roof tank filled through a pump pipe A. B is an overflow. C is an emptying pipe. The general house supply is through a pipe D, which pierces the tank at E halfway up, so that it can draw off the water in the upper half of the tank only, always leaving below the level E 3,000 gallons of water that can be drawn only through the fire line F, which has branches to four other lines G G, etc. H is a check valve, closing by an upward pressure. I I, etc. are hose cocks. J is a Worthington pump with a patent automatic pressure regulator connected by a pipe K to the pump pipe F. Steam at a pressure of about 60 pounds is always kept up, received through the pipe L. A spring at N is regulated so that a pressure of aboout 70 pounds in the pipe will balance the steam pressure in the pipe L, and close a valve at M. If now water be drawn from any hose cock I, the pressure is diminished, the steam opens the valve M and starts the pump, whose pressure closes the check valve H and allows the pump to work at any pressure on the fire stream until the hose cocks are closed and the pressure in the pipe F becomes great enough to close the valve M. The tank water is thus shut off while the pump is working and so is preserved for use while the pump is starting if the street supply should fail.

A THEATER FIRE-PRESSURE SYSTEM.

This arrangement is illustrated from a description by W. R. Bracken, of the firm of Moody & Bracken, of New York City, who did this work, with the other plumbing in the building.