SAFETY OF LIFE FROM FIRE AT SEA. 47. 



The Chairman: — If there is no further discussion, we will call on Mr. Teague to 

 close. 



Mr. Teague: — I would like to say a few words at this time regarding two oi 

 the matters which Mr. Berry discussed. I am strongly of the opinion that the sprinkler 

 system with a manual operation is highly inefficient, and I think it gives a false sense of se- 

 curit}'. The great value of the automatic sprinkler is in the fact that it is automatic. The 

 automatic sprinkler was intended, when first originated, to take the place of the "first aid" in 

 fire protection, and that was the fire pail. In factory work the mill operatives know what 

 the fire pail is for, and they know how to use it. During the day the operatives are in the 

 factory, and in case of a fire starting during that time there is seldom occasion to have the 

 automatic sprinkler come into play, but fires occur in concealed places during the working 

 hours, and they are also apt to occur during holidays, Sundays, and at night time, when the 

 employees are not present. Therefore, to continue the "first aid" protection, something au- 

 tomatic, which would approach the manual operation of fire pails, was developed, and this 

 was the automatic sprinkler. In order for a fire to be put out by the use of fire pails or other 

 hand extinguishers they must be used promptly while the fire is in an incipient condition, 

 and the same thing is true of the automatic sprinkler. 



Where the sprinkler is on a system which is ordinarily dry and the operation of it de- 

 pends on the opening of valves in the pump room, there is bound to be a delay, and that 

 delay, even if a matter of only a few minutes, may be a serious one. For instance, in the 

 case of a steamer of the Commonwealth type, we have a similar arrangement of woodwork 

 to what exists in a large frame building on land, but we have worse conditions as regards 

 the hazard to life. When the structure is on land, and a fire occurs, the people have a chance 

 to get out, to get on to the adjoining land and escape, but it is not so easy to get away when 

 the building, that is, the steamer, is on the water. Of course, life-saving appliances, such 

 as lifeboats, life preservers, etc., are at hand, but it has been demonstrated in experience 

 after experience that the people can not get off the vessels, especially during the night time 

 or when the water is very rough, and also when the crew is not drilled in the use of life- 

 saving appliances. In my opinion the installation of such a system as that on board the 

 Commonwealth is a step in the wrong direction. If trouble does come, it will count against 

 the standing of the automatic sprinkler, which it should not do, because the automatic 

 sprinkler in that case is not properly installed for the best efficiency. 



As to my suggestion that a gravity supply could be arranged for on large passenger 

 steamers by such an arrangement as an extra stack, built for use as a gravity tank, of 

 course the placing of water at that height is objectionable as regards the stability of the 

 vessel, but in my opinion the total weight of that water, as compared with the total weight 

 of the vessel, is almost negligible 



The Chairman : — What do you consider the total weight of water to be in that case? 

 Take a steamer like the Commonwealth, for instance. That is an important matter for the 

 naval architect to understand — what would be the least quantity of water you would have 

 in the tank; how many thousand gallons. 



Mr. Teague : — For a steamer of the Commonwealth type I think we should have about 

 5,000 gallons. 



