HYDRAULIC ELEVATORS AND MOTORS. 143 
pipes are of ample size. The "water-hammer" produced by the quick-acting 
valves of elevators has always been objectionable, both in its effect at the pump- 
ing-house, and upon water-mains and connections. To obviate this, Engineer 
G. W. Pearson has suggested the use of very large air-chambers on the elevator 
supply, and still smaller openings in the mains; his theory being that the air- 
chambers would not only materially decrease the concussion or " water-hammer" 
but that they would also act as accumulators of power (or water under pressure) to 
be drawn from, at each trip of the elevator and replaced when it was at rest. This 
plan I have never seen put to actual test, but believe it to be entirely practicable, 
and that we will have to ultimately adopt. All things considered, the plan of 
operating elevators from tanks in the top of buildings, supplied by a small pipe 
connected with the water-mains, and arranged with a float-valve to keep the tank 
filled, I believe to be the best manner of supply, except for the great additional 
cost of putting up such apparatus. By this arrangement the amount of water 
consumed is no less, in fact, it would ordinarily be more than with a direct con- 
nection with the mains, but it has the advantage of taking the water in the least 
objectionable manner. Still, if this mode of supply were generally enforced, the 
large first cost, and additional expense of operating, would undoubtedly deter 
many from using elevators. 
Another evil in connection with the use of elevators, and which, no doubt, 
is common, is the habit many parties have, of keeping a key or wrench to turn 
on and off the water at the curb. This we have sought to remedy by embracing in 
our Plumber's Rules the following : "All elevator connections in addition to 
the curb-stop for the use of the Water Company must be provided with another 
valve where the pipe first enters the building for the use of occupants of the 
building." Without this extra valve it was found almost impossible to keep 
parties from using the curb-valve. In most cases the persons were responsible, 
and as there was no intent to defraud the Company by the act, they would claim 
this privilege as a precaution against the pipes bursting or freezing. This prac- 
tice was very generally carried on, and was the direct cause in at least two ca:ses 
of very serious damage. In the instances referred to, the pipes burst between 
the elevator and the area wall of buildings, and the valves outside had become ^o 
worn from frequent use, that they would not operate, allowing the water to litei- 
ally deluge the basements before the water-main could be turned off. 
One of the greatest causes of waste from elevators is the wearing out of the 
piston-packing, this being particularly troublesome in most of the western cities, 
where the water supplied is to a large extent from turbid streams, carrying more or 
less fine sand or "grit," which cuts out the packing of the pistons very rapidly. 
The only practicable remedy for this is close inspection, to see that the pistons do 
not allow water to pass, a fact that can be readily determined from the noise made 
in the cylinder when the elevator is in motion going upward. 
I have reserved one of the most annoying features of elevator supply for the 
last, hoping to work myself into a mood to do the subject justice, but doubt if it 
can be done in language proper to use before this dignified body. I remember 
