358
J
keep it full will draw off an enormous proportion from the garrison supply and render the Albany Trullah - which is one of the sources of supply - useless.
The Military fire-tank would only require replenishing once after every fire - i.e., once or twice a year. No inconvenience would result to the garrison.
If however the two projects be amalgamated, and the Albany fire-tank be connected with the general service mains, the great demand for water for domestic uses in the City will always keep the tank dry; and it will not only be useless for fire-brigade purposes, but the efforts of the turncocks to supply it will give rise to questions with the Military Authorities.
From a Colonial point of view, it will be no less desirable to keep the two projects totally separate, because an amalgamation of the general domestic service with the water in the fire-mains will lead to the depletion of the latter by the numerous connection pipes that will be laid to houses, and which will have the effect of destroying the high pressure it should be sought to maintain at every fire hydrant, to enable it to throw a jet over the highest building without the aid of a fire-engine.