Portland Oregon Fire Hydrants, Source Material, Part 3
|
|
© 2002-3 Allen McMillan
|
Revised January 01, 2003
|
|
Water Bureau Subject Files, City Archives - Continued
|
- Section 14 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Water Bureau, Subject Files, A2001-021, 15/7
Hydrants, 1936-1940
-
September 23, 1936 - A copy of a letter from A. C. Feyerabend, Hydrant
Machinist, to Fire Chief Grenfell concerning the large number of damaged
and leaking "Helser No. 2" hydrants that required repair. Feyerabend
describes the hydrants as "defective" and says that his department has
already fixed thirty of them. He feels that this should be the job of the
Water Department and recommends the defective hydrants be replaced (but
not by his department).
-
August 23, 1937 - "Tabulation of Questionnaires Mailed to Water Companies
and Fire Departments to all Cities in United States Over 100,000 in
Population." This is just one page of a report compiled by the Denver,
Colorado Board of Water Commissioners. The rest of the report is available
in the City Archives. The table is arranged in eight columns:
- Cities Over 100,000 in Population (Name of City)
- State
- Population in Thousands
- Annual Charge Public Fire Hydrants
- Annual Charge Private Fire Hydrants
- Annual Charge for 6-Inch Automatic Sprinkler Connection
- Total Fire Loss Year 1932
- Commercial Fire Loss Year 1932
-
August 1938 - A questionnaire of some sort concerning fire hydrants, filled
out by Ben S. Morrow, Water Bureau Engineer. His answers offer some insight
into fire hydrant practices and preferences in 1938. He indicates that
screwed in nozzles are preferred over the leaded variety because the
threaded variety "gives good service + is easily removed + replaced when
necessary". All Portland hydrants are specified with TWO standard 2-1/2"
hose nozzles. The minimum valve opening permitted is 5". The Corey types
hydrant is preferred because the valve opens fully. The pipe connecting
hydrant and main must be at least 6" in diameter.
-
August 11, 1938 - A copy of the recommended fire hydrant specifications of
the American Water Works Association. I have copies of just the cover
letter and first page of specifications.
-
October 28, 1938 - Letter from J. F. Standish of J. F. Standish Plumbing
in Estacada Oregon to the City of Portland Water Engineer. The letter
explains that the City of Estacada Oregon had several old Phoenix Iron
Works hydrants which were leaking. The hydrants had 4" connections and
just two nozzles, making them a type older (or at least smaller) than
anything currently surviving. The City of Estacada was unable to find
suitable valve material to fix the hydrants since Phoenix Iron Works had
quit the hydrant business. Mr. Standish evidently knew that Portland still
had a number of Phoenix hydrants and so inquired as to where Portland
obtained valve washers for them.
-
November 1, 1938 - Unsigned letter (copy) from "Engineer & General Manager"
to Mr. J. F. Standish in reply to the letter above. Lists the name and
address of a Portland rubber works.
|
- Section 15 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Water Bureau, Bound Correspondence, A2001-020, 11/6
"Volume 12 - pages 299-399", Date? (Pages 348-356)
-
1907 - Handwritten "Proposals for Fire Hydrants" and "Specifications for
Fire Hydrants for the City of Portland, Oregon" by D. D. Clarke. The
first page does bear the name of Superintendent Frank Dodge, but this
appears to be part of the form and does not identify the author. The
specifications do call for a frost jacket and two independently gated hose
nozzles. This was evidently the basis for the specs used in 1910 and 1911,
but I have not undertaken a complete translation of the handwriting yet
(May 2002).
-
March 27, 1907 - Handwritten letter from D. D. Clarke to the Iowa
Engineering Company of Clinton, Iowa. The letter is a response to some
previous communication concerning wooden water mains. Clarke says that
Portland has no wooden mains, but that they are standard in Seattle and
lists three manufacturers.
|
- Section 16 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Water Bureau, Bound Correspondence, A2001-020, 12/4
"Volume 13 - Reports to the Water Board - pages 199-299", Date?
(Pages 348-356)
-
March 29, 1907 - Copy of a letter from Henry Hill on behalf of Oregon
Foundry Co. (uncertain whether Hill is with Oregon Foundry or an attorney
retained by them). Oregon Foundry feels that the specifications drawn up
for 600 hydrants to be purchased infringe upon their exclusive license to
manufacture "Howe Patent Hydrants". A section at the bottom lays down the
companies stand on royalties. They demand a royalty of $1 for each of the
600 hydrants provided to the city by other manufacturers. When the number
of hydrants required is later dropped to 200, the royalty information is
revised to $3 for each hydrant. This modification is dated May 14, 1907.
|
- Section 17 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Water Bureau, Bound Correspondence, A2001-020, 16/12
"Volume 19 - pages 201-300", 1910 (Pages 238-242)
-
November 16, 1910 - Fire Hydrant Specifications and instructions to bidders.
Sealed proposals to be opened December 13, 1910. (This set of specs calls
for independent hose nozzle valves.)
|
- Section 18 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Water Bureau, Bound Correspondence, A2001-020, 16/15
"Volume 19 - pages 500-599", 1911 (Pages 551-555)
-
May 18, 1911 - Fire Hydrant Specifications and instructions to bidders.
Sealed proposals to be opened June 13, 1911. (Nearly identical to the 1910
specifications (above)).
|
- Section 19 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Water Bureau, Bound Correspondence, A2001-020, 21/4
"Volume 26 - pages 200-299", 1912 (Page 275)
-
September 10, 1912 - "Status of Contracts Pending Sept. 10, 1912". The list
of contractors is interesting, though there is only one outstanding contract
for fire hydrants.
| Crane Company
| Gate Valves
|
| Specialty Equipment Company
| Wiring Reservoirs
|
| Smith & Watson Iron Works
| Specials
|
| Phoenix Iron Works
| 400 Hydrants
|
| Zimmerman-Wells-Brown Co.
| Pump & Motor
|
| Oregon Iron & Steel Co.
| Cast Iron Pipe
|
| U. S. Cast Iron Pipe & Fdry. Co.
| Cast Iron Pipe
|
| Crane Company
| Lap-welded Steel Pipe
|
| Willamette Iron & Steel Co.
| Standpipe
|
| Giebisch & Joplin
| Mt. Tabor Tanks
|
| Hesse Martin Iron Works
| 500 Gate Boxes
|
|
- Section 20 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Water Bureau, Bound Correspondence, A2001-020, 29/5
"Volume 35 - Reports of the Water Bureau", 1915-1916 (Pages 342-346)
-
July 2, 1915 - Fire Hydrant Specifications and instructions to bidders.
No particular date noted in the instructions. (Based on the 1910/1911
specifications (above) but lacking the requirement for independently gated
nozzles).
|
- Section 21 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Water Bureau, Bound Correspondence, A2001-020, 29/4
"Volume 36 - pages 200-299", 1915-1916 (Page 271)
-
November 17, 1915 - Letter from the Water Bureau (Asst. J. M. Randlett on
behalf of Engineer D. D. Clarke) to Mr. R. C. Polk in Tacoma Washington.
The Water Bureau is inquiring into what sort of tools should be needed to
operate a high pressure fire hydrant with an 8" valve at 250 PSI. It
sounds like Portland may have been considering a high pressure system.
|
- Section 22 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Water Bureau, Bound Correspondence, A2001-020, 39/10
"Volume 46 - pages 800-899", 1921-1922
(Pages 823, 824, 833, 851, 853 and 854)
-
May 22, 1922 - Letter from J. M. Randlett, Engineer Water Bureau, to J. E.
Young, Chief Engineer, Bureau of Fire. The letter concerns the city's new
hydrant specifications. The entire body text of the message follows:
"We are about to begin the drawing of plans for a hydrant on
which we may ask bids, and it is our purpose to develop a plan
which would practically amount to a "Corey" hydrant.
At this time I want to get from you a definite statement as to
whether or not we should have independent shut-offs on the hose
butts. As you know, in the past the hydrants purchased by us have
had the independent valves eliminated, thus saving us considerable
expense.
Another question is the one of threads on the steamer and
hose connections. The larger percentage of hydrants made in this
country are equipped with threads which conform to the 1911
National Standard, as adopted by the National Fire Protection
Association. It would facilitate matters greatly if you would advise
me whether to continue the thread we have at present, or or whether
to adopt this new thread, with the idea of changing the threads on
existing hydrants to conform to this National standard. I think this is
a matter which will take place sooner or later, as it is no doubt along
lines of eventual economy."
-
May 22, 1922 - Letter on behalf of Water Bureau Engineer J. M. Randlett by
(indecipherable handwriting) to Rensselaer Valve Co. Attn.: Fred H. Brune.
Entire body text follows:
"I want to thank you for the specification and plans of "Corey"
hydrant, which I received this morning.
We are going to get busy on this matter as soon as possible.
There is one thing I beg to inquire about, viz: Is there anything
showing on these plans which is now covered by patents. I wish, in
making up our general plans, not to infringe upon anybody's rights.
I trust you will extend my thanks to the factory."
-
May 27, 1922 - Letter from Engineer Randlett to City Engineer Laurgaard
(copy also sent to Commissioner Mann).
"Until further notice, owing to our present financial condition, it
is going to be absolutely impossible for us to lay any permanent
water mains in streets where hard surface improvements are
contemplated and which at present have temporary domestic supply.
This means, in other words, that we will object to the hard
surfacing of all streets coming under that category until such time as
we have adequate funds to handle the same.
This will apply to all streets where mains have not already been
authorized by the Commissioner of Public Utilities."
-
June 1, 1922 - Letter form Engineer Randlett to Fred Brune, Rensselaer
Valve Company, Seattle. The letter explains the Fire Chief's desire for
independently gated hydrants and asks for a price on new valves to replace
the ones removed by previous administrations.
-
June 6, 1922 - "Data on Private Water Companies." A table showing the
number of connections and water use of 34 smaller water companies in the
Portland area. The majority of these no longer exist today. Some of them
were very small indeed. The East 72nd St. Water Company had just four
customers who used a total of 21,000 cubic feet of water in 1921.
|
- Section 23 -
City of Portland, Stanley Parr Archives and Records Center,
Auditor, Council Documents, A2001-09, 2/18
"Proposals 857-1219", 1933
-
Undated - Chapman Valve brochure. Four pages, describing the List 88
compression hydrant. Included with the Standard Supply Company bid.
-
Undated - R. D. Wood & Co. pamphlet. 20+ (small) pages advertising the
Mathews Modernized Hydrant and gate valves. Included with R. D. Wood's
hydrant bid in 1933 (below).
-
February 4, 1933 - Letter on R. D. Wood & Co. stationary describing their
hydrant bid for 1933. The letter notes that the current specifications do
not call for independent valves and offers an alternate bid for internally
gated hydrants.
-
February 10, 1933 - "Proposal for Fire Hydrants". A form describing the bid
of Helser Machine & Marine Works, followed by a three-page set of hydrant
specifications.
-
Undated - "Tabulation of Bids". Summarizes five bids received for fire
hydrants under Ordinance 63645. The bidders were:
- Standard Supply Co. (Chapman)
- Plumbers Supply Co. (Rensselaer)
- Woodbury & Company (described as "Iowa-Corey")
- R. D. Wood & Co. (Mathews)
- Helser Machine Works (no model name listed)
-
February 15, 1933 - Letter from Lee Baumhover, Purchasing Agent, to the
City Council. Recommends that the Council accept the bid of Helser Machine
Works as the lowest bid that meets the city's specifications.
|
City Directories
Most of my dates for when a particular company was in business came from the
city directories published by R. L. Polk & Company.
Portland City Directory, 1888. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1888.
Portland City Directory, 1889. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1889.
Portland City Directory, 1890. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1890.
Portland City Directory, 1891. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1891.
Portland City Directory, 1892. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1892.
Portland City Directory, 1893. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1893.
Portland City Directory, 1894. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1894.
Portland City Directory, 1895. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1895.
Portland City Directory, 1896. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1896.
Portland City Directory, 1897. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1897.
Portland City Directory, 1898. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1898.
Portland City Directory, 1899-1900. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co.,
1899.
Portland City Directory, 1901-1902. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co.,
1901.
Portland City Directory, 1903. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1903.
Portland City Directory, 1904. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1904.
Portland City Directory, 1905. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1905.
Portland City Directory, 1906. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1906.
Portland City Directory, 1907. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1907.
Portland City Directory, 1908. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1908.
Portland City Directory, 1909. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1909.
Portland City Directory, 1910. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1910.
Portland City Directory, 1911. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1911.
Portland City Directory, 1912. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1912.
Portland City Directory, 1913. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1913.
Portland City Directory, 1914. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1914.
Portland City Directory, 1925. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1925.
Portland City Directory, 1933. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1933.
Portland City Directory, 1936. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1936.
Portland City Directory, 1940. Portland, OR: R. L. Polk and Co., 1940.
|
Source Material, Part 1
Source Material, Part 2
Source Material, Part 3
Portland Oregon Fire Hydrants
|