The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-11 00:00:00

FIRES IN LONDON IN 1863.

This morning was issued Captain Shaw's report
to the Committee for Managing the Loader Fire•engine
Brigade establishment, of the Loam) fires of 1863.
The total number of calls received during the year 1863
has been 1,624. Of these 81 were false alarms, 139 proved
to be only chimney alarms, and 1.404 ware funs, of which
39 resulted in total destruction of building., &c., 310 in
serious damage, and 1.055 in slight damage. The
Ares of 1863, compared with those of 1862, show
an increase of 101, and compared with the average
of the previous thirty years, the increase is 582.
The totally destroyed list, 39, compared with that of 1862,
shows an Increase in aerobe of 6, but, compared with the
avenge proportion of the 30 previoes years, there is •
decrease of 9. Of the buildings destroyed, 4 were over 2
miles from the neared station ; 7 over 3 mills ; 1 over 5 ;
2 over 6 ; 2 over 7 ; 1 over 8 ; 1 over 11 ; and 1 over 12
miles ; 3 were lost for went of water ; sad 1 fell
down before the fire could be extbegukked. Of
the 39, 18 were completely alight, and 17 others
burned down before the arrival of the segues. Althosik
this list is numerically in excises of that of last year, in point
of value, the losses are for the mast part trilling, and the
generality of the places destroyed are of that elms which,
when ogee en ilra, ma very rarely saved by any exertions on
the part of a fire brigade.
During the pest year the telegraph lies been extended
from the foremen's metiers to those I. Una respective dia-
-1 tricta, thus completing the menmanicatica throughout the
establishment from the chief Mahal, In 'like Captain
Shaw resides, to those moot remote, in Ratcliff,
Hakerotreet, Westminster, and Rotherhithe respectively.
, Every line is complete in itself, with a dial or alphabetical
instrument at each sad ; thus • stoppage or break is any one
Leedom not Mestere with the reseal ecemanakation, as
would be the case if several stations were arose circuit.
From Watlingetreet Captain Shaw ordinarily eaminnuicates

only with the foremen, and, through them, with the
stations in their respeetive district', but, by a simple oar
trivance he can at say moment be placed in direct ommu-
nicatioe with say statics, thus avoiding the delay mused
by repeating messages at so istermediate point. "I have
adopted this mode," says Captain Shaw, not only in order
to be able to collect the meamery tome of men and engines
at any given spot in the shortest possible time according
to in) requirements at the moment, but also
for the purpose of avoiding the errors inseparable
from a system of mere alarms as used in
America. by which the whole force of a fire brigades
liable to be constantly turned out for matters of very little
consequence, it being en amiable rule that the importance
of every fire is greedy exaggerated by momentary panic
in the vicinity. The saving thus effected in the tame and
labour et the rasa r compared with the old maim cd
main` with 'calls' and ' stops ' hem elation to statue is
in itself a great addition to the available strength of the
establishment, and that at the very time when the services
of skilled firemen are most seeded, while the advantage of
rapidly tasrumittieg the calla, acid this ensuring the early
snivel of men aid engines at fire' is inalculable ; be-
sides which I am now enabled to is,. oaten and hoodoos
almost the whole of the duties of the artabliahment by
this means is a much quicker and more satisfactory man-
ner than formerly."
The had steseneogises °outline to render valuable aid at
all fires, large and small. These Matinee have been ea:-
adorably improved during the past year, and are now
adapted to throw jets of every siss, froma quarter of an inch
to aa inch and a half. It is a remarkable fart,whkh ought to
be noticed in easnexim with theenbject Bland steamers. that
soured theirbest service" lave bees at those fires which have
resulted in total destruction of the premises which fiat leek
light, and, although they have beat only about two men in
operation, may instances can already be cited which the
property actuany at riakand saved by their arms hasbamie
point of value, upwards of a thousand per mat. is =OM of
that destroyed. The recent addition of three land Masi
fire engines, takes on hire, has proved a most imported
secession to the strength of the astabliahment.
Notwithstanding the greatly increased mailer al fires,
the list of amalgam to firemen for 1863 is five lees than that
of the previous year. There have have been 86 mess of
I illness, totally incapacitating the men from duty, against
98 saes for yyeaearr 1882, bat, although lees to number
more severe in ehssetsr. Of the hotel 'ember, 33 have
arias from accident, and several of a very severe form, de-
seeestraties the hem:dons nature°, the employment.
"At the ekes of moiler year,' seseludes the super-
intendent, "it has again become my pleasing duty to beer
testimony to the mead Alcieney and excellent conduct of
all ranks of the establishment and to state my most sincere
belief, that the stmeliness, unanimity. (miasmas, and
seal with which they devote themselves to the arduous
duties of their profession, fully eolith, them to that confi-
dence and liberallty of which they receive such aanterons
Milanese at your hands. Is conclusion I beg to expreas my
most Mesa gratitude for the sympathy and support which
I have remind from you iodivideally and esiketively at
all times, but more especially os the amine el nay recent
accident, and at theism. time I beg to assure you that no
exertion shall be matte' on my pert to merit a °online-
ante of roe INIMMIPOSO