The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-17 00:00:00

FIRES IN THE METROPOLIS.

The committee appointed to inquire into the
existing state of the legislative, and of any exist-
ing, arrangements for the protection of life and pro-
perty against fire in the metropolis, continued its
sitting on Friday. The members present were
Messrs. Hankey (chairman), Benyon, Vance, Locke,
Cave, Ileadlam, Aldermen Salomons, Cubitt, Miller,
Peacocke, Sheridan, Tite, Lewis, and Cowper.
Mr. D. W. Harvey, Commissioner of City Police,
in reply to questions by the chairman, gave the
following evidence :—I am acquainted with the
system of protection of life and property against
fire in the City of London. The old Building Act
imposes on parishes the duty of keeping up an en-
gine, and, under certain regulations, they are ex-
pected to be present at any fire within their juris-
diction, and they receive compensation in the order
of priority in which they arrive at the fire. I con-
sider that system altogether out of date, and obso-
lete and ineffective. I believe the law is observed
as far regards each parish having an engine, and
when there is a fire the authorities are active and
get there first, second, and third, as they best can,
with the view of obtaining a slight compensation,
but as to their inefficiency when they get there it
is not thought of. The London Fire Brigade is as
efficient as its resources enable it to be. It is effi-
cient for the prOtection of the City, but might be
made more so in some respects. Some of the engines
might be of a superior class and more powerful. The
Brigade would be more effective if they had what
is not attainable in London, a supply of water
at high pressure, as in Liverpool, Manchester,
and some other places, where the pressure
almost dispenses with the necessity of engines. The
City of London gives no pecuniary contribution
towards the Fire Brigade, but they contribute the
aid of the police, which always acts in co-operation
with the Brigade.
The Chairman—Do you consider the principle on
which the Fire Brigade is formed and maintained a
safe and proper one for the security of London ?
Mr. Harvey—The great objection to it is that
it is voluntary. It exists and may cease to exist.
The City of London has no power by which they
can enforce its enlargement.

Are any special arrangements made by the cor-
poration for the security of the City against fire ?
None ; but such as are to be found in the special
orders to the police force, which are read to them
once a month.

Will you be good enough to state the general
nature of those orders ?—lmmediately on a fire
being discovered—and generally speaking fires are
discovered by the constables—they are directed im-
mediately to apprise the Brigade in Watling•street,
or at the nearest station, to give notice to persons
in command of the fire plugs, and also to those who
have chat ge of the fire escapes. They are then
placed under the command of the chief officer of
the district where the fire takes place, and they co-
operate with the Fire Brigade in keeping off the
crowd, and affording facilities for the operations of
the engines.
Is there any sort of system for the protection of
life ?—None but the fire escapes, which are main-
tained by a voluntary association. If placed under
the police I think they would be more beneficial.
The persons in charge of the escapes are for the
most part aged individuals. There is only one man
to each ladder. The ladders can only be moved by
three men. We give all the facilities we can, but
have no control over them. The protection of life
against fire ought to be connected with the police.
The strength of the London police, including officers,
is 607 men. There are always 28 men sworn in as
constables, whose services are paid for by those
who require them. The cost of the City Police is
about £47,000 a year. The force is quite adequate
to the requirements of the City. I have never heard
any positive complaint as to the insufficiency of the
supply of water in cases of fire.
What arrangements do you think to be desirable
in the event of a change, and what would be the
nature of the change which you would recom-
mend ?—I entertain, individually, very decided
views, but would rather withhold them because
the Lord Mayor informed me this morning
that he had communicated to the Court of Com-
mon Council a letter which he had received from
the chairman of the committee, and that the letter
was to be referred to the police committee to report
thereon. I would rather, therefore, not commit my-
self on the subject. I should regret giving any opi-
nion that might fetter the views of the Common
Council.

Mr. Headlam—ls it the duty of the police to go
without the limits of the City in the event of a fire ?
Mr. Harvey—lf a fire of any magnitude takes
place, such as that in Southwark, for instance,
and the metropolitan police require any aid, it is at
their service, and they would render similar aid in
the case of an extensive fire in the City.

Speaking generally, do you think the protection
against fire in the City adequate ?—I think so.
By Mr. Cubitt—A penny rate in the City will
produce £5,573 on the assessment of £1,337,548.
By the Chairman—The population of the City
in 1851 was 129,128. At the last census the num-
ber was 113,367. In 1851 the number of inhabited
houses was 14,693. At the last return the number
was 13,478. The police of the City are far more
effectual as to numbers, having reference to the area
over which they act and the number of persons
committed to their charge, than the metropolitan
police. The lowest wages given to our constables
is 20s. per week, and the highest 235. I think this
is something more than the pay of the metropolitan
police.
By Mr. Locke—Where there is the slightest sus-
picion as to the cause of a fire I think an inquiry
ought to be made, and I think an inquiry desirable,
whether it is accidental or not.

Mr. James Easton (of the firm of Easton, Amos,
and Sons, engineers), examined by the chairman—
I think the existing arrangements for the protec-
tion of life and property in the metropolis unsatis-
factory. The greatest defect is the want of an
instantaneous supply of water when a fire is
discovered. This arises partly from the pipes of
the water companies being employed in supplying
water for domestic purposes. I think a centralised
system is required, and that it may easily be esta-
blished. At the request of the First Commissioner
of Works, I have made a report as to the protection
of the palaces the Houses of Parliament, and the
public buildings down to Charing-cross. I propose
to construct a reservoir, capable of containing
1,000,000 gallons, on the top of Primrose-hill, from

which 3,500 gallons per 'minute can be conveyed in
the direction I have pointed out. The cost of the
i works would not be more than £25,000.

'rite---Does that inchnle the placing of the
water in the reservoir ?

Mr. Easton—Yes. The water companies are
willing to supply the water for nothing.
Mr. Headlam—What would be the cost of sup-
plying the whole of London on the same principle ?

Mr. Easton—About £3,000,000. There are 40
square miles, and the expense would be about
£72,000 per square mile.
Mr. Tite—That is the cost for mains only
Mr. Easton—Yes.

By Mr. Headlam—The plan when in operation
could be managed for £40,000 or £50,000 a year•
I think it ought to be under the management of
the police. The scheme in3ludes the south as well
as the north side of the metropolis.
By the Chairman—The £3,000,000 would be suf-
ficient for carrying pipes at high pressure through
all the principal thoroughfares four miles from
Charing-cross. The £3,000,000 might be liquidated
in 25 years by the annual payment of £192,000.
The total annual charge, including management,
would be about £240,000. I contemplate the pay-
ment of a general rate over the metropolis.
By Mr. Alderman Salomons—My plan contem-
plates the construction of reservoirs on both sides of
the water. There would be hydrants along the
streets under which the pipes run.
Mr. James Bryson, superintendent of the Glas-
gow Fire Brigade, stated• that the arrangements
for the protection of life and property against fire
are under the direction of the corporation. The
force consists of 70 men- The expense is about
£2,000 a year. Since the introduction of the water
from Loch Katrine fire•engines seldom have been
used. The water is at high pressure, and hydrants
are placed in the principal streets, at distances va-
rying from 50 to 50 yards. The water supplied
from the hydrants is greater in power than thrown
by engines.
Mr. John Bowring, clerk to the City of London
Union, was the next witness. He stated the num-
ber of parishes in the City to be 98, and that the
charge to the poor rate for parish engines, manage-
ment, &c., amounted for the last three years to
£1,739 18s. 7d. There were 42 parishes who pro-
vided fire escapes and ladders. The parish engines
are totally inefficient, and the money paid for them
might as well be thrown into the street. The Bri-
gade call them " squirts," and they do more harm
than good, in consequence of being in the way.
They are kept up solely for the purpose of rewards,
and the payment of salaries to those who have the
engines under their control.
The committee then adjourned.