The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-06

police force, or from any other source. There |
was law some years since, authorizing the Mayor
been long repealed. informed his honor, the
Mayor, long since, that the law was repealed, who,
how ever, still continues to detail them from the
police, in the absence of legal authority
i have often sent complaining hremen to the
Chief of Police for an abolition Of the evils exist
ing at the towers, who would send them back to
me for redress of grievances, whereuPon would
send them to the Mayor, who would either send
them back to me, or to the Chief of Police, who
would send them to me again, the Chief OF Police
and Mayor both contending that was the proper
person to consult about matters connected Within
Fire Department, while both knew that they could
relieve the complaining hremen, and that could
not, inasmuch as they had control OF the police
bell ringers, against whom the complaints were
made.
bell ringer at the time, he leaves the tower with
out giving information to the Mayor, or to the
Chief of Police, or to myself, respecting the va
cancy at the tower. True, the Alderman of his
tain takes especial care to keep the new policeman
on his legitimate duty, if the whole city be in
flames, until he is compelled to surrender him 70
the tower by an order from the Mayor. few
weeks since, there was a vacancy IN the Union
Market bell tower for more than week, arising
from the expired term of police bell ringer named
George Duroche, of the Eighth ward police. l
heard Of the vacancy in abeut week af.er it oc-
which was the first news he had received on the
subject.
"'If police captain wants policeman, whe is
bell ringer, for legitimate duty, or the policeman
desires TO leave the tower the captain goes to the
Mayor and requests that the police bell ringer may
return to the ward for duty, which the Mayor ge-
nerally permits Presently a raw police recruit
i,s,ekes his appearance in the bell tower, TO ds.
charge one Of the most responsible truss IN the
city. Sometime SINCE the Alderman of the Sew,,,,,,
ward Mr. Morgans, recommended a sailor police
man for the Essex Market Tower, in the Tpnh
ward, and the Mayor detailed the sailcrr for this
,nn"rtan' '"is ~ ms --.uerman's urgent request,
although the sailor had recently returned from
long voyage, and had never been in bell tower
before. The sailor was soon superseded; and thus,
in turn, the changes at the towers go on of which,
as in this case, repeat often know nothing at
the time, and for whose disastrous results, also
repeat, l am held responsible throughout the city
changes that not only most shamefully Jeopardize
properly worth millions of dollars, but cause the
fremen much unnecessary labor, through false
alarms at the towers, and often luing whole dis
trict into a false security by striking the bells
wrong, and by giving no alarm when fre actually
exists.
"The vacancies that continually occur at the
towers, render it impossible for the remaining bell
ringers to perform their duty SO faithfully Qor want
of more repose, as they could, If the towers were
supplied with efficient men as soon as the vacan-
cies occur. When accidentally learn OF vacan-
cy at tower, at once recommend good man TO
the Mayor, who sometimes confirms, and some
times rejects him. For instance, quite recently,
bell ringer came to me, and said that his police
tenn would soon expire, and that he had rather
serve the residue of his term policeman, in the
Tenth ward, than TO serve longer as bell ringer.
To ensure good man as his successor, by his es-
pecal request went TO the Mayor, and proposed
an experienced police bell ringer in his stead, to
whose confirmation [the Mayor readily assented.
But while the bell ringer was waiting to be reev:
ed by his successor, and before the Mayor had
sent his order, authorizing the new bell ringer to
tl.a thA nj
Tenth ward, Mr.. Halves, came to me and said,
Mr.. Carson, why have you recommended po-
liceman to fill vacancy ip the Essex Market
tower, in the Tenth ward! saw the Mayor, ana
have had the policeman you recommended set
aside. know policeman who intend shall be
a bell ringer in the Essex Market tower Com
ment would be superfluous.
snow, Mr.. Fireman, hope you are satisfied
that cannot relieve you from the evils Of which
you so justly complain. have related these facts
to you in spirit Of no unkindness to any one, but
simply TO expose the monstrous evils connected
with the present bell ringing system-a system,
repeat that has not even the sanction of law, there
being not a solitary syllable in our municipal
statutes respe citing the regulation OF the bell ringers
at the towers The Board Of Assistant Aldermen,
listening 10 my counsels, and having the welfare OF
the Fire Department, and the safety of our habita-
lions and warehouses at heart, last year very
wisely passed precisely such law on this subject
pately, lost in the Board of Aldermen, for reasons
best known TO themselves; having been most in
veterately and most violently opposed by Alderman
Halves, Of the Tenth ward, whose support could
have saved IT,"
There is another evil that seriously conflicts with
a salufary administration of my department. al
lude TO numerous complaints made to me OF the
delay in the repair Of The engine and hose houses,
whose eparatus j seldom visit to repair, without
being interrogated somewhat thus -" Mr.. Carson,
can't you tell us where we can find the Superin-
dent Of the Public Buildings, whom we seldom
81 elk at his place of business, without being told
nv hat he ia off here In
his pressing business calls over the city; our en-
CINE house has required indispensable repairs for
long time, the locks, hinges, NC, being utterly out
of repair, which enables bad boys and bad men 10
enter with IMMUNITY, and do immense injury
TO our apparatus, and 20 the engine house
itself. When the Chief Engineer formerly had
the charge Of the repairs both of our engine house
and apparatus, we found no delay, who used to
repair both house and apparatus at the same time,
and whose epairs gave better satisfaction than those
of the Superintendent OF Public Buildings, who,
rom his ignorance OF, and utter dsconnecuon with
our department. does not understand, nor take that
interest in the repair Of our engine houses that the
Chief Engineer did. Moreover, we have conversed
with many brother fremen, who are OF the opinion
that the chief reason why the Superintendent OF the
Public Buildings 80 long and so often neglects US
IL, that he Is generally supposed 10 have more bust
ness than be can possibly attend TO faithfully, and
alto, with all the delay and imperfecfon Of his re-
pairs, that the expense Of repairing our engine
houses is much greater than while they were un-
der the charge Of the Chief Engineer. We, there
fore, do most sincerely hope although Il may seem
somewhat indecaie on your part, that you will for
the common good OF the Fire Department, Cooking
To You chiefly, as we do, for its happy admnstra-
noD,) solicit the Common Council To permit you 10
sgain take charge Of our engine houses, and
anime their condition in your frequent, and often
voluntary, Wits TO examine our apparatus for the
purpose Of repair"
In conclusion, on this head, viii simply observe
that, although am not at all DESTROYS TO increase
my duties,-U will not say responsibilities, in this
connection, inasmuch as am already held almost
wholly responsible for the repair Of the engine
houses, by my brother firemen, many OF whom er-
roreously suppose that | exercise some influence
over the Superintendent Of Public Buildings,
ANXIOUS TO increase my duties, yet, inasmuch
considers bic fault is found with me by my brethren
for their presesent bad and protrsced repairs, by
by the Supe rintendent Of Public Buildings, and
to CRAFTY INV comrades, in the department, who
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