The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-14
DOUBLE SHEET.
COMMON NCIL.
Report OF the Chief Engineer OF the Fire
Department..

Report OF the Chief Engineer OF the Fire
Department.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Last evening the Board met at five O'Clock.
CHIEF OF POLICE
Committee on Oces and Salaries appointed to consider
tie nomination of the Chief Of Police, time 1t Is
probable they will report to the Board.
Alderman GRIrFir, the chairman of the committee
said that since the nomination had been referred to
them certain reports had come TO their knowledge in rs
ference to the Chief Of Police and in justice to him as
well a. to the public the committee felt to bs their
duty to Investigate them As the Board may probably
doubts that the committee would BE- able report this
session.
beth the gentlemen who delay the report voted for
not delaying the action of the Board hour at the
Therefore give the gentlemen notice that In the event Of
their not reporting to- morrow evening he would move
that the committee be made to report in order to
able the Board TO act during this session The
Mayor Is concerned the Chief Police Is concerned and
the public are concerned.
AsSuAL REPORT or THE CHIEF ENGINEER THE FIRE
The pREsDENr said that the annual report from the
Chief Engineer Of the Fire Department had been
ceved he supposed might read If there was no
objection This announcement produced quite iutter
Alderman Cook inquired II the usual course was not
to print such documents; he would like to II In print
and therefore moved that 1t be laid on the table and
printed.
Alderman HAws said that il the report was like that
Of Last year. he for would not like to Ia print
Fire Department.
Alderman KELLY would like to know If there was any
particular objection to have 1t read!
Alderman GRTFN thought 1t ought TO be referred
not to the Committee Fire Depsrtment--but to the
Committee on Ordinances or special committee Some
report he did not agree with.
Alderman SHAWL call the gentleman to order lie is
talking about document he knows nothing about 1t
is not yet read. 1t from the Fire Department
we are bound to treat 1t with respect My opinion Is
that ought to be referred just such documents
ire i have hear ham nd
hsws, but reasons against the ordinary 1t
seems there something about the document that dis
turbs somebody Let not mpeach before Is heard
nor impeach the committee In advance. to whom the
consideration Of the document rightfuly belongs As
for printing IT, would not have it printed till it passes
The report was then referred to the Committee On
Fire Department 1t Is as follows
THE REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE
To the Honorable Common Council
VIII be perceived, BY the enclosed annual returns,
containing Il names business and residences OF the
hremen and by the accompanying tabular statement,
that there twentysx engines good order three
binary, four building, and one reouudiug forty-one
hose carriages In good order two ordinary and build
ng six hook and ladder trucks In good order and two
ordinary forty ladders and eighty hooks
thousand and three hundred feet of hose in good order
fbeen thousand and two hundred feet ordinary-msk-
ing ffty eight thousand and five hundred feet Of hose
There are thirty -four engine companies forty nine hose
companies eight hook and ladder ompaues, and three
hydrspt companies. There two thousand two hus-
dred and eleven men in the Department 1.-THE com
hundred and eighty. eight.
There have been three hundred and nineteen res by
which the loss on buildings amour ted to hundred
sni my nine thousand four hundred aud ans Ave
dollars and five hundre ed aud thou
sand and twenty eight dollars making the los by fire,
"a nearly "a could be ascertained hundred and
thousand four hundred and seventy eight dollars
There have been two hundred and thirty eight alarms.
BY the above, appears, that there has been in
crease Of Thirty fires and forty six alarms year.
but, at the same time decrease Of five hundred and
eighty thousand hundred and twenty i've dol
m ust he
tnyins to the Department and TO the city.
The nrrmen Justly complain Of the labor caused
BY the numerous fake alarms believ ing that many
and alarms caused by various kinds Of fluid for
lighting buildings, through which human life is often
sacrificed IL necessary might here state the lose Of
many lives and the obstruction Ct much valuable pro-
perty BY esmphen and other' burning fluids, during
the past year The public journals announce almost
LAZY DISASTROUS and fatal results Of camphsn
therefore propose that the Of these pernicious
fluids be prohibited throughout the city.
A hook and ladder company Is required between
East Twenty second and Thrtieth streets Another in
the house built for that purpose three years SINCE
in West Twentyfourth strect-you having invested
with authority organize company there Another
between Chambers and North Moore streets there being
but one hook and ladder company In the two lower
districts. would also recommend the organization of
hose company In the vicinity; two more In the
Second District and another for the house about TO be
erected In Mott street, Chatham. Hose Company
No % In Sullivan street Prince has had house
since the nrst Of May their lease having expired whose
needed In that locality and recommend that a lot be
procured, and a house erected for them,
possible
am happy to inform you that the iron bell tower In
Thirty third street IL nesry completed which will be Of
great public utility. The companies in the northern
eecttn OF the city have long suffered great
for the want 81 proper alarm and rejoice that they
viii be forever relieved from such Inconvenience by the
erection Of this enduring tower which will be the pride
Of The Department and ornament 20 the city lot
having been procured long since In Spring street.
ysrick for the erection OF tower which Il much d.
sired In that locality. would respectfully recon
tbstzn iron tower be erected there the tower
on Centre Market is dilapidsted and insecure with
hell Ngtn anly fQur fhCttau nd a
grousy vibrates In high wind or during an alarm,
and as there Is sufficient space the lot where engine
NO Is located In Marion street, not far d. Rant,
would recommend that iron tower be erected there
The jefferson Market bell having been destroyed
be erected in its stead near its former locality and
especially that II be Immediately erected as there
not solitary tower In operation GA the west side u
city The tower the Tombs destroyed By IRE
years since which. the Jefferson Market tower
was built % wood. which should b. admonton
against the erection Of wooden bcll towers hereafter
The teegraphc wires connected With the bell towers
vhote completion urged in my last annual report,
which bad been abandoned for srr raj years By Mr.
House. the original contractor am pleased inform
you are at length completed and ably effective
IN Their instant communication % every tower Ia the
city In what district the fire H. which will the fire.
much labor by th,r prevention of the
numerous false alarms which have hitherto misled
tn. m In the absence Of these teleTsphic wires The
entire apparatus however Is necessarily Of very delicate
construction, and must be used with great by the
Ard geves inform you that the Geographic ap.
paratus is often seriously injured either by the bell
frg r. themeNee or by some of the friends
who uncenfingly visit them who often use 10 without
occasion simply 20 crafty their curiosity, thereby mis-
leading and creating general confusion at the bell
throughout the city and Of course, throughout
the Department. You have long been that have
power to proven. such mschievous evils and that
cannot avert The slightest or most aggravated
Of pbc duty by the bell ringers they being policemen
and responsible only to the Police Department which
does not hold them to that figid accountability that
the Chief Engineer would, for their derelicton In
the towers Hence would again, respectfully urge that
the appointment Of the bell ringers be otrused to the
Chief Engineer instead Of The Mayor to be selected from
the expcenoedan faithful exempt nrcmen instead Of
from the policemen to be confirmed by the Mayor
or by your honorable body bill has twice passed the
Board OF Assistant Aldermen for the thorough correction
OF the numerous end dgracefu evils that have so long
existed at the bell towers which enum, rated my
Last annual report and which continue 60 beht the hest
energes OF the Danarment and per the waraa hahita-