The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-15
The Chief Rnginccr and the Common
COancll.

Council. -
To THE CITIZENS NV YoHx =
At the January session Of the Common Council the
Commissioners Of Repairs and Supplies requested
fully report plan and specifications for erecting q
1t was contemplated to extend rhs east end of the
Park Almshouse building, or City Hall, for tho
Of Repairs and Supplies to ascertain II such were the
case. and he informed me that then requested
.ne hs 70 STATE & m MS
that the ground proposed for court house al
ready occupied by three efficient sc companies and tina:
the first movement should be ovide these comp,-
nes with buildings their present locaties
fore any action for the erection of court house thereon
which he refused to do At the extra session. IN March
when the Commissioner sent in his plan and
at the fame time. sent in remonstrence-the Commits
sioners port being referred, motion OF Alderman
Kelly to the Committee on Repairs and Supplies loom
posed tfMsssr Smith Delsmater, and Oakiey) and my
rpmonstranee the Committee on the Pre Departnsnt
The Committee Repairs and Supplies reported avora-
bly, which was adcpted-the nays being Messrs. Miller
ard Cock The following is my remonstrance which is
TO the Honorable Common, Council =
"Genknen Having received information that it is
on Chambel street occupied by Engine Company No
y Hose Company No % and Hook and Ladder Company
the New City a IA Chief Of the Fire Depart.
ment would demonstrate againrt the unless suta
ss .udrss are previously furnished for their aceommo
used in that part OF the city where at least twohrd
the wealth Of our citizens is eentrated the district
not supplied with more apparatus than IL essentially
necessary for its prott ction and spared
even for short period more especially that valuable
Of the Depart ment known and ladder companies
And when it ia considered that No il the only hook
and ladder company located in the lower districts,
think you will agree with that it would be crppny
the Department and exposing too much valuable pro-
pery to the ravsges Of the devouring e ment to dis
pense with their services The engine and hose eompa
mis- also very necessary the efficiency of De-
rastment in that section of the city would therefore,
respectfully and urgently request of honorable body
that the matter be delsye until suitable localities be
provided for them 1t may to appear q tr:iling
matter that TIE location of the apparatus Of
MA.
importance seems to be attached; but cannot view Ii
such and considering that property to the Of
millions may be sacrificed. conceive that should be
wanting in my duty chief officer of the Depart ment
not 70 inter my protest against project that mate
rally affects the efficiency of the Department
ALFRED CARSON. Chief Engineer
Chief Engineers Office, March II. 1851"
The Beard Of Assistants. at their extra session in
March referred the bill from the Board OF Aldermen to
c. mmittee composed Of James Webb. David Miller, and
Mr.. Ticman. At the May session Messrs Webb AMI
hiller reported against concurrence; but Mr Miller
however incredible and extraordinary it may seem at
the same session actually made and signed minority
report in with the Board Of Alder
mon. which adopted. the nays being Messrs
Crane, Psrr, and James Webb who, together with
Messrs. Miller and Cock of the other Board trust
and believe VII receive the cordial appreciation of
a good citizens. From the incipent stages of this
diseIaoefr business down to the final passage of tho
bill. repeatedly told the members of either Board
that they persisted in extending the building in ques-
ton they thoud either extend its end. or. If
they must extend the east erd, that they should
provide and suitable the apparatus of
the three fire companies about to be suddenly turned into
the street. to which they all made solemn promises that
tfey would which proved usual to be utterly faa-
cious called on The Mayor Friday morning Of last
week and ssd him II he had signed the BILL AMI h. sad
that he bad not. bat ths. he had promise to do
urged Inn 70 wait few days which he declined saying
that he n expecting Mr. Blunt the District Attor
nes sth iie ban Ny what authority District Attor-
ney appointed a. especial agent to pocure the sig
natufe q the asyor Lave not yet satisfactorily
tsrcd frsfenty Mr. Blunt came in and handed the blu
% the MAY for his signature when the Mayer informed
Dir b. that had Just been relating the deplorable conse
quenee that might follow the xation Of his to
fh.h XhaN. nfpat eas.xl
said. in earncs. tone, What am to do / am
crairped for have TO take all your row.
dies Sea contemptibie sneer at my comrades; to
which dsdaned TO make n rspy-a reflection too com.
mon Of late from the proud officials connected with
municipal government against that meritorous u
citizens who sacrifice their hours Of business anu recra
ton waste the energies Of their early manhood dig their
ther widows and orphans 10y their patriotic and gratu
itons preserva ion of the largest commercial city the
western hemisphere In interview told the Mayor
that his signature would peril the chief business portion
OF our city that the hook and laddt Cham
bes street was the only company in the two lower d
trets wh g mprise the vast south Of line
nrg from The foot Moth Moore street to the Tombs
and thence TO the foot Of Market street. that the bin he
Of which would be npo. sbe to wor -ett,.y Nd s,
that In consequence Of the paity OF the population In
the lower ards and the isncnaion Of our citizens 10
DO the severe laborof the hook and ladder
vain ait. mpts had been made for orrsnze
her hook and ladder company in the lower par. Of the
city With this important information before him 1
finally told the Mayor that II he signed IN. bill
lshould conceive 1t sacred duty apprise the public
pl-
low hs reckless appreciation II this perncious bill Now
in addition 20 all this when consider that the city TO
vernen has vanly tried about two past pur-
chases mall lot below Chambers street for Engine No
8; that IL viii be impossible for the three companies in
Chambers street to be as avoraby located whose
buildings about to be demolished CRAFTY the Dis
tf'ct Attorney and others with more elegant accommo-
dstiors that frequently, while nre is raging down
town. although the carriages With full act OF hose
nm obliged 10 send them back to their houses for an
extra supply thereby losng much valuable time and
bauting the strength Of the remen in the performance
vCtffH Hrfa g,.
the lower part of the city-often calling on other ds
ricis for aid; that a, the recent Howard Hotel and
Dusrc street hres. was almost compelled TO strik.
general alarm, which should seldom, ii ever occur as
esch district constantly requires all the force allotted
Ctmmon Council have by the passage Of this bill with
full knowledge of all these facts deliberately exposed
ths naton-I last resort having appeael ID and
rcnonstrated In vain against such fatal legislation hnd
my.h reluctantly compelled 10 urge the insurance
psnes merchants, manufaeu u-ers artizans propricor
and citizens generally 10 lose tis In resorng 70
,uch measures the crisis demands for the eec
tus Of that valuable portion o our city be-
low Chambers street Indeed when behold the count
less vessels, and the millions millions dollars in
vested wares and warehouses below Chambers street
snd rtcur to the dcsoaing conagrstions Of and s5
both Of which att, nded a fireman my blood chil,s
with fear as contemplate the fearful tendency II the
cent municipal enactment that Ia about destroy three
ccent FIRE companies In q district that ieast spare
them which cannot fail to embarrass the department
yond conception, and peril much property can be
found In the the face Of the goke have
had much collision with municipal government dur
ING tnt pest ar vhich mas been the occasion OF often
introducing my name before the public which Is
ingy dspieasing TO me; but however unpleasant our
municipal legislation, at times is exceptions bio and
disastrous that. when IL seriously initiates with the
vital interests and eecual organization the Fire De
parment and with the safety OF the city entrusted
me M Chief Engineer, An resolved what may,
resist i In my csl and private capacity to the last
feel that have discharged my duty in sesscnsbiy
warning all classes Of my fellow citizens Of the mpeni-
ing danger to their property and lives
ALFRED CARSON. Chief Engineer.
Carr EscfsErRs OfftCS, June, 1851
Msrsse Affairs.