The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-13
AFFAIRS IN THE CITY.

The Firemcn's Remembrance.



The Firemcn's Remonstrance.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
c MAsom i p,. board me. at the usual hour-ar
last meeting were read and approved
PETITIONS REFERRED.
or members Of Hook and Ladder Company No, l. to
sundry citizens against the proposed grade between Fifty
second and Sixty-second streets OF John Brady and
VIM Lent for payment for services rendered to the City
Inspectors department Of David D. Jorney and Others
to have Lexington avenue lighted with gas or Omnibus
drivers to take the licensing of omnibuses out Of the
hands Of the Mayor Remonstrance against sewer in
Nassau street, between Beekman and Ann streets or
O. o. Byrne, for lease Of southcry side pier No 49,
North river Ofresdens of Eleventh street to have sds
walk IN sud street, between Avenue and G. OF Pro-
perty owners and doing business In the nehbor
hood of Fulton ferry in South street and streets ada
blocking up South street near the ferry or j. Barnard
and 6OO others, in Seventh ward in the vicinity of
Jackson ferry, in favor of removal Of the Ferry
landing on Brooklyn side from Hudson Bridge
street Remonstrance OF the Board Of Engineers and
Firemen against the organization of fire companies
Referred to committee on fire department
THE REMEMBRANCE rREMES.
TO the Hon the Common Council Of the City Of Nec York
The officers Of the New York Fire Department assem-
bed at Board of Engineers and Forcmen ut Fire
mans Hall, on Monday evening March 8, 1859 have
noticed with extreme surprise the organization of so
companies and believing that such measures viii not
conduce to the benefit Of the department are
to the interests Of their they respectfully
but earnestly demonstrate against the same for the fol-
lowing among many other reasons -
with but two or three exceptions, they Sse not re-
quircd and upon which most important objection are
based the arguments in favor others hereafter
The total force to Dec l. 1851 exceeded thirty
I'VE engines. fyone hose nine hook and ladder, and
three hydrant companies and but seldom that number
there always existing less vacancies, In
quence of companies disbanded suspended withdrawn
from the service Upon reference to the proceedings
the Common Council during the three years preceding
Dec 1861 your honorable body will perceive that the
number Of new companies of each Glars organized within
that period five engine ten hose and three hook and
ladder companes-total cightecn-an average Of six
companies per year
There have been organized in process Of organ
cation since the above date to the present time period
OF less than three months six engine hose and
hook and ladder companytoal ninc or at the rate Of
thiryx companies per year compared to the average
the preceding three years Again, Of the eighteen
panes formed during sad three years three to fill
vacancies whereas the nine since organized strictly
and exclusively companies.
But there has not been proportionate increase in
average number of fires and alarms is no greater now
than it was previously. Hence there is data upon
which to base this addition to the force of the
department. and which IL unparalleled in it's annals
CeptDg only the occasion when twenty -four companies
organized at meeting Of the Common Council in
1880 and from the blghting effects of which upon the
welfare OF the department 1t took years to recover
1.-The addition of more companies than required is
injurious instead OF beneficial to the department
Upon reference to the records of the hose
the branch generally and necessarily first required it is
found that their apparatus is brought into service
average only out Vi three times Hence nat,-
rally superintendent force would impede the operations
of that portion duty and greatly impair its efficiency
An honorable rivalry Of the strongest guarantees
power especially and peculiarly this Of the public
service; but the proposed additional being
necessary the conflict Of interests will become
qu, and the public good will be forgotten in mea-
sure though unintentionay perhaps under the excite
mcnt Of an unwholcsome contest for supremacy
3This great accession OF new il act of injustice
the older members Of the department The compa-
MES will be entitled to aggregate of from $50 to 400
against total of only $40 during the previous three
years. As your rcmonstrants have shown that there Is
ustihcation in their opinion for the
panies and should your rcmontrans correct in the
opinion they have formed that such is unced
for then such increase 10 act Of great injustice
citizen tax payers while it is still greater injus
tee to the pre- active members Of tcpar
time must capse before sufsicient number OF
apparatus be completed with which these new compa
MES TO perform duty; whereas. they receive a the
benefts 81 active hrcmcn from the time Of their ogani
r.;son for complaint I've rro."t s-aat
respect that The policy Of Unfortunately organizing
companies IL pcrseyerco in. will MOI only be Productive
scord but that its baneful Influence may lead cNiI
ally I. REORGANIZATION II tho department
4--Sad companies have been ;il others prap1' j
70 b. eIeanized in direct oppoiton to the Judgment ~
The hui figrscr. ard nearly III H. assistants and IN
that rcI,ci. ~ violation every precedent 81 other
years. excepting tn. Ell 1879 hrrctorre alluded T..
CAS- ciiiztIs yGrr r'Iao.s,ants object: THAT need
lfs ana nty onerci;s eSpirc VII! bc incurred
by the tx ,r,y,rp portion Of thr community
The :rpr g.it 20 tn city or :'aaru and houses
the eighteen companies rrs,i .rd daring the three
years IrepGre D,c lns,r ISL ws a. mar ~ W. can
culr ai,s VIII br yre.tr III isup .fiiun account
of The aigr ratio 81 cia, conpAnicl AID Other pro
bale lr.a,u not rccGsary to mention ~: throwing
there co' H'raiiuh. aside and ltfu;nc - tiss tae
av,igpc above ard The cot 10 The city treasury will he
IT the rate 81 Isl ono pr AMI 10 this
should - adsed tbs >rrnitnrss for sut ,iinr u.s I'd
dt!on; iofcr ri sfc prod ~ creation Wo.a have
been warranted ~ II, growth d ia city uurr crtuiry
circumstances: until then f... il .niy be Il would
tc lurti, uron the ay paycI'
~ corriuicn. your rcrom.r.ts assembled a.ara-
raid ak your rtctfn ration Of these thor
ctj,c ia III, zen conviction = their justice aud with
the b, hat ya,' hons rl body cannot All TO suppor..
as MOI pre- vios Common Councils nave done H. eff
al he ,tt4 n.