New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-05-05

have been treated iT'iisr OF ic-nI have
been ordered H. and thew the N r has endel TAs
Frc Narions h.v' performed sher fay as WI ~
could he expected. cons '.rs the snl!gcs o. their
Lcr and tie time 'hy have rotel 20 Chs '1s" Of
buildings: bat ~ fesci- no W rendering i c'igu-y
on the Common Coua1 10 ,rt rDe tie reports, aohin:
hiss been done
The facts have no, even been Published in Ii, public
prints AMI our citizens have beer Ettci 70 pursas ihoir
daily avocat-lns among deceptive brlluys liable az any
moment h. FALL and sim rcr'1n % occasion loss Of NJ,
in case of FRI without caution n'e " warning. Or
deduction from these premises IS tha such an extension OF
tho power Of the Fire Warers viii enable the 10 com
rel the removal o. dangerous buildings, law which
sha obe the sworn guardians the Cyto act prompuy
uvcn their reports il absolutely necessary ~ means OF
guarding agans. the dangerous alterations Of buildings
We would recommend amendment oi The fire laws ~
strsIing the AMI lossces from making alterations
therein cxccp, under the sanction Of permits from the
proper authorities ard rendering the duty OF the latter to
see that the conditions Of such permits faithfully OBJ
served AGAIN il seems be established that twelve Fire
Wardcns, even If they should devote their whole tme
10 the task. (which for $500 per onHum, their
proseu, salary is not 10 lie expected could not properly
perform the duty assigned 10 them. Competent witnesses
have testified that builders mason are the persons best
qualified to Judge otho security ecuy ofbudngs,
and this appears be consistent with reason and common
sense From the statements made this branch OF the
subject we say unhe.,a-ngly that the number OF Fire
Wardens should be q, eas. doubled, their whole time
devoted 10 the service end their salaries proportion
ably increased. We believe that fellow citizens
will not complain Of any just expenditure for
the better protection Of their lives II further ap-
peas from the evidence Of sl maons tlt walls OF the
Thickness required By the present freaws are unsafe If
run up the hight of siN stories AMI that these laws
contain DO restriction whatever to the hight Of build
ncs There is law except that Of gravtation, to pre-
i tartr lrf+ IN tho u,onu An
amendment tn elGws omec this difficulty required
Tho protection Of property in buildings fire from teYess
rot properly provided for II has been stated under OATH
during tho investigation that small badges bearing the
numbers Of different fire companies may be purchasedby
persons unconnocted with the Fire Department and tina,
when exhibited the Police by the wearers the latter
are suffered to pass into burning buildings ON the strength
Of such credentials. The facilities which those passports
anord to thieves for pursuing their nearioas desgns in
comparative safety arc obvious. The evil however does
not ex in te badges which were introduced for laud
able PURPOSE but the absence of law restricting their
rse under severe penalties to any others than members OF
the Fire Department. Any villain may assume not only
the badges but the gerb u a fireman without being pan
laLe therefor The department justly jealous OF its char
acer for honor and ntc gritty Is DESTROYS OF having the
assumption of it, uniform by outsiders made misdemeanor
by statute and trust the expelicncy OF such law
may be pressed upon the next Legislature. The Fire De
rartmcnt does not seem have received either from the
LEGISLATURE Of the State The City Government the sup
rort and as sianco which lis important objects AMI
great services ontiilo H. Like other large bodies II has
occasionally been infested with unworthy members, who
have procured admission into its ranks for Objectionable
purposes but these the Chief Engineer informs Us, have
been expelled on their character becoming known.
We regret to say that in M endeavors to purify itself the
Department has not always been seconded by the auhor
ties On the contrary individuals repuliatcd BY the De-
partmon for good and sufficient have been rcnstael
by the Common Council. 1t notn evidence that thshas
been done by tho present Common Council but such acts
are charged upon their predecessors One OF the most ser
rious evils connected with tho working Of the Fire Depart
ment the alleged mpossbiy OF preventing boys from
running with the machines and entering buildings fire.
The members of that body whom we have examined
under oath united in rcprehendng the practice, and stated
that was against the rules of the Department but seemed
unable to suggest any method by which it could be pre-
vented. The evil is unquesonaby great one, and
opens such wide field Of temptation to the vagran youth
of City demand the most serious consideration OF
the public and energetic action the part of the author
ties In this connection consider duty to call the
attention of the Police to the improperly Of permitting
BOYS TO enter burning buildings Policemen know or if
tev do not they should be informed by their slpeors that
persons under age cannot legally be members Of the Fire
Department Their youthful appearance should be proof
positive that they do belong to the organization
Whichever badge they may have in their hands Or on their
coats the badge OF boyhoOd impressed upon thel races
! fhou,d exclude them.
AZ pertinent to the general objects OF this investigation
we call the attention OF the authorities the intro ucon
of steam boilers into buildings in various parts OF tie
City end in close proximity crowded tborou hares II
competent engineers were in all employed to sHperin
tend the machinery should not consider necessary to
dwell upon this point but in where steam boilers
under tic OF persons who have not been properly
educated for their responsible positions consider these
boilers hut little better than masked volcanoes liable at
any time TO explode and produce consequences akin in
character and extent 10 the ague calamity II appears
to US that the bcs safeguard against this class Of dangers
would be found in a competent Board empowered to ex-
rmino all stationary apparatus within the City limits
stated periods end TO pass upon the qualifications OF
engineers To this end we recommend the passage OF
law creating such Board and enaciing the necessary
penalties give force to its precautionary measures In
view OF the prominent pers to which we have re-
ferred We would suggest the appointment OF competent
Committee whose duty II shall be To draft system OF
fire laws for the better protection OF our citizens
The reading Of verdict being finished, vote o;
thanks was passed to Messrs Coleman & Setscn, pro-
prietors Of the Aston House for their bcraty in furnish
ing fee the room occupied by the Coroner and Jury Tor
over week They refused receive pay Tor the room,
Notwithstanding it oLered The jury also compll-
cnted Coroner Hilton for the very able manner in which
lie had discharged Bis arduous duties this occasion The
Coroner in turn thanked the Jury the ability and pa
Hence hoy had exhibited during the inyesigat5n after
which they were discharged
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FIRES