The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-19
The New York Fire Department..
VISIT OF THE COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEE TO CT
CINNATI-RESULT. &c.


from the Cincinnati Gazette, July III
A few weeks since, Mr.. Benj. F. Pinclney, mem
Der Of No. 70 Phenix Hose Company, and member
Of the City Council Of New York, Introduced reso
appointment Of committee o. five, to enquire into
the practicsbility OF organizing the fire department
and changing the present system. The resolution
Use we adopted, ana ! Msssrs PPinckney, George v.
Alderman r. ]. Smith, were appointed said commit
tee. These gentlemen upon consultation determin.
ed to visit Cincinnati at their own expense, and
gather what information they could Of our pay de-
city on Monday lmorning last, and arrived here on
Wednesday evening. The chief engineer Of the
New York department was expected on Thursday,
and the trial Of the steam fire engines and the cal
until yesterday (Fridsy) afternoon. In the mean
time the committee visited the several engine hou
SEES, and number of our public institutions, Miles
Greenwcod's foundry, and Clifton, Mt. Auburn and
According to previous arrangement, on Friday
afternoon, the committee were stationed in pro.
minent position on the corner of Sixth and Vine
streets; at half past three O'Clock. and in . few
minutes after the steam fire engine "Uncle Joe
Ross" was stationed on the intersection.
At o'clock precisely the signals, four large red
balls in the lookout on the Mechanics Institute,
were elevated, every fire alarm bell In the city
psratus for the corner Of Sxtand Vine streets The
"Citizens' Gift steam fire engine was just five
minutes and IA seconds coming from their engine
house, on Eighth, between Plum and Western Row,
distance Of ak squares. From the time the torch
was applied until steam raised sufficient to work
the engines wsssx minutes and fortythree seconds,
and nine minutes and three seconds when the water
was passed through two line Of hose and leaving the
nozzle.
The several companies located on the streets be-
low named came up on the following time:--
ls. On vine between Front and Colambia-ahead of
time.
as. George, between Plum and Western row. min.
SIS. Fourth, between Walnut and vine-i min Sec
-. Sixth and Sycamore-n0t out.
sc. Vine between Canal and Court-1m. 10 sec.
6's. East Front street-6m. q sec.
rs Webster between Sycamore and Main-4m. % sec.
as. Cutter between Laurel and Bests-5m. 17s
9's. Race between Fourteenth and Fifteenth-3 min.
4S sec.
los Corner Lawrence and symmes-m. sec.
Fps Sixth between Freeman and Carr-6m. Sec
12's Intersection Of Vine and Hamilton road min.
I3's Bank between Western row and Iiun-5m so sec.
1fs Corner Fifth and Smth-1m. ID sec.
Hook and Ladder Race between Fifth and Sixth-0m.
10 sec.
twill be seen that within seven minutes after
the first alarm was given, every company In the
city was on the ground, ready for work. The steam
in the Uncle Joe Ross was also raised In very few
minutes, and both engines were set to work throw
ing water through one hundred feet Of hose, one,
two, three, four, Hve six, seven and eight lines at
the same time, and through 2. IL, II, aud inch
nozzle, distances ran ging from ninety to one hun
bred and sixty feet.
Each engine threw water through two line Of
hose into one short section, and out of two inch
MOBILES above the high pinnaclcs on the Institute
building, perpendicular height Of about one hun.
dred and twenty five feet. Both engines also tarcw
eight streams through three-quarter inch nozzles
distance Of one hundred and twenty feet. The
engines were tested 10 every possible way, and the
committee we understand, are well pleased with
what they Witnessed. They say that the working
Of the engines exceeded anything ever saw or
imagined, and win amply repay them for their visit
to the West. They win return to New York city on
Monday.