The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-03

corrupt spoils to be derived from the Pacific
railroad. What will the Senate do with the
treaty, and what will they do with Captain
Walker?
Our FIREMEN-It is quite time, with an
annual loss of five millions Of dollars by
fires in this city, to think whether the
organization of our Fire Department is
the best that could be devised. The fact
that fires are more frequent and more de.
structive in New York than in any other city
in the world, without single exception. is
enough Of itself to suggest serious inquiry into
the means we possess for the prevention and
thesarrest of conAagrations The inquiry will
appear the more natural when it is borne in
mind that our firemen are more numerous, and
possibly more able-bodied than any similar corps
either in Europe or America. Figures have
been collected by careful statistician, showing
that in London, with four times the number Of
inhabitants and seven times the number Of
buildings, fires occur only half as frequently as
in New York: and establishing likewise that
other continental cities as populous as this, sell
dom suffer from fires, though the number Of fire.
men falls far short Of ours. These data lsod
naturally to the inquiry whether there b not
No one has ever questioned the courage, or
the endurance of our fremen. Every week that
passes over affords fresh illustrations Of both. On
those grounds cavil is silent But it is suggested
and not without strong show Of reason that
| greater efficiency would be obtained from body
ofhired men. acting like soldiers, under regular
officers, and combining their efforts with order
and discipline. 1t is urged that the voluntary
system can never work well in . large city In
| small communities, voluntary fremen have the
stimulus Of personal ambition to incite them to
do their duty; in large cities, where most men,
bers Of the force are necessarily known only to
few, that incentive to exertion il lost, and
when the first flush Of zeal has passed. no mo-
| tive but a bare sense of duty continues to in
spire the fireman. We all know in how many
instances that motive has been sufficient to
prompt gallant deeds; but we know likewise
that for the bulk Of humanity it is not particu-
larly or invariably potent, and 10 apt to yield
| to interest or love Of ease Practical observers
further suggest that under the present system
gangs Of idlers-men generally reckless and de-
praved-contrive to hang about the fire sta
tions, offer themselves as voluntary firemen,
and commit acts Of which the odium has on
more than one occasion fallen on the innocent
fire companies. This inconvenience would be
obviated by system of paid fremen working
like police force, and needing no voluntary
aid. Again, it cannot be denied that it has
happened more than once recently that the
efficiency of our fire companies has been i'm
paired by want Of concert of action between
them Imperfect police regulations prevented
the various engines and men from cooperating
as they might have done and combining their
exertions for the grand end in view. This OBJ
lection would also be removed by the organi-
cation OF a paid force, under an experienced
officer, and moving with the precision of a mill
tary corps.
Boston. Ia London and Paris, as every one
knows, destructive fires are of very rare oc-
currence. It is the common boast of Braid.
wood that in less time than fire could consume
. single story Of house, he could fill the
building with water: and the boast is so far
justified that losses paid by insurance Offices in
London are generally for damages incurred in
the extinguishment Of fires. A like immunity
il enjoyed by the people Of Paris, among whom
it is the rarest thing in the world for dwelling
house to be destroyed by fire.
1t is estimated that our fire companies cost
us about one hundred and twenty-five thousand
dollars year. For less sum we could main
tain an ample force Of 1remen, equipped and
organized on the same principle as the fire CON-
panies Of Boston. Even II it cost US twice that
sum we should save several millions of dollars
by adopting the plan. 1t would ensure greater
promptitude than even the very creditable zeal
Of our present fire companies now secures:
would ensure concert of action among the fire.
men; would prevent cor fusion at fires and en-
tirely Illustrate the criminal attempts of indi-
viduals who offer volunteer assistance to fire
companies; and il placed under experienced and
judicious superintendent, would probably
place New York in the same position in this
matter as other large cities. Our City Council
would do well to give the subject full conside-
ration.
ENGLISH AscENDANcY IN CuBA.-The Spanish
government could hasdly have selected a