The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-07

the locality Of the Are can obtain II by stopping m
n front Of the house of any fire conpanythe machine
being 10 arranged that Is compulsory the psrt
thus sins on them ali ali % responsiSy Ia system Of this
inguished without ringing the alarm bells and sending
the apparatus in every direction to purpose; waie
necessary information would be instantly Transmitted TO
and they would proceed direct thereto and consequently
reach Il in much shorter time Thsrc many sdvan
tsges that would accrue TO the Department ami 10 the
city generally by the adoption Of this system, which
your honorable body will readily comprehend upon due
eensidsrstion cs the matter trust will receive your
early attention.
The members Of the Department residing and those
doing business in the lower Of tho city sadly in
entirely too small AMI there being no lookout to tho
cupoia, would recommend that tower be erected In
that ysnsy and supplied with bell weighing not less
Mr.. Alfred f. Baker, employed by the insurance com.
ranies 80 investigate the origin u res reports that
during the year ending May a. l69 fires have pnr.
po1ely set. This coneuslvely proves my previous state
menis, that half the Gres the Of .gn
He also reports that twenty four persons arrested
all Of whom were discharged except three. The chief
cause Why 80 few arrested and convicted H. that the
present Fire Marshal has no authority to act except BY
In each case procuring warrants, &C. from the city
gstrates The number of fires for the past year much
less than Tor any Of the several preceding This may
A the advanced the number gradually decreased
from what they at Its beginning Being satisfied
proceed forthwith would be- attended with stil more
h,nehcial results would again urgently recommend an
early application to the legislature for tho appointment
u Fire Marshal with power TO proceed
whose duty shall be 70 thoroughly investigate the cause
Of every dre that occurs
The law adopted Last winter placing the Department
under the supervision Of Fire Commissioners elected by
the Representatives of the several companc far exceeds
Ia It's usefulness the most sanguine expectations Of Its
friends The Hoard has been In existence scarcely three
months yet have rid the Department large proportion
OF the disrepuabc characters attached thereto and
long those that remain Will be reached unless they
duct themselves In becoming manner when misron
duct 10 reported 10 the Commissioners theyvith tho
parties and prevent them from again becoming members
Of the Department. But here ther power ends. The
miscreanss who have been removed can--and many or
them do-unite with runners and create disturbances
between companies. of this kind occurred
Gently accompany complained Of being attacked by
member OF another inyesgu ton II was nsccraincd
ha, the person committing the assault had been pre-
vionsy expelled for ornses Of similar nn.ure and IA
nov but runner the aggrieved parties therefore had
him arrested but by giving security In u nominal
sum TO keep the peace for short time he liberated
BY the Judge. A II generally that these rowdes
have too much political influence 10 receive their just
deserts from our courts, would sugge-tf conslitu-
ionathat application be made to the Legislature to
elohe tho Fire Commissioners with full judicial power
to be used by them only in of attack otherwise
Interfering with hrcmen while in the discharge OF their
duty.
The Department. II composed-ncuding twelve cngi.
nsers-of 03l men, enrolled In ~ engine companies 58
hose companies, IL hook aud ladder conpanie- md
hyrant companies 20 engines 43 hose carriages and
hook and ladder trucks in good order engines aud
lo hose carriages are In ordinary condition; engines
and trucks are Indifferent and II engine. hose
nie- for which apparatus building are using old
There Is also good ensnes In the public yard Nos H.
10 is and one building No 49, the companes of which
havs a been disbanded BY the Commissioner execp. NO.
which was previously removed by the Common Coan
Gil There In ~ 900 fcet Of hose of which "a $50
feet IL In good condition.
feel that In justice ~ the members of the department
cannot close this report without saying word comp
mcntary to the very excellent order that large majority
are endeavcring to mantsin and while the report
decrease Of between three aud four hundred men, yet
the Department efficient than at pre-
trust that the friends of good order viii not In veil
doing. would urge upon the members generally 10
always endeavor to be respectful and courteous
other when duty. whatever persona difference may
exist between .hsin; and that BY the appointment Of
committees any small grcyance nisundcrsa be-
tween COMPANIES may b. arranged without complaining
Of each other and. under circumstance 10 attempt
retaliation for any real supposed injury Respectfully
submitted, ALFRED CARSON, Chief Engineer.