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

The Board a Councilmen commenced their meetings
for the August term last night, at their in the
City Hail. the President Of the Board D. Connover in
the chair The minutes of the last meeting were read
and approved.
Petitions we're first In order but none q any lmpor.
taDee presented.
Resolutions next in ordcr but only two or three
presented, which in reference 10 improve.
ments in streets.
Among the reports presented one BY Dr. S.
W. Ranney, chairman Of the special committee the
Blind Institution, which viii eone up for action To-
night From this report appears the affairs of ths In
s,tution are in very questionable condition The en-
ployes and superintendent refuse 10 appear bere the
commitee and testify The committee have appealed 70
Mr. Dlon the Corporation Counsel 10 have their powers
defined, and the Council makes answer u the
mittee'- appeal ap 20 this time. The chairman ~ he
emnittee DR. Ranncy, expresses his intention to 90
the rtbest extent ~ his powers In tn. 81
the affairs Of this institution He IL confident Of msrna-
nagement IN this institution, as said In report
Among the Communications presented was the fll0y-
ing report Il the Chief Engineer
ANNUAL REPORT or THE cHIEP ENGINEER.
rRg DyTAnNgsI
cny Es1suHs oy,rcx
August I, 1885. !
To TIN HoEop,nE CoSxoS Cousal:--
GgyuEsES I'm accordance with the ordinance direct
ing II, respectfully submit my Annual Report stating
the number ~ fires and alarms the amount Of damage
10 each month since the lat report the condition Of the
houses and aparatu the style and cabre Of the engines
when and by whom built, kr Also, the name, rank.
residence, and occupation q every member of the de-
pzrtment naming each company separaiely-thus show
ing the number of men la each Organization.
II will be that companies have nearly their
full complement Of men, while others have not enough
10 perform Efficient duty. This may BE- attributed in
grea, measure 70 the large number organized during the
Iast i've years TO the lad character and dsordery
duct of many Of their member- which keeps many god
men tom joining the department and drives Others from
s ranks the laws and ordinances recently passed
enforced, and the Board Of Fire Commissioners fully
sustained in their efforts 20 the department
II VIII permanently remove the evils alludej TO- and
place u basis that has been attained IN ths
any other city.
In The report of last year sia.s that The supply nf
hose was insufficient ard that offs three thoasani
hNn,sd lest vas required 20 give all the companies
Teen furnished consequently there Il great ecarcity
which severely felt by the department This ahoah
te remedied by ordering At osrt twenty thousand FEET
Forthwith to provide for the ergencies n tn coming
winter The hose spstains much injary by gmnbase'
and other vehicles passing when stretched IN the
streets for Ere purposes II sometimes that Grcs
destroy property than they otherwt-e w6u by the
hose teng burst IN this way An ordinance should be
adopted 70 prevent II In future.
Ihe hre alarm telegraph, erected by G Robinson Eeq
connecting the several te towers works admirably ani
ih value becomes more apparent g. The Department
dsiy ~ an additional and important Improvement Ia
ih oIerston would suggest that the residence ~ the
ehRhsef@ tbe bell towers and apparatus houses ~
n.ctep Va such q way that alarms bs imme lately
gwen ift n one house e. each ~ tie ohcrs tbas n4.sx
over one handr~i stations instead of eight a. a.
IL fAn y working 70 be sornewhst foil0w 49, N
hissking out The company iocAisi IN The vrnliy
wil err2uRh y possible but a4&lssa6e T. re- falfef
hey viii transmit the alarm 20 the Others and 4; The
time b. the engineers and 10 the b.l TO-. ~.
mafhjnes, fe 70 motion by the sin pie Uneh n syst
VIII continue " give The district and numb a ths e
pany sending the alarm for eight Or tea ralnsts r. M
ihe S'aions, - ths's Ptfsos desiring saiofEslsa "