The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-16
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.


Isaac O. Barker, Eq, President, in the chair, and
quorum present The minutes OF the previous meeting
were read and approved.
THE FIRE MARSHAL g FOURTH sENu-ANNuAL REPORT.
MAYOR COMMON COUNCIL, AND roucs Jrsrcxs
CITY COUNTY
IN laying before you my fourth annual report
bracing the period between the 30h or November 1885,
and ne LIST q June, 1885, permi, again call your
attention 70 that part Of my previous report relating
the importance Of law Tor more per ect and safe
strucuon OF built ings Some Of my recon mendatons
am gratired 10 say have met your consideration and
approval
very decided improvements. In so dong tina; body
encountered strong opposition. but not more, pro
baby, than usually occurs IN matters where the pc
cunary interest OF large number OF influential citt-
zens concerned Had the bill been passed as first
urements OF the community much better than the law
II stands but the opposifg interest caused many al
eratons 70 be made, ~hic iea imperative 10 several
Parts 81 Tor Instance refers 10 - FOR the
penalties &C. although the latter section MAKES provis
Oh section q probably the one intended. This
error however, nnds ~ remedy 10 the section which
gives Supreme Court Of this State the Court OF Com
mon Pess and the Superior Court respectively, power
jurisdiction 20 restrain BY injunction the erection
aiteraiio OF any building ~hi;h may conflict with the
law The procurement ci injunction will he OF the
rst eutive measures To correct the evil There I but
little doubt the or numbering the section occurred
by clipping and cutting the various Of the bill in
der 10 meet the appreciation Of those opposed 70 t. The
nds the FIRE limits 10 loo feet north u Forty second
street also contains section which directs the
OF 'constructing brick buildings throughout the county
ton beyond the fire limits which then extended 10 Thirty
second street synopsis o. this law embracing the i'm
portant portions viii be found annexed 70 this report
In my former communication ! suggested that
every builder owner should be compelled 10
send 70 the Board Of Fire wardens a specifics alton
OF the work about 70 be undertaken the same 70 be
gstered book kept for that purpose open at all times
Dor public inspection This Recommendation has not mot
with proper CONFEDERATION, and am sorry 70 add IL has
been omitted In the law. Without such a clause,
buildings many PARTS u the county can be commenced
and flushed without the knowledge Of the asthorues
An
next session legislature will increase value of
the h~ and be q the create. se5vse 70 TIE f,e MAJ
efficiency and satisfaction 70 the public.
In the annexed notes Of references will be found the
evidences Of experienced builders and masons giving the
proper distance Of al kinds o. wood work, from chin
neys hot air hues and registers Their opinions, based
on experience, correspond with the statements have
published, and confirm the necessity tina, part Of
the recent law which Affects that branch OF building
and Chimney dues more ires were anticipated las, win
Ter actually occurred This may be attributed 10
The fact that many occupants Of houses fearful % hres
refused 10 continue the OF hot air furnaces The
frequent cautions founded facts given by me 10 my
reports the daily papers have been the means OF
those who have escaped thus far may be the FIRST TO
suffer next winter. Wood, when permitted 70 remain
within fcur inches Of heated furnace sue or register
must In The course Of time become so dry and nismma
bic as 70 be subject 70 ignition At any moment
rpSgsESr BorsR.
Your attention drawn my last report 70 the class
Of buildings called tenement houses and that the Legs
lature Instituted inqurT into the Of
COMMITTEE for purpose THIS iudicous o. lcgsa-
ton will produce beneficial encs In more Than way.
N viii tend 10 bring the properly holders " Of
their duty to the public and viii awaken the tenants 70
the necessary OF becoming more cleanly and careful IN
their nnes which OF late years have been most sadly
negiactad The committee, In the discharge u their
duous DUO 70 be hoped, viii NOT ose sight Of the
houses insecurity and unsafey constructed which almost
exclude the possibility OF escape IN the event Of are One
narrow staircase for ingess and egress altogether In
adequate Cor The relief Of the occupants Of such
buings 10 case Of rc sudden alarm from any cause
IL will BE- that the greater part OF these dwellings, u
NOT The whole Of them have wood sheds, built OF pine
boards the cellar and divided OF FOR each tenant You
imagine how rapidly the flames woud spread II IRE
sbould occur 10 q these sheds and how quickly the
smoke would on the Wsirway, rendering ~
almost certain sunccaon any endeavorng 10 es
care In this event. which u liable 10 occur M any
mont staircase, erected the outside Of the
building with entrance 70 u from each story would
nv could be built hout of three Of The stories
Anything o. this KIND wvid prevent the loss Of the lives
"a sfrlehted inmates on occurrence OF IRE.
An Improvement OF this Description In houses already
built and tenanfed would, sure, amply repay tho
for The outlay - would be the means Of keeping
compelled 70 seek other bsbisons, fearing the serious
STORAGE 90 yiRr -vosKs
noticed In my previous report The adoption Of an
ordinance by the Board 81 Aldermen IN reference 70 The
s,yarr az Are. works II sent 70 the Board o. Coun
,n cr concurrence but action had until The June
49, when amendment vas made, giving the dealers
~ a. kot Cor sale amount Of hre~orks NOT W on
n "a, I'D dollars. The amendment vss sent v the
t!rrrne-i Dot thai body adjsurned before any
tstea The nv "shgnuou NJ ne ofiEin 81 the
.a III ghlch tex pace .tst Jnns, year aep. at
4~ RI ~ ~ dorbt been the cause ~
~ n NJ. ON she part o. manufacturers,