The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-30
Reorganization Of the Fire Department..

For some time past convention composed OF delegates
from the Fire Department Board of Representatives, and
the Fire and Water Committee of the Boards OF Aldermen
and Councmen has been in session to draft plan for
the reorganization Of the Fire Department Of this city,
the old city laws and ordinances conflicting, ncilect
i've, and many of them absurd. The result Of the
veniion will be made public. The following may
relied upon correct abstract Of what the convention
has decided upon
Sec prescrbes that there shall be ono Chief Engineer
eighteen Assistant Engineers and many engine, hose
and ladder men may be appointed in accordance with
the law organizing the Board Of Fire Commissioners to-
Pether with such hydran men a. have not yet completed
their term OF service as remen (Ihs disbands hydrant
companies in about two years time.)
Sec provides that the Chief and Assistants shall be
elected BY plurality vote.
Sec declares that the engineers for the First Second
and Third districts shall hold Office one year, Fourth,
Fifth and SNth two years; SEVENTH Eighth and Ninth,
three years. and their successors thereafter each three
years.
Secs s, 9, T. s. and 10 regulate the election for Chief
and Assistant Engineers. There shall be convention
held in the First district in the Second and Third
Jointly, in the Fourth and Fifth, in the Sixth and
Seventh, and in the Eighth and Ninth. The foreman
and one delegate each company doing duty in the
districts shall compose the convention Companies that
do duty in districts where two conventions are held being
allowed to choose which Of the two they will vote in and
shall nominate three times as many candidates as there
persons to be voted for These nominees must reside
in the districts for which nominated and shall be voted
for by every fireman in the city who has been three
months continuously member Of any company, who
has been three months member of the Department and
has lost than ten days during that time by ieav
ing company to Join another The Chief is to be
minated by the foreman and delegate OF each company
the Board of Engineers designating the time and place
for the convention to meet and the place for holding the
polls.
served such five years and the Asssnts three years
Sec 20 makes the engineer who has served longest
such the senior. II also makes the senior engineer the
Chief, in the event of that Office becoming vacant
Secs % to 80 cover the duties of the foremen, assist
ant forcmen and secretaries OF companies and of
panes generally in going to- at, and returning from
res and about their houses There Is considerable
matter in this and the law is very stringent in its provi
sions; no more So however, than every good fireman
will deem necessary for the preservation Of order and
discipline
Sec AZ covers the Fire districts The First district en-
braces all north Of seyentyrst street the Second and
Third embraces all between Twenty and Seventy
first streets divided by the Sixth avenue the Fourth ald
Fifth from Canal ID Twenty sixth street, west of Broad
way and the Fourth avenue-the two districts being d.
street. Sixth, Greenwich and Seventh avenues; the Sixth
and Seventh east Of line drawn through Catharine
street. Bowery, Canal street. Broadway and Fourth
nue. the Seventh (prcsent Sxth) running up Catharnc
street Bowery thence through Division to Allen street.
and up the First avenue 10 Fourteenth street, and
down to the river the Eighth and Ninth frcm the foot Of
Catharne street. vp the Bowcy TO Canal street. and down
Canal street 10 the North rverthe boundary between
latter sends the present Eighth district to Canal street,
only our streets incrcase--and cuts of the prestnt
Seventh at Catnarne strcet)
Sec IS compels companies TO do duty in the districts
where located unless the Chief Engineer and the Fire
Commissioners jointly order otherwise
Secs a. As and 46 regulate the manner Of appointment
and removal Of bell ringers, and define their duties
they are TO be nominated by tho Chief 70 the Mayor and
TO be removed only by trial and conviction before
/ the Commissioners.
Secs 46 to 6l reguetc the wearing Of badges and IRON
pecs, and define the punishment tcr violation OF thC
ordnance.