New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-03
our nsigbbors Of Brooklyn, after mature delib.


Grafton. have adopted an ordinance organizing .
paid Fire Department. OF course this w1 not
done without powerful opposition; but the better
Judgment of the more respectable and responsible
class of citizens finally prevailed. The ordinance
provides for chief engineer, one deputy and sevea
assistants, to be elected by the Common Council
annually, and body of fremen not exceeding $50
in M pber. The government of the Department
is confded to the Board of Engineers whose boon
are to be open at all times to the inspection Of ~
proper authorities. The apparatus now on hand
which is unseryiceable, or not needed, is to
be sold Each engine company will consist
of captain, lieutenant, two pipemen, two
drivers and IS men. appointed by the Board Of
Engineers. The hook and ladder companies are
each to consist of one captain, one lieutenant, one
driver and nine men. The pipemen and drivers are
to be stationed at the enginehouses and ono Of
each to be constantly on duty. The engineers haze
charge Of all operations at fires, and may call for
assistance from among the people if necessary, and
exercise the requisite authority to suppre" dr.
order and protect property. The Chief Eus'aear
has the supervision Of the apparatus Of the Depart
chimes, and all other general duties No fire con-
paDy can leave the city on any excursion or appear
in the streets as fremen, save at fires, exceptby
permission of the Common Council; and no ascot.
alton, society or club Of fremen, as such, viii DO
allowed. The salary of the Chef EngiSeer 10 fixed
at $500, Deputy $1,000, Assistant Engineers
$500, Captains $50, Lieutenants 800, Pipemen
ard Drivers 1866, Secretary $500, all other mem
bers $50 esch-payable monthly. The provisious
in regard to the and use of the engine houses
the exclusion of disordeHy persons, gambling and
spIituous liquors, are full and if carried out win
change the aspect of some Of these places very
materially. The machines are to be dragged ~
and frem the fires by horses, which are to be kept
ready at the various houses and attached immedi-
ately upon alarm BY the ppemen and drivers. All
fremen must be at least 81 years of age and cit
zens, and also re,ide or be employed in Brooklyn.
The system of paying firemen has been in prac-
tice for some twenty years in Boston, and for
shorter period in several Western cities, and has
been found to work eIcellently well. 1t is the
custom here in New York to speak very gngeriy Of
the Fire Department, as though the men belonging
to it were too good to be freely canvassed By tAa
press and the public. We cheerfaIly admit that
there are many bright examples Of heroism among
them; that there are whole companies whose men,
bers will compare fayOraby with any other clss
of citizens, in point Of neral and social worth.
There are, however companies which bear the
very opposite character; and still greater evil
found in that body of rufsns inseparabe from ,o'
unteer system, known as runners. While We 0ccar
sionaly find the neighborhood Of our eDgne-houss
quiet and free from evil surroundings, they ara
oftener places of danger and disgrace 10 the city.
The moral improvement which would be secured b.
the institution Of pad department, supposng ito
be placed under proper control and free from low
political influences, would be incalculabe; while
it is beyond dispute that such 81 stem would effect
reduction in the rate of insurance fully equal to
the cost Of its supports and in this city the cost Of
aPaid department, organized upon liberal scale.
would scarcely exceed the sum now paid annually,
directly and indirectly for that branch Of the pub
be service. If to this We add the introduction OF
steam 6re-eDgines, which, notwithstanding ali the
cutlery raised against them here by the politicians
interested in keeping up the present organisation
Of the fremen, have done most excellent service
where they have been fairly tried, We might, some
day or other, boast Of wellmanaged, cheap, COM
pact and respectable establishment for the sxtinc-
ton OF fires, in place of the heterogeneous mixture
Of good and evil, Of rufianism and respectablty,
which We low possess.