New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-19
.vv1.4L REPORT OF THE CHfEF ENGL-
NEER or TIE NEW-fORh fIRE DE-
PAPTMENT.
OrTIcs CHEZ ESsEtts tiss r.h hpfi1Ntss.Sr' ~ sss

P1RTALNI'
o,rlcs CHEZ EsepErs FiEE DE.n'sssr,}
No p Ellzabe,h street Feb. IL, lsS
T. "a, Honorable Common COsaoR' C'fy % Nta iefsi
CrrrfNys; By the ordinances OF the city IL De-
,es nv dstv as Chief Engineer, 10 present 10 your
body an Annual Report of the condlton OF tne rno
Denartment Of the City of New-iork; IL s one year
fiom this date that was elected as onlel
ard subuit for your consideration de'aiiea state
ent of the condition Of the Department anu s'sds-
tics that will exhibit prosperous ana ehe,nt man
soement of It's affairs under my d"ecI.0h. tPou es-
sfuir the duties of my respons bic posiilon, sass
tIic and rigid investigation into the discipline, ena-
ciepry and condition of the Department, and nave
from time TO time found necessary 10 MAKE SIGN al
terations my juc gment were deinahdeu 70 seyuo
prompt and vgilaLt services from this reuaoie '"uG
teer 0epartment Of our City Government
The condition OF the hose aud apparatus upon my
Inauguration into the Office OF Chief Engineer iosnd
in measure unqualified TO meet the exigencss OF tho
Department OF prepared to answer any sudden ae
mend for their services. By adopting syFem Oh
personal inspection, have been enabled, at1er mncn
labor, in placing nearly all the appar@us y, TS,
order and capable Of dong duty at any moment. inc
amount Of repairs necessary to acconplsh "na' was
absolutely needed has been large, but the amount eh
nended has been more than compensated by increased
efficiency, and consequently lees loss VI ua"ee W 'o
property of our citiZers.
The state Of the Department IN relation 20 soVu
order and, discipline, has never been equaled 70 rs
history and say in fact, that rowdyisl aihVIe
fire companies has become entirely unknown ior
which we aresomew hat indebted to the prompt acsnn
of the Fire Commissioners, vino in this Itlcuar
have been of vast benefit to the Department. a..
The Department consists OF IA Engineers ,oVo
members OF Engine Companies, 257 members OF Hose
Comr anies and ij2 members Of Hook and Ladder
Conparies making total Of $50 men, being an ln-
crease of "A over the number stated In the last report
The above are divided into 4s Engine Compssies,
Ga IIose Companies, and 10 Hook and Ladder Com
There are 40 engines in good condition. ordinary,
building and rebuilding; 43 hose carriages in good
opdition 10 ordinary IL hook and ladder trucks in
good condition, and ordinary 2 hose tenders in good
condition ordinary and ID building
There il in use in the Department, 80, 400 feet OF
ose in good order g. $50 feet in ordinary condition,
| md TO- 400 feet in very bad condition.
NUMBER OF MEN EACH COMPANY IS ALLOWED.
irst Class Engine Compsnie. entitled dto...n...7o
Second Cls'. Engine Companies are entitled
bird Class Engine Companies are entitled
Hook srd Ladder Conpanie. are entitled
Hose Companies are entiedto
Loss By FIRES.
am gratifed to be able to report that large de-
crease in the amount OF loss,s by fire has resulted
during my administration Of the duties Of Chief En-
gneer, and submit the subjoned comparative figures
the schedule of lose by fires during the years 1856
and 1857:
Total Of o.. by FIRE. 1876 per last annual
Total scuHi Ofos. By Ire. for is; to ssS
Decrease in e3o,Ns
LOCATIONS DOWN TOWN.
The leases OF several Of the houses occupied by
Companies in the lower section Of the city will ehorty
expire, and the services Of these Companies cannot
under any circumstances be dispensed with, it is
necessary that some measures should be taken at an
early day TO provide them with suitable locations.
The great amount of property and merchandise located
below Chambers street should be at least in position
OF security in relation TO fires and it is matter re-
quiripg prompt action from your Honorable body, TO
prevent serious and disastrous consequences from any
want OF force in the lower Districts The scanty
population below Chambers street renders the organi-
zation and continuance of Fire Companies down town
matter OF great difficulty, and as the duty required
frequent and lsborous, the accommodations are not
OF suitable character to keep fire organization
together. l would respectfully recommend that
portion ofth unoccupied public propertyin the lower
sections Of the city be appropriated for this purpose
and suitable buildings erected thereon. trust that
my suggestions in this respect will receive the at.eR
ton that the urgency Of the case demands.
H9oK AND. LADDER Duty DOWN rows.
Inc Department has, IN measure, suffered in is
efficiency by The want Of proper accommodations for
Hook and Ladder Companies doing duty down town.
There ls but one Hook and Ladder Company located
within the limits Of the Seventh and Eighth Dstrcts
and for some time past the efficiency Of this Company
mas been seriously impaired from want Of an ode.
quate number of men to perform fire duty.
have, consequently, ordered q Hook and Ladder
Company that is located within q convenient distsnce
OF the Eighth District to do duty in the lower sop
., & tne cty ana have found their services TO have
proved valuable upon every occasion.
Hook and Ladder Company No. T. one Of the most
encient and energetic in the Department have been
op pi service for some time in consequence of there
Couneil. The house formerly occupied by this Com
ptny was pronounced unsafe by the Fire Wardens,
ana was taken down by order Of the Mayor last Sum-
mer. Since which time this Company have not per-
'orned ine duty. II is necessary that Immediate
measures should be taken TO provide location for
nook and Ladder Company No. ., TO enable tho
company 10 resume active service. Several Hook
and Ladder Companies located in the upper section
of the city, volunteered to perform duty down town.
and | accepted their services in consequence Of the
emergencies Of the case.
Tie locations now occupied by several Companies
down town, under lease from private owners, have,
shortly will expire without any provision having
been made for renewed lease purchase of property
to continue their indispensable services to the De,
partment.
The following Companies should receive. A. a, earlv
day as possible the attention Of your body in res-
ton 10 providing permanent and suitable locations.
Engine Company No 3s Lease already expired
Hose Company No. y. Lease slresdy expired
Engine Company No. 20, New l9eatson aece.ssry
Hose company No a. New location neoesssry
u Uose CC"nPsLy 20 % New location necessary. .t-
ii'So NOnPaAS no %. New locsion Necessary.
., BELL TOWERS.
Inc Beu Tower on the City Hall is not Of such ser
e w as should be from ITS disadv ant ageous position.
ny Inc erection Of large buildings on the surrounding
oeaNly, the lockout s nearly useess as an obser-
ya'9ry ana would suggest that such alterations be
made IN the cupola will remedy this serious dii-
ING erection OF the new Tompkins Market, at the
Junction OF the Bowery and Third and Fourth avenues
VIII afford good opportunity for the erection Of sce