New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-19

o,s;on Of our oity IL much felt by the Department
and a. III cost will not be Of an expensNo -
lore that il may be decided upon 10 0i'''" ="
would respectfully reeOmneha ."aIy s"" CHANGED I
In relation 20 Bell.Ringers be en1ueY 9s, enas Pl,
have at different times made nd obep causes that
tnsets m mnhseded and the parties not even repfi-
sraed while others against whom no causc lEi oIi' ~,
ris;n. las ever existed, have been sum narhy us-
Pein.s ;.hout cause being assigned for such action
.'no,ine power. II is III just to many deserv'
'ne 'e ,bo have suffered in this respect, that taer
S,"sl WAS obtained, not from neglect OF duty, Dut
ons"ons never explained, and consequently un-
ssd ,oy and Injurious to the welfare of the Depart
,en. would suggest the propriety OF the ord!nanc
being so framed TO give the nomination OF BELL
RinSsrS 10 the Board of Engineers, subject to con-
funation by the Common Council.
NEw HOSE.
Jna communication TO your Honorable Body, some
tine since called attention TO the necessity Tor ad'
yertising for seveniy-fve thousand feet OF new nose
The supply Of hose now in use u enreiy inauequa'e
and only by constant care is kept IN Partdl order
New hose i wanted 10 promote and secure an efficient
discharge Of duty by the Department ana also 10 pre-
vent a waste Of water, that at present cannot be
avoided. The necessity for an I'm nedis'G Ia coract rs
direct the proper authority TO advertise and award
tire came as soon as possible
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HYDRAyrs.
The objection TO tAe fire hydran.s now in use cen
sists principally in the waste, which, even when In
perfect ORDER leaves from four to six inches Of water
above the yalye, liable to freeze, and render the
hydrsnt useless.
This waste is a small valve worked by the pressure
of water weights springs, etc, liable at any moment
to be out of order and in which there is surety
action and when out Of order it can not be repaired
without digging up.
are obviaed. The part OF this hydrant the construc
top Of which is new, consists principally in the waste
pipe and its connections. The lower part Of the rCd i
bored out and branch added, the branch Dehg n1l'
sxrnbnD w
hydrant is closed, completely emPties H. ea'Ins NJ
water to freeze.
The valve Il opened and shut by of the screw
al the top in the usual manner, and Is so constructor
that il shuts the waste when open and opens Wheh
shut. ,.r 49,. h,.a.o,. - Tho
simple manner in which it can be repaired ny taxing
90 The upper part OF the case in which 1t Is lncloseo,
the head pate can be removed and the entire WORKS
taken out thereby doing away completely Win dls-
eipg up the streets for the purpose OF repairs. -.
The whole construction oi TINS hyGIant Is toI ,nPo
a, qet ont of order OF to be above the comprehension
WyoUld recommend that the CrotOn Aqueduct De-
nsrtn,ent be directed to use this hydrant when new
ones are being put down for service.
FIRE TELEGRAPH.
xouId call the attention of your honorable body
10 the proprety of introducing the fire telegraph into
the houses of different fire companies located some
distance from bell towers. In many lnstances-irom
the peculiar position of their lOcaltythe alarm bells
are not available in carrying an alarm, and conse-
quently companies are compelled TO rely upon theH
own resources to enable them to be prompt at hres'
The EXPENSE Of such introduction would not be large
while the great benefits are seli-evident aud worthy
ci being considered and adopted.
REPAIRS TO BUILDINGS ETC.
have been assisted in my Efforts to advance the
Oepsitmeut TO state of efficiency by the cooperation
of Ae then acting Street Commissioner recognized by
your honorable body, under whose authority and
written direction have caused to De repaired sucI o
e houses as were out of order and transacted other
necessary details peculiar to the wants ct the De-
partpent. ,........o.,. A. hoe
p,evented many needful improvements, erection OF
buildings and providing apparatus Tor tue use OF tue
Department that needed and have been recon-
mended by your Honorable Body; but have endeev-
ored while unable to provide for all the wants de-
nanded to so manage by smali eApena.u,e'' .uas
Temporary convenences and acc ommodatlon nave
been allowed until the work ordered by your Eouora,
be Body should be complsted. would recoIniheho
that bureau be established under my Department,
10 have control all work and supplies to be FUR
pisbed ard supervision over all expenditures con-
nected with the Fire Department.
As the building and repairs to houses s1ould nat
urslly be ordinate part OF the duty OF the Cniei
Eppiueer's Department | would advise that an ordl
nance be adopted to place that duty III my Depart
ment
find The law authorizing the issue of badges t.
members OF the Deparmen to be productive OF much
evil. Ii has not accomplished what was designed by
its introduction but has added largely to the cause
for c.Innlautlt 0eSl Slglc1 10 IHc HuulOO
Of badges that are either lost or stolen amounts to
over one thousand at the present time and 1t s grow
ing TO be a OF dissatisfaction among nleoSrs
Of the Department at the necessary OF wearing theh'
The ownership of stolen badge gives free access to
thieves and other dangerous persons, to the close
proximity of fres where under the recognized shield
Of the Fire Department they can perform ther helar-
Gus calling without suspicion or interruption IL Is
1e-kno1n fact that co ats on which badges are worn,
have been stolen from different apparatus while on
their way to res and it is not difficult to conjecture
that they were taken solely for the purpose OF procur
ing badge to give recognized abundance to build
ing on fire. 80
Iwoud advise an amendment to the law, that the
badges be aoiisned urJogetner save Tor the "gneeI
Board ard officers Of companies.
FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
The Board of Fire Commissioners, TO whom Is deie-
gated the power to try all eases OF nsubordnatlon 9c
curing in the Department, have discharged the uu
ties Of their position in fair and Impartial manner
1t ID delicate and at times almost an Impossible task
TO decide upon the many complicated cases that are
brought before them; and though perhaps there may
be difference of opinion among members OF the De
partmeut in relation to some OF their decisions, yet
Il il acb nOwedged by all parties that the CommIs'
sjoners have been actuated only by desire TO ad-
vance the ineJ ests of the Department The selection
OF the Commissioner Board lies wholly within tue De-
partment itself and the Board Is responsiOIe 10 tna
BODY for faithful discharge of the duties for winch
they are elected and any cause for complaint can DE
reueded by themselves at the proper time.
FIRE MARSHAL.
The decrease in the number of fires Is owing, IN
measure TO the active exertOns of the Fire Marshal,
Alfred + Baker ESQ who has succeeded during the
past year in arrestng numerous persons charSe9 WIN
The crime of aTson and the conviction OF two oil the
number.
OLD MATERIALS SOLD.
The following amounts have been received by me
sor old materials paid to the City Chamberlain, ana
SOpy of items filed in the office of the Controllers
From Feb u TO May q, le57............."SSN 50
From From %sS 9sy to As. A1s 4 sSss .Ss