The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-28

INcEsDlAmsM IN New YoRK-A PAID FIRE DE.
pARrsyNT-F the facts stated in the Fire
Bsgshais report, published yesterday. it will be
seen that of the incendiary crimes annually
committed in our city large proportion is the
work Of mere boys. These young wretches it is
stated, form themselves into organized gangs,
which are to be seen proving about the streets
day and night ready to avail themselves Of the
chances Of piunder afforded by the anguarded
condition of premises OF improvised scenes Of
disturbance and confusion. Where opportuni-
ties of this sort are wanting they create them
by firing unoccupied stables or workshops, and
in the alarm thus caused they usually coutrive to
pillage the adjoining houses.
Mr.. Baker throws out rome useful suggestions
for the dispersion Of these gangs and the refor-
nation Of the boys composing them, but there is
one point that he hss left untouched which would
go some way towards the prevention of this
class of offences.
We believe that the plan on which the Fire
Department Of our city is at present conducted
is chargeabie with the creation of some of the
evils which it is intended to suppress. In the
first place. the competition and bitterly hostile
feeling which exist amongst the companies
cause a good deal of the confusion at 6res
which is said TO be favorable to the schemes Of
these young operators. In the next, it is
question whether in the knots of Idle youths
who are continually lounging about the engine
houses, waiting for an alarm we have not the
normal schools of these up town gangs of ma
RAIDERS, If there WAS greater harmony Of
action amongst the fire companies, and more
rigid discipline in dealing with outsiders, there
would be fewer chances Of piliage for expectant
thieves AT all events the suspicion would be
companies acts of wanton incendiaIism are fire.
quently attributable.
Experience has we think, sufficiently demon
strated that these improvements can never be
secured under the present voluntary system.
The Fire Department of great city like this
should be placed beyond the reach of al! outside
influences. 1t should be well paid and tho
roughly disciplined force, partaking somewhat
of military character and subject to inexora-
bic rules of organization. Such bodies are the
Fire Brigade Of London and the Pompiers OF
Paris. The nearest approach to them in this
country is the present Fire Department Of Gin
ciHnati, which during the short period that it
has been in existence, has been found to work
admirably. In one feature, indeed, the Cincin-
natl system exhibits an improvement upon those
of London and Paris, and that is in the intro
duction of steam fire engines, These suxiliaries
have been found to increase the force Ofthe water
jets to diminish greatly the amount of manual
labor required to work the common engines, and
to do away with the trouble, confusion and loss
arising from the superauous zeal and jealousy
of contending companies 1t is obvious that
with the steady and uniform action and rigid
discipline Of such force, carefully guarding
ali the avenues to burning premises, and exam
lining all suspicious persons passing through
their lines, il would be difficult for incendiaries
to complete their work by pillage or to escape
detection.
II is another item Of reproach against the
legislation of the State of New York that q
third rate city like Cincinnati should be allowed
to take the lead in reforms and improvements
so urgently called for. By and by we shall
offer the spectacle Of an immense metropolitan
community remaining half century behind
the progress Of our own offspring.