The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-21
The Fire Departments Of 81. Louis and Cin-
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.


ST. IouIs, Nov. |, 1858.
residence This city Of few months has enabled the
writer TO witness a ce4tan extent the practical work
ugs is department for the extngushment and
# the progress Of nrcs Having, from long residence,
witnessed the volunteer associations OF the New York Fire
department. and been accustomed to regard it. orglnza
ton a. complete, with no little interest, ami with
some doubts Of their efficacy that the operations Of paid
department, with steam apparatus, were at FIRST OBJ
served Any doubt u this nature has been long since
dspeiled.
The recent reception q the Philadelphia Hose Company
with their steam apparatus Is an instance Of the prejudice
which exists Ia this matter, and which the company in
question has had the independence, well foresight,
10 overcome. II not strange that this prcju
dice should exist system tina, has grown up become
time -honored win not be suucrdered at once. On
The other hand in those Western cities which
have arisen will such RAPID growth, this mat
ter has been, from tue exgencies Of The case,
forced uInn their consideration With old prejudccs
or old organlztons-wlth All their collateral ends, FER
sonal, POLITICAL social, benevolent &c,i0 influence tncr
independent action. they have wisely considered the duty
ii the munta government projecting the property Of
from the fayagcs u ire 70 he as imlcrl0us
and clear that Of guarding against the Expectations u
thieves other public evils They, therefore, REGARDED
this object worth Jay ing quite az much Tor, proper
ton, and. vii be seem With equally satisfactory re
suits what city may be asked, would trust is police
duty 10 be performed by volunteer ASSOC laionss
TIE history of the paid Fire Department uf Cincinnati
commences With March, 1855. Although the CrCum
stances that led abandonment of the volunteer
cations are stated he those evils which have fire.
qucrty characterised them there and elsewhere, yet the
suggestion aud adoption Of the working
rover seemed 10 he The practical and common
luton Of question Of mechanical difficulty. We not
able to speak from observation 81 any change the
rails u the city consequent upon A. but must accept the
official el0rs % the officers Of the department From
these there be- doubt that the alteration II
great The engine houses under the volunteer system
hal degonera,ed NJ and the sorts Of
men who represented any other than great prescrvatve
nefartmtnt ri a city. There seemed be little choice
between the q property BY ire and the injury
The morals Of 80 large number a. tue volunteer sys
tenn entailed
Whatever may be said Of the expense attending pro
ucsed change any civil organization, there doubt
that where has degenerae into such gross abuses and
come the objects Of ~ organization IN secondary
hight il s wise economy 10 substitute ~ once new sys
any cost.
MIR Miles Greenwood, a citizen q great rcspeotabiiiiy
acted az Chief Engineer years and his reports
great ton with this whole subject. He
succeeded BY Mr. w. Clements, from whose reports
enabled 20 present some practical results dcduced
from an experience Of three years. In 1856 Mr. Gle
mCnts reported steam engines IN service. Win
capacity Of us 500 gallons Ter ho1r. Compared with
twenty olh hand engines, whose greatest capacity
III 212 gallons will be perceived steam TIRE engine
oqullled tie capacity Of four hand engines u i not IN
such mechanical results however, the greatest disparity
exists The application II these engn 70 Gre pgrl
shows thcir results in nearly the favorable light
Though accurate record IL losses by Ore seems to
have been ket ror 70 1854, VT ind Tor this year.
and for three successive Ncars tables exhibiting the loss
insurance, and los over Insurance, as 'oiows-