The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-13
The Seml-Annual Report OF the Fire Mar
sIlal.

To 1ng MAYOR COMMON Council AND POLICE JUSTICES OF TIN
Cry AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK.
In submitting my usual semi annual report for the hall
year, ending the 30h November, 1885, have the honor
10 lay before you detailed statement Of all the fires and
Ere alarms that have occurred during that period
also traced the origin Of each far be shown by
the evidence taken, or other circumstances The report
embraces the amounts Of insurance and of alleged
osses, together with special notices OF many cases OF
interest.
SPECIAL ARSON REQuIRXp.
Arson, defined by the common law, is a ma.
hcous and wiul burning of the house house Of
another hence becomes essential to prove who the
actual owner. In New York, after an elaborate
examination Of the author tiles common rule was re
coguzed but held that un Ter the Revised Statutes
the house or building set fire to, or burned be de
scrbed as the building OF the person In actual
and was accordingly decided when the budn. destroy
ed was alleged In the lad cment TO be the building the
owner AMI the proof was that at the time of the offence
was 10 the possession CT tenant, the accused could
not be convicted Under this ruling is recognized
that man caano be held on indictment for burning
hsow house, and that the possession tenant
Sufficient presumption OF ownership
Under Ills Interpretation OF the law, it is plain that the
owners Of property are entirely at the mercy OF tenants
An evil disposed tenant, for example occupying house
detached from other buildings aud wishing inure the
owner, can openly aud deliberately Apply match and
burn down. without any risk of being held accountable
for it, 1t is difficult to understand the policy OF laws
which can permit such a state of things. The ruling
Of the courts IL no doubt right on the construction
OF tie statutes, aud We can only attribute this anomaly
to the laxity and haste which IN general characterize
our State legislation Seeing the vast interests which
imperied by it, il is time that steps should be taken to
correct Il. would therefore suggest that immediate
application be made to the legislature at present ia
son for special act securing the direct interest
es IN property, until the same has been duly conveyed
by deed
To show that the dangers resulting from these omissions
OF legislation are not merely speculative, should state
that several OF the kind have fallen under nv OBJ
seryaton In neighborng state, for &C. one party
was entirely ruined by the malice of ncendary whose
counsel set up Defence that offence had COM
mued the Courts having ruled that could not be
indicted for burning his property, and that possession
established him the owner for the time being Such
laws must think appear to you as they do TO me- not
only absurd but inconsistent with the safety and moral
interests OF the community and the passed
to amend them the better for the character Of State
legislation.
aoTAR FURNACES
In my last, as well in several previous reports
brought under your consideration the subject of hot air
ibaces and am again induced to call your attention 10
u, rom conviction OF the dangers resulting from this
mode of heating not merely regards accidents by re
but IN sanitary point Of view. Impressed with the
cessy of Introducing improvements the production OF
bo,ar, have bestowed much time and pains in invest
eating the different inventions applicable 10 IT, in order
be enabled to lay before the public plan which would
meet all the objections taken to the present system.
AS stated on former occasion, the rared air
on from the red hot furnace becomes almost IL entire
y deprived Of the oxygen which constitutes its vital ee
ment Hence the continual complaints which hear
from persons sitting In rooms thus heated, OF congestion
headache, affections Of tho lungs, aud weakened ewes
The explanation Of the fact is simple the atmosphere thus
deprived Of lis oxygen becomes carbonlzed an1 Is ren.
dered unit for human beings to breathe After careful
examination Of the different plans suggested supply heat
without destroying the vital properties Of the ar have
been led to form favorable opinion of that which has
Dacen The inventor claims 10 10 be new principle and
he describes the result as "superheated steam without
pressure
This furnace is simple enough in construction being
composed OF number Of tubes made OF tin or galvanized
iron, about five feet height and and half or three
inches In diameter, placed around stove or furnace
within wall or sheet iron enclosure The box iucng
the cold air from the street extends 10 the bottom Of
tubes, and as The cold air passes through them, II be-
heated and asccnds the conductors thence
into the apartments where II is required These tubes are
surrounded by heated steam, which Is generated from
tank OF water attached TO the furnace and which Is made
TO supply Itself Thus will be that the air does not
come into contact with any heated red hot iron
surface to destroy the oxygen but 10 merely warmed
without losing the properties essential TO life and health
have seen tbs furnace In practical operation and can
personally testify to the results stated While free cir
cuaton and ventilation insured, the heat which IL
supplies has balmy, summer like feeling. The atmps
pherc Is delightful and one nhsles 1t with pleasure for
unlike all other furnace heat, II nvgorates and strength
the system. The cost OF construction which Ia an
important feature In all such contrivances, amounts TO
about the came that Of the furnaces present in use
heronducng pipes used for other hescrs eau be made
10 serve for this
In my opinion this plan Of heating deserves 10 super
scde and will eventually supcscdc all other similar ap
paratus In use While It Ia the least liable 10 destroy
the vitality ~ the atmosphere is also eSs dangerous a.
Of con1sgration. II will not dry and char wood
work, aud thus prepare house for rapid destruction