The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-22
steam Fire Engine Brigade In tho Metro

p0liss
In short time there will be in operation IN this city,
effective steam fire engine BRIGADE notwithstanding
the determined opposition that It's Intro iucon has
gendered among class Of who are either keep
gpAce with the progress OF the nineteenth century
who 90 SO from interested motives.
or the steam FIRE engines that to compose the new
Brigade -four already in active ssrycs and contracts
for the building OF Ave Others have been consummsci;
that when the organization is complete the engines
will perform duty ss follows
SerenM and EioAh Ditrics-The Exempt Steam Fire
Engine, Empire Steam Fire Engine and Southwark steam
Fyfu and sish Observation-Disclosures Steam Fire En-
CINE ard Americus Steam Fire Engine.
Third and Finyth Dutriet-Guardian Steam Fire Ia
ehe ana New York Steam Fire Engine
fUst and Second Dshicts- Lexington Steam Fire En-
g'ne ana valley Forge Steam FIRE Engine.
The effectiveness Of an organization like this and in
city like New York, In which are millions 0. dollars OF
property constantly exposed the ravsges OF the de-
vcuriDg clement cannot be too highly estimated;
and We proguoscate for !t-judgog from the perform
ances OF the steam fire engines In seryice-a long
Of usefulness
The establishment Of a steam fire engine brigade will
dispense with the OF hand engines, reduce tho
numerical force OF the department, and reduce the
extngushment Of Ares practical system, SO long de-
sideratum in this community.
The present organization Of the Fire Department hiss
many material defects In H. ana our best nremen, who,
with deep regard the interests of the department,
have from time secured the adoption Of reforma-
tory laws which worked chsrmngy for while, and
then reapsed into the old state Of things will hail with
delight the Inauguration Of the system.
We now look to the steam Ere brigade, when It shall
have been fairly put operation, to enforce
the needed reforms which the Board of Fire Com
msioners and the intelligent members OF the department
have failed to effect The IRE brigade will have lsssex-
than the present System; will require cwer engncs
be operated with decidedly better advantage than
present department. and hundreds Of good and intelligent
others will volunteer from the novelty OF the thing TO
join the ranks OF the several companies composing II.
a few weeks ago ordinance introduced uto tns
Common Council purroring TO be for the governance OF
the fire brigade. From a careful psrusa OF tho
document, II required no very sagac0ls mind To
acop: the impre ssion that liz author was no
csinorested person. One section proposes TO gva almost
entire control to the Chief Eogiueer and employ the
giueers and other pesoos required 10 opesat: the
machines, besides the exclusive power for their repair
ana alteration Now l. rs no secret tina. the present
Chief and the elect strenuous opponents TO
fire engines, and the concentration OF such poEer
ordnance prescrbes would be death blow, at
stsggeser, to the new fire brigade No, the com lns
having the steamers 10 charge should have the enire
control or their internal economy subject only tho
taton Of the Chief Engineer his s'subs" on
scus duty We hope, therefore, that the Common Ooun-
Gil will pass such ordinance have described,
simply to place the lie brigade under The 'ons
power TAR field and iavofs Is all that Is required
to render II one of the Institutions OF the age.