New-York tribune., 1866-12-28
THE METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT..

| THE METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT..
The long abstract which we print to-day of the
reports Of the Fire Commissioners and the subordinate
officers gives ample proof of the efficiency OF the De-
partmcnt, and the superiority Of the paid syste"i
Two years of experiment have settled the question:
and even the biterest enemies Of the system would
scarcely 20 back to the days when the extinction and
prevention Of fires depended solely upon volunteer
companies, the services of which could not be CON-
manded, and whose members were only responsible as
citizens That there were many frst-class firemen
among the volunteers we know, but there were many
Others 10 whom fire was but an occasion Of sport,
and who cared more to Outrun rval companies than
to preserve property This evil is ended. There is
no more reason why the city should depend on voun
teer fremen than on volunteer policemen, and the
advantages of one system equally belong to the other
Every fireman in the Department from the Chief
Engineer to the private, is paid for his work, and
obliged to do it. For neglect of duty, drunkenness,
CT ineficency, he can be discharged. 1t scarcely
needs argument TO show the value Of this system
though the stupid senseless opposition II has met is
not yet entirely laughed into contempt.
In this city there were 795 fires during the
year, by which 81 buildings were totally destroyed
The Department has 7s telegraphic stations and 10
betowers, from which watch is kept night and day;
each Of the companies is required to keep perpetual
patrol of three men, and this precauton has resulted
in the discovery Of 200 res which have been promptly
extnguished. standing reward Of 81, 900 has been
offered for the discovery and conviction ofncendiares
To aid incase ofres among the shipping propeller has
been used with success better system Of teegraphic
machinery has been proposed, and ia partially in use
ada IN ~
fuel and the time of generating steam. These are
among the reforms introduced during the year, and
show the practical value Of the Department, and the
progress made in the second year Of its existence.
The total force of the New-York Department is 564,
exclusive of 80 men above Eighty th-st., each COM
pany including ~ men. In the organization Il was
thought that this number would be sufficient for the
city proper but believe that the Legislature might
wisely increase the force TO make each company
number from Is to IL men. AS the companies are
necessarily organized there are now foreman and
assistant who direct the movements Of the men; an
engineer and stoker, who cannot leave the engines
driver who is occupied with his horses;
driver Of the tender whose business is
to supply the engine with fuel and the
company with hose; thus leaving but six men to at
tons, which give each member in rotation day of
duty, reduce TO ve 1t is plain that five men are not
enough to enter the burning houses, remove goods,
and hold the pipes. The Western District Of Brook
lyn employs upward of fifteen hundred men, and the
Eastern District five hundred.
It was TO be expected that the report would show
the general good order of the Department, and the
fidelity of the men to their duties, for the instances
we have published during the year of the punishment
or discharge Of unfathful members have indicated
strict discipline. A system of reprimsnds and
fines has in many cases, made the discharge Of good
members unnecessary The expenditures during
1866 were 1886, ,e07, and the estimates for 1857
s7OO OOO Another subject to which the attention Of
the Legislature should be directed is the storage Of
dangerous combustible material; there are l,444
places in this city which the Department is obliged to
watch constantly. q ...-i '.a
We are heartily glad 10 add that none Of the
facts Of this report show canse for any complaint Of
the Department. Air. c. c. PinOkney, President Of