New-York tribune., 1866-12-28
METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THE YEAR-sUNAARY
y,p TuE ANNUAL REPORTS.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THR YEAR-sUMAARY
op TnE ANNUAL REPORTS.
Tha WORKING Of the Paid Fire Department Of the
City OF New York u subject Of vital importance to every
oseD The sncoess the system as compared with the Old
Volunteer Department atdenty shown daring the h
roar al m opsrauon But system then and conse
ouepy not AZ perfect in working II has been daring the
ven now closing How It has maintained its oory reputation
VIZ be exhibited 10 the reports Of the Fire Cem9issoos 10 20
tsepaTtmeht Il appears that during the year 1h
Che city Of NewYorE there have been ~ % hes ~ yv w
81 buildings were totally destroyed, ene - were Pasny
damaged ana fires were vessels Tie suspicious s (I Inn,
stances attending many Of teese nIss SyS gl'
Tho Department feeling the necessity oi taxing or e
ard Of n 600 for detection and conviction Of
RoendGy n The City Of A D'ss S @ r3n or a.
ing November 80 so6 there were 10 arrests lor arson VI a
nsgt 20 commit that cmo Of that number ~ Sere 3gha @
by she committing MAGISTRATE ~ we're n ~ f1sed
charged By the Court VI sessions eonInt'eI Vall
. % set 10 tie House Of Refuge sentt the Penitentay
sento hs Catholic Asylum sent to the state Prison. ano
It's The intention Of this Department to every e1erton
by reward otherwise to detect and bring the perpetrators o
his 10 eondign punishment ..,.. L.. ..,.
IL was the design the Department as stated IN last year
ffS bs. on occasions Of fI 70 accomplish Tins became
necessary to place al numerous points nse JeessI ssn
10 hod the patent rights Of such extraordinary amount
$4,000 that the Department did not feel Jushed
hee are now in the city places where notice Of fires
be @ ~ % 1 bosses IN are n Police Station Houses
two in houses OF patrol City Hall and one at
nrytment there arr 10 believers communicating also by
telegraph with the Central Office and an efficient and Ygian
10 aid citizens and the Police Department in the discovery
fires each fire company required to deta three me1 ID
rotation keep perpetual watch IN the neghborhood OF their
respective houses be the house and two patrol beats
assigned them the Chief EnglneeE By ts PaIoi Oh Oh w
900 fires have been early discovered and promptly e1nh
gushed ,.,.,-. A..
% dopte5 for ne operaon Of each fire Company the maxi
mum men all Of whom should devote their entire
In addition to the system Of patrol the officers and men are
required examine and report the condition o. wal @
70 the storage Of combusbe materials passed by the Legsa
tRre Of this State at is last SESSION session ncr
THE WORKING FORCE -,
The working Of the Department in the eompaety
portion Of the city comprises SnS 4 es eao aSd Si'i Is
hook ladder companies each company consisting oi ~ men
are above Eghyfhst five hand engines three hook and
ladder companies and three engineers making tSia oi men
doing duty at fires only in that portion OF the CITY o "
By act Of the Legislature Of ls66 the compensa
Tilennen and fremen was increased twenty per cent
The pay at this time Of the officers and men s as follows;
Chief Engineer per anuum, 5000; Assistant bngihee Per
Snnum q 600 District Engineers per each 1900
Foremen Of Companies per annun each ~ assistant
FOremen annum each syOO Engineers o. Seanes per
Annum each osO Pvate per annum each SS49 suburban
Companies each company sO 600 IL. -
the substitution Of sixteen sand I'd class Amoskeag steam
engines and hose and fuel tenders In place OF those
formerly in by the Volunteer Department
In the procurement Of these steam fire engines has been
q
shall be duplicates Of each other that the department
enabled keep supply with which it replace the part
deficient without delay For this purpose repair shop has
been established duly furnished with proper tools and machinery
for performing this work substantially and economically
experiments made with view to reducing the
required generating by practical engineers re-
sung In adoption of iron range containing coil OF
pipe connected with the boiler Of the engine and easiy
detached therefrOm on an alarm OF hre by TINS
means the is kept the steam point, so that
tbe engine can be set work than minutes from
the time receiving alarm The expense for fuel for this
purpose 30 per diem for each steam engine
being fourth Of the for for the purpose
heretofore used
DISCIPLINE OF THE FORCE
The act creating Paid Department required the selection
Of members Of the force far practicable from the youn
teer fremen
In carrying this section Of the law into effect the Depart
undoubtedly procured having experience as tremen
but with this experience undscpned habits incidental TO
volunteer department and prndiees not readily overcome
Numerous instances have arisen requiring the
exercise OF discipline OF 25s charges brought
dismissed from the Department IL have been fined
10 days pay "a have been tined days pay q have been fined
days pay have been fined days pay 10 have been fined
days pay have been repranded have been exonerated
excused 9 have resigned while under charges shave had udg
suspended dropped from roll without prejudice q com
plants dismissed officers reduced 10 ranks While the Board
have compelled punish delnquents hoy bear
tmopy the general zeal and fidelity of the members Of the
force in January last the Fire Insurance Companies Of the
City Of NewYOrk generously presented each member
the force with policy Of Of the NewYOrk Acct
dental Insurance Company Tor g. 600 for with
peRsauOn Of S5 weekly In Of accidental injury
- rsrl1aN1is COMING YEAR.
The Board Of Estimate unanimously estimated the financial
cquremens Of the 1891 S7OO being Tuc0n OF
$4,000 nom estimate for the year 1866
The following werethe go.
w ~ ~n