The New York herald., 1867-02-28
Tho Legislative Committee and the New
York Fire Department.


Tho Legislative Committee and the New
York Fire Departments.
The Assembly committee empowered to
inquire into the causes of the increased des-
truction OF property by fire and the general
management and efficiency of the New York
Paid Fire Department were in session in this
city during the recess of the Legislature, and
elected some curious and interesting facts.
The Fire Commissioners, the Chief Engineer
and the Superintendent of Buildings were
among the witnesses. Tho Commissioners
all believe, Of course, that the present
department is well managed and very
superior to the old volunteer system Mr..
Engs, one Of the members of the Board, tesi-
fled, however, that politics sometimes Influences
its action, and 1t appears from his evidence
that the regulations in relation to storage are
not properly enforced by the Board. Mr.. Nc
Greggor, the Superintendent of Buildings, goes
to the root of the evil. and attributes the con-
slant occurrence OF fires In the city and their
destructive characte: to the want of stringent
building law. The large stores on Church and
other streets, he says, are SO constructed that
If fire takes place in them the whole
building ID almost pertain to be destroyed. and
the theatres and places ~ amusement In New
YORK he dascribes ~ mere tinder boxes.
althosah built in conformity with the require-
msnfS Of the existing law. He cites the new
HnsAzD 6ailding as model dreproof building
md believes all large warehouses and stores
~ hn cAal asc o~1~
plan. Mr.. e Bonnoll, Of the old department,
made some curious statements. He considered
Mr.. Abbe the only Commissioner who UNDER
stood his business had seen the Commissioners
interfere with the engineers at fires, and had
met one Of them ct fire in q state of intoxica-
ton. He had been told by Mr.. Engs, when
the Board was In session, that the COmmis-
sionsrs were holding political caucus.
Tho efficiency Of the present Fire Department
may be sustained BY the testimony Of the Com
missioners and Of the Chief Engineer, but the
practical evidence Of the badly managed fires
is all the other way. Commissioner Engs OBJ
jects TO the old department because it was in
6re; but as water generally subdues the flames.
1t might be well IL the present department
would sometimes fall into the same error.
There are, no doubt. many valuable sugges-
tions in the remarks of Mr. McGregg or and
other witnesses ia relation to moro stringent
building law, the proper enforcement Of the
storage regulations, &C.; but the general i'm
preston prevails that the Fire Department
sadly needs overhauling, and the evidence Of
Mr.. Engs and other Commissioners and the
curious statement Of Mr.. Bonnoll, are quite
sufficient to prove that Governor Fentou may
make sweeping changes in the department with
much advantage to the public.
Tho New Posi- ONCE Opposition TO tire Park
lob.
The proposition Of Mayor Hoffman and his
lower end OF the City Hall Park, In the midst
of crowded and dangerous crossings, excites
more and more opposition every day. II has
everything to condemn 1t and no single re-
deeming feature. Independent Of the sacrifice
of valuable piece Of public property for
mere song, the job would choke up one of the
few breathing places Of the city, and increase
the crowding, delay, confusion and hazard to
life and limb that at present mark that portion
Of Broadway, by adding large accumulation
of mail wagons to the cars, stages, coaches,
trucks, carts, carriages and vehicles of all de-
scriptions that pass and meet and jostle each
other and get iammed up together there
during all the business hours Of the day.
The principal evil under which the business
men Of the city now suffer is the crowded and
often impossible condition OF Broadway. Some
time ago an attempt was made to relieve the
worst part Of that thoroughfare by opening
Ann street TO the river. Mayor Hoffman thought
proper 10 veto that Improvement, and he now
seeks TO- Increase, all the inconvenienoes and
people protest against the job. They desire to
have room to do their business and move about,
instead Of being crowded and crippled more
than they are at present. They demand that
the Yifth avenue shall be extended down to
the Battery, that Ann street shall be made one
hundred feet wide to the river, and that other
thoroughfares shall be thrown open SO that
the trade and commerce Of the city may have.
tree circulation.
So far az the location Of the new Post Ofiee
h concerned, II the general government cannot
purchase the Astor House, or st. Paul's chapel,
or Stewards Chambers street building, IL had
better procure site in the midst of the old
Five Points, build Post Once there, and pre-
pare the way for the improvement Of that in
fected district, and its opening to business and
responsibility. Some six years ago The HERALD
proposed that the rookeries and Aens Of that
neighborhood should be cleared away and pub
lie buildings and warehouses sake their place.
This is \ good time to revive that proposition.
=! II t1e Post Once should be located there other