The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-24
The Board Of COuncilmen.
his nnnrd mat INV cnorlsl call uocsarhau afxaru.


Meeting Of tho Assembly Ipvestigatins Cous.
uaitteo on Insuranco-Ycstcrday's session
Adjournment Of the Committee.
The investigating committee which was appointed By
che Assembly to ascertan the Of the
strucve res in this city, and which has been pursuing
its investigations At tho Metropolitan Hotel durag the
last four days. held anal session yesterday at the
place, and after examoing number Of witnesses ad-
jourued sine die
The first person examined was Mr. John Fitcb who
theught that the first cause Of fires incendiarsm
tho owners Of goods themselves 1re them; In many
goods bought credit large insuIaaces
obtained and thus Is excited an incentive 70
incendarism. Mr. Fitch suggested many improvements
In the matter Of hose. engines and compliment Of men
required.
Mr.. Bonnel stated that he had opposed the nov fre
system when IL was pending in Albany; had observed
SYSTEM thought the fault in the abscnce Of expo
rienced men at the head believed there MEM
Der Of the commission competent that emo was Mr..
Abbs; don't think better nremen could be found any
where than In the city OF New York; have seen COM
:. sse and
Commissioner at q FIRE under the influence OF liquor
have seen Commissioner on Broadway in uniform in
lquor gone TO with Mr. Engs at Fremens
Hall Mercer street. and whom asked whom the Board
going TO meet, he said he did not know, that the
Commissioners were holding . political caucus inside
water Is somewhat scarce now, especially on
the high ground; believe e many fires occurred
under the old department as At present What gives the
Alarms there 70 many nremen under the old sys-
tenn that number OF fires were extnguished without
model of nreproof cotton warehouse was exhibited
70 the committee the invention Of Mr. Charles Wright
Of this city.
John T. Wilson stated that he vas ten years in the
Volunteer Fire Department; was what Is known an
active fireman INT Wilson elaborated tho plan which
had been adopted In his building for the prevention OF
nre) thought the owners Of large buildings should be
compelled 70 employ Waterman; though. the quick
mess Of the present system was fully equal 10 the old
Mr.. Wilson made some other general Statements but
thsy have for the most part appeared the testimony
John r. Rhodes, water Purveyor Of the city Of Brook.
Ign, said there head or one hundred and hfty-hve
feet, which has sometimes been reduced TO ninety
feet the high grades the cy sat the mercy OF nre
present don't think possible remedy the present.
condition OF water except BY positive measurement the
Of water In Montague hall varied from eighty 70
eral thousand g.llons which was caused By detective
sumption Of water has been from eighty 10 hundred
gallons thought that the water in the city Of New
York meiered, and the owners OF buildings held
suits would b obtained The matter Of gas thought
the expense Of attaching meters would be about
$50; In London the water 10 measured; New
York Afty millions gallons Of wafer With
three millions, uses but SIXTY millions gallons; head
OF water at the hydrants IL not sufficient to supply the
ordinary hand engines; OF course the steam engines,
which supposed 20 require Some six times much,
must feel the poevs want Of wsssr the only wonder
was that New York vas not burned down under tho
present system Of hydrants; Brooklyn fns some one
large Victories at the cost Of $500 each some two years
ago the head OF water began 10 fail In Brooklyn;
think about fourhfths or the water Is wasted ad
ditiona main Is about to be laid At ths OF million
OF dollars; the water was metcred nev main would
NOT be required for ten years yet don't think there
any safety for water works any whcre except by the
Of water tho present pressure Of water In
was some forty pounds which might still be retained II
waste prevented Brooklyn has meters in oil the
principal manufacturing establishments