The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-01
METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT.

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The Newt and the lOld Systems OF the Fire
Department-The Popularity Of the Paid
Department with the Merchants and Prop.
erty Owners.
Few reforms In the administration of AFFAIRS in tile
great city have been attended with such success as
the Metropolitan Fire Department The history of
Its organization and its progress to its present ef-
cient state is record Of industry zeal and enter
PRISE on the part OF the Commissioners such as is
seldom met with in the history Of public bodies.
THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM
has passed away with the age that witnessed all the
great revolutions whereby machinery has been sub
stituted for MANUAL labor. The old system sprang
from the necessities OF the time and was grand
manifestation of the public spirit animatng the gal
liant fellows who composed its members. 1t was not
destined long to compete with the system Of ma
chinery, and il is thing OF the past. Its drawbacks
were the license which 1t ENCOURAGED and the row.
dyism which it was unwttingy the cause OF. The
system was OF itself manly and noble but it was
attended by a freedom which created disorder, tu-
mutt and riot 1t was therefore, rendered ineffl-
Gent by so much as this attendant disorder
was greater in degree. The practice OF receiving
service without remuneration was one which the
generous public was averse to- very naturally. For
these and many other reasons the desire for a
the change itself was demanded. New York city.
always quick to take advantage of any Improvement.
was soon favored with
THE PAID SYSTEM.
II would hardly be necessary to argue in this
place the advantages that have been derived by the
institution OF the new system and the organization
OF the new department. The benefits resulting
from the establishment of the paid system
have been practically demonstrated. II appears to
m
come In Its main features fixed fact with the pub
hc--just "a the Croon water the great Park and
ton OF one speaking on the subject-the general
OF steam fire engines-the Introduction Of horse
power FOR celebrity OF movement and the arrange
ment OF a heating apparatus peculiar TO the depart
ment, which keeps water in the boilers at degree
OF heat which generates steam in three minutes from
the time an alarm is given and match applied to
the furnace, enables the companies 10 pour streams
upon fire so quick that every advantage required
In THIS respect Is attained.
OBSTACLES.
II Is very evident that the Metropolitan Fire De-
partment on being appointed to the duty OF inau-
task before which even Il Hercules might have hest
tated. The present department was organized on
the 2d day OF May, 1865, pursuant to law passed in
March Of the same year. The law was first declared
unconstitutional in the lower courts, but their de-
csion was reversed in the final tribunal OF the Court
OF Appeals, and the new Commissioners entered
into and took possession Of the old fire property in
it was up hi work. body of men fixed or preu
diced in their ideas had to he moulded to the new
way OF things. The old apparatus had to be slowly
dispensed with and the new apparatus introduced
Companies had to be organized on principles
New engine houses had to he built out OF the old
ones 10 accommodate the new kind of machinery
and the new motive pOwer-the horses II was n
vast and wonderful change to inaugurate. The
great opposition land the greatest obstacle there
fore, was furnished by large numbers of the COM
nunity who sympathized with the Old plan and
could not be convinced OF the advantages Of the
new.
now AND THEN.
These things have been surmounted, and are away
ment New York has Fire Department at the pre-
sent time better prepared for the performance OF
duty than 1t has been for many years. The malcon-
tents are the few Old fogies and the few disappointed
ones who had private and selfish ends to crafty by
the continuance of the old volunteer system, and
who are now out OF Office and power In the new
The Legislature last winter Instituted on
investigation of most searching character
INTO the MANAGEMENT and affairs Of the Commits
sioners and the department and failed to find
anything that was the least occasion OF censure
save tnat the Board I'm its economical ideas did not
pay their employees enough wages out Of the public
money. Every feature Of the system was examined
and no fault could be detected in its management az
conducted by the present Board OF Commissioners.
1t is significant fact that the committee on their
return TO Albany, neither made report nor advered
The Fire Department was formerly vast political
machne run IN the interest OF the city rings" II
cities are patternng after. It's machinery and appa
ratns are new, strong and powerful in operation
and has reached the period when 1t can successfully
cope with the fires that nightly burst forth In the
CITY, Let the reader go back during the last year OF
| the organization and observe how few connagra.
tons, II any, have taken place within the city limits
1t has been said that the losses annually by fire
are greater than they used to be under the old sys
tenn. But It should be remembered that the quantity
OF materials. goods and property generally liza
BILE to damage at the present time in the
city is hundredfod greater than In years gone by,
and also that the value OF property has greatly in
creased. Thus cotton which was formerly worth az
low as SIX cents, Is worth i'm some instances five and
six times as much. Hence the sum on paper seems
larger, while the amount relatively ana absolutely
OF property destroyed annually is greatly less than
under the old system It is a curious fact despite
the outcry against the department In certain quar-
tiers, that the merchants, the insurance companies
and the property owners everywhere favor and be-
friend the Commissioners In all they do to forward
its plans and objects. As person commenting on
the new system has said:-
The queiness and noiseless movements which have
marked the metropolitan fremen their from
scenes OF duty have exhibited the good order
and necessary to the peace OF city
this respect that New York has before
Ing the conhagraon In this the prompt
OF the city police places Gordon around the of
that shuts out the thief who Ia ready
tap OF the bell and but for this feature
would enjoy harvest In his profession undiscovered The
large amount OF saved 10 the Insurance in
terest by this one precautionary tells In
which all do not appreciate.