The New York herald., 1870-02-05
TEE BROOKLYN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
What the Paid System Has Cost-More Appa-
ratus Called Fos-s3S0, 900 Wanted
to Defray the Expenses for
the Current Year.

From q lengthy report Which has just been sub
mitted by the Fire Commissioners OF Brooklyn, 1t
appears that the cost OF the maintenance OF the Fire
Department VIII be in excess Of the original esti-
mate. The report shows that during the past few
months Of its operation they have paid out for atets
tons OF engines, Tor horses, houses furniture and
salaries 1906 Tue amount appropriated by the
Legislature was sl75,ooo. Tnc sum OF 900 is re-
qured FOR the entire purpose Of the department. as
at present organized for the year 1870.
The department consists Of thirteen steam fire
engine companies and six hook and ladder COM
panes. In locating the apparatus, npOn the orgar
zation OF the department., 1t became necessary to
assign 1t TO such portions OF the city as contained
engine houses owned by the CITY, from the fact that
the locating them elsewhere would nave made 1t
necessary to purchase property and erect houses
thereon This was impossible with the amount
OF money placed at the disposal OF The
Board. Tue only portions OF the city which
are unprotected are as follows:-Greenpoint,
the Ninth, Twepty.lrst and lower portion OF
The Twelfth wards. IN Greenpoint there is q
truck company but no eagine. Ia the Ninth,
Twelfth and Tweny.frst wards there no engines
or truck companies. Disastrous fires have occurred
at Greenpont owing to the TACT tha It takes SO long
Ninth and Twenty-Arst wards are growing rapidly
and contain principally wooden buildings There is
valuable property in the lower portion OF the
Twelfth ward-the Atlantic Dock stores, &C.,
ana certainly an engine should be placed there.
During the past year many citizens have called
upon the Board and urged that apparatus might
be located III the localitIes referred to. The IN
surance interest have presented petition TO the
Board signed by the presidents OF all the companies
who have risks In this city, praying that the lorc9
might be increased, and urging the Board lconced.
ing that their were Inadequate to increase the
iorcey, to obtain credit for such sums as might be
required which the Board could not do, as they are
limited by law TO certain sum, to wit, $4,000.
similar petition has been received from number OF
RESIDENTS Otl the Eighteenth and twenty -nrst
| wards, representing real estate TO Inc value OF
10 render the department efficient an increase
| should be made consisting oI three engines anu one
hook and ladder company. The cost OF such increase
| viii be say SI0O. .Oo0 detailed estimate OF which
! VIII be found hereunto annexed, showing what
amount will be required to organize 1onr new COM
nantes and to run them for nine months, assuming
| that they would DO ready to perform duty upon
Pnrchasing four lots aud erecting houses
thereon complete. ooO
[ Three engiDessay ............'.......'. io,ooo
Three tenders. 's'...''.. l,toi
One truck. 2,UOu
-Four double and three single sets Of harness.. $50
$500 feet OF hose.... A,uOU
furniture for four houses. 1000
Pay OF men for nine mouths. ............ l3OO
EZRA feed supplies gas, shoeing, &c....... 4,00c
Eleven horses, at S3OO. 5,ooU
Total. sps,ola
{ me report continues:-From the fact tnat the
appropriation for this year is but $780, 600 and thai
tne amount heretofore estimated as necessary n
the department. as at present organized Is @Soeu w,
/ 1t WIZ reauiJ appear thdt tuclc ~ =
hand Opllcaoie to an Increase. ~ ~,
Alter the present year the sun a $500 ooo WIN M
po.a po sulmo,N This coneusjon IS arrived at from
the tsct tNnt TO operate the department. az
at present organized requires Inc ne sum aiar,sa ~
and o. ne four new companes; the TO Nor
Item reaurng z ne latter N 81 s nao OraaSnes eaSna
naiana surgnes ~ vnlch with the sum OF $1,000
hereta5ore " r newapparatus VIII be re-
quired for the purchase, ~" "NN"'