New-York tribune., 1870-01-08
METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT.

METROPOLITAN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
The Metropolitan Board OF Fire Commission
have prepared their annual report for the Legsla
ture Of which the following is the substance The Com
missoners commence by congraulatng the Department
upon the wedding out Of incompetent officers and stating
that there has been single Of dismissal except
the result OF regular open investigation, and that
no man been displaced by another to meet the
constant opportunities to which the members have been
subjected to confer appointments on personal or political
considerations. During the past year fires have been
fewer and attended with far less loss than In preceding
They desire 10 bear witness to the promptness courage
and skill displayed by the officers and men, men, ana 10 the
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.
office Of the Chief Engineer and taken from his report
shows the good fortune which has attended the exerlOns
No OfFes Les, than 1866. 1851 1903
5ss5 :.s 5s::: :5s3l t5iss s y, .,
s @ % Sn q 2s5 @ &c., ,o5sssd Sg 70 on. S4S m s5dsa to
others los. 3 & @ % m hfs: tires heTs rs Tfs S,sD d
se I % pasb Ss ERE Of rl,IG m @ S a'' & FIRES Gsd
log alarm; by officers Il BY 225 BY individual members %
> - THE TELEGRAPH.
account Of the constant complaint OF the defects OF
the substitution of new telegraph. From the propo
sails sent IN, the best and most approved plan was
The doing away Of betowers which, from the custom
vate edces so high as shut and cut off their range
view, have become less useful will result In saving
to the Department Of $4,000 per year
APPARATUS.
-Four new steamers have been added to the equipment
within the yGr ar t In compliance e %ta tS neaSn ea
steamers have been done away with too cumbersome
and heavy for the uses OF city, with single pair OF
horses, and pOssessn equivalent advantages over
the second class which experience has shown TO be the
best adapted to the service Of this Department. and with
which the companies are now uniformly supplied Inc
six hosetenders built at the Departments shops, and
arranged TO carry the Of the company to fires have
given great satisfaction and add materially to the ceery
Of the movement OF the companies Three new trucks
have also been added within the year, two built by the
Department The arrangement OF the ladders ON these
trucks and the with which any length is quickly
reached, is a great improvement on the old system
Eleven thousand feet Of new combination hose, OF the
most approved description have likewise been added
but greatly needed and putting the department IN better
The entre apparatus of the department is in highly eff
cient order and only slight alterations VIII be required
for its perfection.
The floating engine dhe propeller John Fuller has
been furnished with very powerful apparatus Tor
ice at the otanf fire at the foot Of Fifty and
several other confagrations.
ALARM STATIONS. .
The new code OF alarm stations has given great salts
faction and the system Of designating locations by mum
manner ef aScertainng the location Of nro. When the
street-boxes to which they will be adapted are placed 1t
will still further add to their utility
THE FORCE.
The Department proper is composed of one Engineer
officers and In the upper portion OF the city where
arr
GAS.
The increased number OF burners continue 10 show the
gratifying OF $4,000 in the expense OF this item
what 1t was prior to the introduction OF he RUE o
personal accountability OF officers for waste
Twenty horses have been purchased within the year
died, making the total number owned 1856 the same as
last year. ,,.,o
The buildings occupied by the Department CONSIST OF
the headquarters in Mercerst used as oGes ior q te
Ger Telegraph Bureau Of Cosnbnstble Materials, and
Firemens Lyeeum g enginehouses IS truck re
and II bell towers These are all now IN eIeee % ea Oroc
BUREAU OF coMDUsTfBLEs.
This Bureau organized two years since, Hnder the
charge Of Commissioner Wilson, has been more actively
danger Of fre. The city is dv.ed into 81 Inspection
Districts in charge OF Foremen OF the Depatmeht ana
premses where dangerous matter Is stored kept under
regular inspection. The growing number ot explosions
aud accidents has compelled the Bureau to ask stringent
measures and institute suits against number OF
dealers who persist in vending Kerosene whcA does hOt
Tbis Bureau, which employs an expert inspector OF
fluids and a clerk, has been valuable auxiliary ana mas
put far a separae and expensive department, by bill
which passed the Legislature and failed TO become law
on the ground that the Commissioners preferred TO DO
tbe 10 meet the expense ont OF their ordinary
appropriation. The law under which the Bureau was
Organized requires many amendments which experience
pointed out hut the Legislature has each
to it the urgent solicitation OF the
ers from the want OF the support OF the cry
such amendments would increase the value OF property
and lessen the danger OF fire.
The system adopted Of making issue OF supplies 70 com
NAMES on prnted requstiOns signed by tne COMMANDERS
and of charging them these supplies, requiring an IN
spection and condemnation OF every article Dy the e
arment Inspector before substitute can DC issued mas
made great saving IN the article Ofsuppes anu y
atiLed the keeping Of department property
CLASSES OF INSTRUCTION.
The Introduction Of system OF instruction ny
OF the officers OF the Department. holding their neengs
on three afternoons OF each week. under the personal s
peryison of the President is producing most Ieneneal
results disseminating knowledge OF the Huugs % IN
pccted 10 be performed, ana HnparlihR d uHiO''' -
tho action Of the Department
THE DEPARTMENT LIBRARY
The Flremen's Lyceuul, organized by VOte oI uo
Roard giving the Of the large hall at the Heauqu
ters for library and cabinet, has progressed anu 10
sumed the proportions Of an institution whlch RlA nu
Greatly 10 the amusement and instruction OF tne on'
Ibe formation of IA collection with mOdefhJe iSeaHs sui
plied by lberality OF the Underwftefs anu lew p
vate citizens is "A work involving time ana laDOi, nl'
ocr 00O volumes It's shelves cdrefnly hclcct1u
nv fhe Secretary. The furniture OF the room mas m"ly
Mvers. and the bookcases frames, ana Ohef uelah a
tIc work of men Of the Department The cOueotOi VI
curious engrayDgs and relics OF the Depailm,sni Ia @
been Increased, and the lyceum Will Dc deulodtou "
formally opened at an early day.
' MEDICAL OFFICER =,
The report Of Dr. Charles Mcmillan, the medlcal Vllcoi
valuable statistics OF the health OF the dtpdF
S1en The deaths within the year have becn seven
three officers 1.-TWO by aocidenb ana four pfvaet Ney
small percentage compaIea 20 6ns nu"1O0i ." 'NO
r,ri,g tie wear two fOTenen have been promoted 10
dstr,rt npneers assistant fOfonen 10 lOieHen
and Oh priyaes to assistant foremen al upon cohe
Guent examinations by the Commissioners. lheJ my
Ieen selected from much larger number recOAmehupn
for prouotion by the board OF officers.
'N' F' THE MUTUAL AID SOCIETY
Tbs association inauguraed at tho suggestion OF the
pord shnnt two years has contributed, by an as
sessuent Of t2 each on the Denoers sum %