New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-13

ied 70 the engines the passage OF through the
boSc NAV be instantly checked without stopping the en-
% th eter rcncng and being forced back into the
hydrant THIS Is accomplished by the nIelneh VINO huu
aS tsus e SbecEnr Inc aoS Of water which being OBJ
struoed, reacts and closes tue NHiNo ~ tno 80,
pipe BY this improvement. both time and water IRE
saved, while nremen are changing the pipe from ONO 'D0
OF tho Is hooSand ladder trucks the Department six
soner Blair. under whose supervision they we're con
structed They of iron framework, and are suppeu
be withdrawn without disturbing the others Ihey arc
also supplied with extenson-adders. which may Da
around the barrel OF small winch. Each truck also
carries formidable batteringram for Rreakng oown
doors and removing other mpediments: lmproNeinqes
in ha and the method OF attaching horses 70
seconds after the first stroke or the III '"o
THE FIREPRooF PROBLEM
The buildings Of the city are generally very directive
and few OF them considered reproof The extreme
hight OF many buildings OF imposing appearance, sym.
metry and seeming stability, as before Indicated rem
ders their upper portions unsafe by reason OF the ina
ity OF the remen to reach them by means OF ladders
and the impossibihty OF engines forcing effective
streams Of water TO such great attitudes. The Mansard
roofs are only dangerous from the nfammable nature
OF their frames which, II not gnited directly from the
heat of burning buildings adjoining catch brands falling
into their cutters. How to construct thoroughly ne-
solution for il the building not gnited from eXtef
nal heat tue burning of merchandise IN Us interior, ~
Iron is deemed the best material in USE but this
does not command complete confidence, as expansion
from either internal OF external neat Olteu ioOWed
by entire demolition from collapse caused by contraction
CONSEQUENT upOn the removal of the OF previous
expansion Bricks, considered as second to ir0n are 10
some extent Objectionable. walls composed Of them
frequently warp or bulge out of line to sucn an extent
that the building is soon in ruins Double walls OF
brick which have intervening spaces or ar cham-
btra and which are united at intervals by
iron hooks rods are viewed with much favor stone,
cramhe explode from intense neat iron Dulldhgs
and structures of double brick walls with iron floor
beams, arched with brick and supporting ted hoors,
are considered well nigh reproo but tho dischrdng OF
all wood IN their construction Is deemed Absolutely
Among the model buildings which may be cited are
the Lodging house for Women in F1ugthaye extending
from Thirty TO Thirty-thlrd-sts bnilt by A. L.
Stewart and also the new private residence OF the Same
lbs house which is entirely irOD with floor beams OF
tbs same material and arches of brick as q foundation
Tor tic floors which will probably be of tiles, is open TO
objection account OF its extreme altitude, th08n the
donSer If any from this source is essoned by tho fact
that as the upper portion of the structure VIII
only be used for durnilores, the iood Tor nre via no
and iron anu detached from ottor buildings, is consd,
cred entirely freProof large humber OF massive ana
supposed reproof have ceased to be so regarded
y FIRE DEPARTMENTS OF OTHER CITIES.
Portland previous to her great fire, had lerge volun
teer department and engines but her 6reme
were under lax state of discipline and her engines
nearly all out OF repair and uDscryiceaDe Since the
disaster engines have been kept IN sCrupuous good
|
partly paid basis, similar 10 tho unpopular system sun
| in vogue in New-YOrk above Fifty-ninth-st.
| philadelphia which has the enormous corporate area
of % square miles has only p steam hreengnes ano five
her Fire Department under the volunteer system,
hut about eighteen months ago 1t was thoroughly o0l-
proportion 20 It's and material, which are deemed
FAR too limited for the proper protection OF the expansive
Chicago before her terrible visitation. had faith in the
PaIyPaid pan enc nsH many d IT,, p5 e %3
was defective IN organization ana discipline. Pee had
only lookout" and single alarm bell, which was
In the Courthouse tower We or was abundant till the
burning OF the water works, when tho supply was cut
on aud districts remote from the lake or tile canals
were left TO the mercy Of the flames. She has .
fullpaid and uniformed Department, but has mauo no
| Improvement III hcr system Of alarms.
Boston las mOrs engines IL proportion 10 her area
than OF the largo cities, but Ouy thr9O experienced
fremoD in each company and therefore is dependent
upon virtually volunteer system. Cisterns and water
plentiful nut she las no belowers for lookouts
and hor sounded 10y the church bells. Hsr
Department will doubtless be reOTganled immediately
aud thoroughly upon more efficient basis.
Fire Department nearly all o. the leading features Of
which uye been copied by most Of the larger cities ct
,Asio ~ thc ~el-t a.
| country. -. .......
The services Of the NewYok police before during and
after Of great value ono of the most important
duties OF paromcn is that Of guarding against fires,
1 many Of which are promptly discovered and extin-
! guished without alarm Ii an officer discovers fire
with which he is unable TO COPE he immediately sends
word 10 the Fire Department from the neare9t alarm
| box The officer then hasteAs To his statOn-Dousc
| with information of tho ire, aud the news Is
transmitted AT once by telegraph TO Police Headquar-
tels, where the superintendent or tho Inspector IN
charge is Kept fully oTmed OF the circumstances and
progress tHc fire.. Upon notice OenS received at the
statiOhOuSe Of the precinct In which there Is hrc,
the reserve On platoon Is seut 10 the endangered
locality to cooperate with the romoD On reaching tue
sceue tho officers Gordon about tho burning DIud
lDc, ana exclude all Unauthorized persons non the
street Hence frcmcn EOt embarrassed by speca.
| tors, and thieves aIe kept at bay.
l.
nagratOn details OF officers sent from other pre-
cintts required and, except under circumstance
such attended, the terrible dsdStcro at ChiclgO and
fhc police able to Or@er ana 10 pro
| Ienl nrOnHTiY llOp lIleYos.