The New York herald., 1872-11-14

Chicago and Boston very properly direct the
attention Of our citizens to the danger to
which we are ourselves exposed, and to tho
position we are in to resist the spread Of a fro
in New York under circumstances similar to
those which have attended the conHagrations in
our sister cities. lhc New York Fire Depart
ment is admitte aly AZ iieient and well-organ-
lied force, and Il tas never vet failed in it's
duty or rendered itself liable 10 q suspicion Of
incompetency or ne iect a psrtisan assault
is made upon the Democratic members of ths
Commission, as q natter of ocUrse, by their
political opponents, who are anxi us to secure
the Offices for thensefyess but everybody
knows that this is only enaed as ON excuse
for turning the democrals ont aud putting re-
pubicans in their plaoes II the new Com
missioners are as conapetent officers Nse
they displace the people win net tr0utN hasfS
selves about the change, ana i might flst az
well be made without aay apology OF. ialsa
pretence The fact that the department has
been well managed and has done It's duty
faithfully and effectively for the past three or
four years is attested by the results of it's
labors and by the approval Of the insurance
companies and Of intelligent citizens generally,
and all the people will ask is, that the polti-
cal change contemplated in the Board of Com
missioners will not be suffered to reach tho
force of the department or to turn o really
valuable body Of men into piece of partisan
machinery.
But the good discipline, courage and eff
cheney Of the Fire Department are not all
we should have to depend upon to prevent
the spread Of great fire in the city.
oqr yateg supply has been admittedly in
sufficient to meet o heavy demand such as
might unfortunately arise The Croton mains
have hitherto been entirely inadequate to the
ordinary yspts 9f consumers below Canal
street. as wen as in the higher portions Of ths
city up town, and would be almost useless in.
case Of fierce conaagration on stormy
night There is enough water for all pur-,
poses in the reservoirs, but there are no means
of getting at it, especially in the lower portion
of the city. The mains have been notoriously
insufficient both in size and in number. The
Department Of Public Works is now laying q
large main on the east side of the city, which,
will remain untapped until it reaches Cham
bers street. and will then afford ON ample
supply to the consumers down town, and SO
relieve the present main as to give stronger
force from that for the consumers up town.
This will be great advantage in case of fire,
but it will not yet be sufficient in great
emergency. If we had another new main Of
large size along the west side we should then
have Croton supply in oil Parts of tAe city
sufficient to drown any confagration that
would be likely to occur.
The HERALD few days ago suggested the
laying Of pipes all over the city, from the
North and East Rivers, to be fed with river
water by force pumps erected for the purpose
and tapped by hydrants at convenient dis
tances, to be used in case of fire and for sani-
tary purposes. There are, however, some
objections to this scheme and if the money
that would be required to carry it out would
be sufficient to lay the proposed new main
from the Croton reservoirs we believe it would
be better invested in that direction. The sup
ply of Croton water is reported to be ample
if it can be thus reached, and the improve
ment would be on advantage to the consumers,
who would benefit by it in their dwellings and
business if it should fortunately never be
needed for great fire. At the same time we
have the means within our reach of making
the river water available without cost
to the city, by very simple pro-
cess. The ferry companies are all enjoy
ing valuable franchises granted by the
people, and they should be willing
to give the people something in return. We
propose the passage of law by the State
Legislature compelling every ferryboat plying
to the city to carry sufficient force pump,
worked by donkey engine, with nozzles Of
required size to connect with the hose of the
Fire Department, and placing such boats, in
case Of fire, at the command of the Chief
Engineer. By this means we should have
always at hand strong force Of river fire
engines. Twenty or thirty boats could be
concentrated at any desired spot on either side
of the city, the hose could be carried as far as
necessary and supply Of water secured sufi-
cient for any conceivable emergency. This
means of protection can be secured without
delay, and it would be available for Brooklyn
as well as for New York. The subject is
worthy the attention of our citizens, and we
believe it will be found to be the best sugges-
tion yet offered as safeguard against the ca
lamities that have befallen the cities Of Chi
cago and Boston.
MINISTER BANCROFT IN CoNsTANTINoPLE.--
Some few days ago we were made aware
that Mr.. Bancroft had set out from Berlin ON
q tour of visitation to the East. AS will be
seen from cable despatch which we publish
this morning, Mr.. Bancroft has arrived in
Constantinople and been presented to the
Sultan. Our Minister at the Court of Berlin
has fairly earned his right to holiday OF