New-York tribune., 1873-01-21
BROOKLYN UNPROTECTED.
MORE STEAM FIRE ENGINES AND AN ALARM
TELEGRAPH WANTED.

MORE STEAM FIRE ENGINES AND AN ALARM
TELEGRAPH WANTED.
Efforts are making by insurance men and
the Fire Commissioners of Brooklyn to convince the mu
ncipa authorities OF the urgent need OF increased
number OF fire engines, and system Of alarm tele
a ph for the better protection Of life and property In
case of fire. The entire force OF the hre department. az
present consists Of l6 steamers five trucks and lSs men,
There is also force OF one diapidaed steamer
and two old fashioned hook aud ladder trucks. The fire
department thus stated is required to protect p square
miles OF territory with eight miles OF river 'front.' and 1t
is the opinion OF every sensible citizen that this small
force entirely inadequate. Nine times during 1872 the
service Of one-haf Of the entire department was re-
qured fire. thus leaving the rest OF tho city pro-
tected only by eight engines two hook and ladder trucks
and 90 men, On one occasion the entire department
except two engines remained at one fire "a hours; hence
during that time the city had other protection than
two engines In short, large fire, such as destroyed
Woodruff Robinson's warehouse requires the services
of the entire department and in event OF second large
fire no aid would be at hand.
The Commissioners believe that the weak point in the
Department is the OF force engines and
apparatus generally, aud as the quickest and most
economical plan to increase its strength they urge the
immediate purchase Of six powerful Amoskeag engines,
which, with four now building for the Department.
would give the city ten new engines Such engines they
propose 10 place in various sections Of the city, and in
engne-houses already containing an engine ana nine
In houses where tnere are Two engines, the
Commissioners propose 10 place six additional fremen,
making total OF 60 additional remen. BY this arrange
ment the Commissioners intend that while the steam
engines brought to fire by the ringing OF one alarm are
at work. the horses shall be detached and with five men
be sent back their respective houses attached to the
duplicate engines and tenders and thus be prepared to
respond TO any other fire that might occur. The Com
missoners believe nat force thus organized
wond be as efficient as ten full companies and that
the cost would not exceed SS6467, saving OF about
100000. A 4.
Nothing is more necessary the efficiency OF fire de-
partment than a complete eystem for transmitting
alarms OF fire. and the Commissioners have called par
ticular attention to this matter There are only 80
points in the whole city whence alarms can DC Trans
mitted and of these the police statlonhonses
alarms transmitted from which must be retransintted
Police Headquarters. There Is scarcely point III
The entire city which one or more engines canuot cn
IN five minutes after receiving an alarm; put II IRE
ouenty occurs that the alarm does not reach the ue
prnen until the fire has burned for 70 or ~ minutes
the time depending upon the distance the premises on
fire NAV be OF the 80 alarm stations Inc laO
ernacle could have been reached by engines IN three
mnutes but the nearest alarm station was naI lIe
distant and alarm was given to the department un
20 minutes after flames were discovered II an alAih
station in the immediate vicinity or the cnrch
tbe claim that the building would nave
been saved. -, c,.
There are over 600 stations in New-York City,
where the to be covered including Central Park
less than In Brooklyn The cost OF the Automatic sys-
fem used was 100000 The opinion is that Brook
vn would not much benefited with less tnan SOO t
tion the probable cost of which would not exceed NOoo
This outlay al the start IL Is claimed would be more
thau covered the value OF property saved In year.
The Fire Commissioners have had hearing Delofe the
Common Council Committee on the Department ana the
matter has been fully discussed. Commissioner Massey
has directed 10 obtain an estimate OF the prooaole
cost OF Automatic Alarm system. and he VIII make
"A report al the next meeting OF the Committee.