The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-24
INTERVENING TO EIREmEN.
CHER Fire Engineers IL, council.

The special committee of the chief enri-
ncers of the fire departments of several
leading cities of the United States conclud-
ed in New York on Friday, a two DAYS
session, having met pursuant to Il rcsolu-
ton adopted at Baltimore on the 21st of
October last The purpose was to bring to
The notice of the councils of the various
cities matters pertaining to their depart
ments in manner best calculated to insure
their immediate consideration. There
were present Chiefs Damrcl of Boston.
Green of Providence, Spiclman of Dalt-
more, Bates of New York, Carhuff of
Newark, Commissioner Bowling of Nor
folk, Va, and Chief Neyins of Brooklyn !;
G.. r. Hope president of the Continental
Insurance Company Of New York j. w.
Kingsley of the Faneuil Hall Insurance
Company of Boston VI. L. Crovell, pre-
sident of the Irving Fire Insurance
Company of New York, and chairman
of the committee on the New York fire
patrol Mr.. b Wilson, superintendent of
the New York fire patrol, and Thomas IT..
Hall Of the National Fire Insurance COM
pany Of New York. Chief Damrell was
elected chairman and Henry II Hall secrc-
tary. The first subicct under consideration
was the limitation of combustible material
in the structure of buildings. reduction of
excessive height of buildings, and restric-
ton of the dangers of elevator passages.
hatchways and mansarls Commissioner
Rowland, chairman of the committee ap-
pointed to consider this subject, submitted
report, recommending the enforcement
of comprehensive building laws in each
city or town having fire department. The
report was adopted. Chief Spieman of
Baltimore suggested as wise provision
in building, it would be well to
require the inspection of new building rs
each tier of beams was laid On the sub
ject of the safe construction of heating APP
paratus Chief Bates of New York re-
ported that it was clear that the vicinity of
the heating apparatus could only be insllr-
ed by having the same regulated by the
usual building laws and he advised that all
building laws include this subject The
matter was referred. On the subject of
fire escapes, a resolution was adopted 10
memorable Congress to offer an incentive
for inventors to devise suitable apparatus
Tor escape from burning buildings. a re-
solution was adopted urging upon mayors
and common councils of cities and towns
the importance and necessity of providing
themselves at once with large supply of
water, that can be made available for eX-
tinguishng fires.
The committee made the following fur
ther recommendations
A general application of relief valves to
all fire engines and hydrant heads, to be
used in connection with shut-off nozzles, as
the best means of encouraging the use of
water and providing for its judicious appli-
cation at fires.
That in all large factories. hotels and
other large buildings n brigade composed
of the employees should be drilled for the
purpose of holding fire in check until the
arrival of the fire department.
AS powdcr was used by inexperienced
men at Boston and Chicago in the exiting
uishment of fire, it was resolved that the
chief engineers of the several departments
be requested to recommend the enactment
of law creating sappers and miners corps
similar to that in New York, to be placed
under the control of the engineer in com
mand of the fire.
A report was adopted recommending a
complete system of fire alarm teerraph
where it is not at present used.
The committee, to whom was referred
the subject of the best apparatus to be used
in the eXtinguishment of fires, report that
they found it impossible to select from the
different kind of steam fire engines manu-
featured in this country any one kind that
they could recommend in preference to all
others.
In regard to hose they said, as vet no
hose has, in their opinion, been manufac-
tured which meets fully the requirements
which to them seemed desirable.
Resolutions were adopted recommending
that the full paid system be generally adop-
ted, and that the terms of office for which
the chief and other executive officers of
fire departments are appointed, should coy
er as long period as may be possible, and
not be subject to removal for any cause
other than unfitness or incompetency for
the efficient discharge of their duties.
The chiefs of the several fire depart-
ments were recommended to urge upon
the municipal authorities of their rcspec-
tive places the importance of established
regulations TO control the storage and sale
of more inllammable materials generally,
and of petroleum in particular.