The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-02
FIRE! FIRE.!
Appalling Insufliciency Of Firemen and Ap.
paTatus in the Uptown Districts.
TEE STINER TRAGEDY A RESULT.

|
Which Were Not Improvement
Economy in the Board Of Appor-
| tonmept-How the New Wards
Are To Be Unprotected
| The Fire Department fthe city OF New York has
been long known as one OF the most perfect organi-
cations OF the kind in the world. The prOmptitude
and vigilance exercised at all times have been
matters OF wonder and admiration to other cities,
not only OF the New but also Of the Old World 1t
is, perhaps singular fact that this branch OF the
public service has excited more interest and atten-
ton than any other, and the days of the old Volun-
teer Department, when every New York boy was
born fireman. will never be completely forgotten.
Even the most ardent admirers OF the old system,
however. have acknowledged that the new one is
vast Improvement 1t costs more money, but
the service is unquestiOnaby more efficiently done.
And yet the present department has faults-grave
ones; faults which have not been completely
ignored by those in authority, but to which they
apply no proper remedies. 1t needed striking
catastrophe 70 brlug these faults into public notice.
and the instance came few days since in q most
painful manner. 1t was the Stiner tragedy. After
q lengthy inquest upon the four unfOrtunates who
persisted by tins fire the C0rOners jury rendered
verdict which, contrary to such opinions generally,
upper portions OF the city the Fire Department was
inadequate to the public needs, and that had it
been otherwise these lives might have been saved.
1t is vital to the public safety that If this be
some means should be found to improve the SER
vice in the neglected district; and that it is 80 can
be conclusvely proved statement of the facts OF
the case as they are
THE UPPER NEW YORK DISTRICT.
When the Metropolitan Fire Department was or
ganized it embraced O district comprising the
whole OF Manhattan island and part of Brooklyn.
At the time, however, New York city was not pOpu-
lated to near the extent it Is at present. more par
ticulary in the upper portion Of the city. The
Fire Commissioners, therefore, at that time found
1t unnecessary to establish as numerous body Of
fremen in the upper portion OF the city as in the
lower, and they resolved that above Fifty-ntnth
street they would allow some OF the features OF the
old Volunteer Department to remain in force.
While, therefore, the entire city below Ffty-ninth
street was protected by paid fremen entirely that
portion above that line only had one station lin
Eighty-ftth street and Third avenue) in which the
service was performed by paid fremen entirely,
while all the Others some seven or eight in num-
Der, were managed in the old way, by hand engines
and trucks and by volunteer unpaid fremen.
The city, however, continued to grow rapidly,
and every year 1t became more and more apparent
to the Commissioners that some change would
have to be made In the organization Of the depart
ment in the upper portions OF the city. While be-
low Fiity.ninth street the city was protected as
perfectly as any city could be, above the system
was loose, unsatisfactory and disordery. This was
sufferaDle when these districts were 30 sparsey
settled that one could walk over acres or ground
without house; but the rapid growth OF popua-
ton up town lett the Fire Department altogether
behindhand, while other branches OF the public
mt wi Tn
defect at length became so fragrant that the Com.
nissioners determined to entirely abolish the vol
unteer system on Manhattan Island and make the
paid system complete What was done can best
be explained by giving the main points Of an order
PAID DEPARTMENT IN THE UPPER DISTRICT.
On the 18th OF December, 1867, the following
order was promulgated in the department, GEN
eral Shaler being President of the Board Alter
resolutions reducing the number OF men In each
company between Twenty-thlrd and Fifty-ninth
position OF Volunteer District Engineer and reduc
Ing the paid company, No. 20 the only one at that
time not a volunteer above F1fty-n1nth street, the
order goes on
be a for % Ys rs
annum who snail sleep in the engine houses q their
regulations the Board may from time to time
iIeSe pursuing avoeaons points convenient
created there be appointed nine laddermen for each
eS s dd with ike ay
LooATIoss OF THESE co H As =. ,o,.o,
itan snsns Compsny No. located a. ~, tns Engine
one steam engine n company 10 Known as Geropoi
a EnsHs @ s a at
one steam engine company to be known as Me!ropoi
i moase sHsas NJ" " at the Engine
s M at s nsne
House in Carmansville.
i,s% Engine
Truck companies in Lightly Seventh street. between
Third and Fourth avenues also in 25th street between
Carmansvilie D' IL avenues ~'''
of aso Gr the
OF proper apparatus and the plan or organization was
That engine companies Nos IS, 49, 81 and 80 should
That engine No. 50 should consist of one fore
and that the hook and LADDER n
nine laddermen.
uosEMEN AND)LADDERMEN.
The hOsemen and laddermen, neither OF whom
are legally recognizable, and the explanation OF
whose duties is sufficiently told in the order, did
not exist in any portion Of the city below TidtV
economy 1t being supposed that men employed
in this manner on one-quarter pay, being allowed
other employment during the day, could do all the
duty that was required Of them. To enable the
department to establish these several companies
expense as possible two men were taken from
each fire station below the dividing line, diminish
Ing tne NUMBER OF men III THESE uoWntoWu COLL
panIes from twelve TO ten in each, and these were
sent into the newly organized district 1t will be
observed that the fire companies thus established
in the upper portion OF the city were at very
great distances apart-in some cases three
miles; and the horses had to run that far to fires,
over roads in many cases very badly Kept Qour
companies required to run to each fire.,
causing great loss OF time, OF property and Of the
! material belonging to the department This was
| in 1868, and it Will hardly appear credible that
matters have remained, as to the number Of sta.
iiOns in precisely the same condition ever since.
HOW MATTERS NOW STAND.
The stations above Fiity-ninth street are still
| from two to three miles apart, while below they
are not more than quarter OF mile from one
another. From Fifty nnth street to the Harlem
River comprising both sides OF the island, there
are altogether five steam engine companies and
! four hook and ladders companies-wlth In all
eighty-three men. From the Battery to Fifty-ninth
street there are thirty-three engine companies
ana eighteen hook and ladder companies, with