The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-09
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTIVE.

Chief Engineer OCOnnOrs COmnunica-
tion to the BOARD of Commissioners of
the Firemen's Charitable AssOciat ti0n.
The following communication was made by
Chief G'Connor to the Board of Commissioners
of the Firemen's Charita bic Association, at their
meeting on the first instant, and was referred
to the City Council and read in that body yester-
day.
OFFICE CHIEF ENGINEER,
Fire Department. ;
New Orlesns, April 80, 1877.
To tho Board of Commissioners Firemsn's Cnari-
table Association:
| Genttemen-It seems to me necessary and
| proper that should call your attention to the
| need of appropriate safek yards agapat such ter
ble calamlties as have recently befallen our sis
| ter cities Of st. Louis and BROOKLYN and to
which my official responsible les might, in the
event of q like occurrence here, be misunder-
| stood. 1t is but recently that an incident Oc-
Cured at the st. Charlie, Hotel. in th. CITY, cal
culated TO awaken alarm, and to induce precsu-
ton. 1n the carpenters shop fire uuaccounta-
bly, occurred, which, but for the vigilance II the
watchman on duty, and the for runate time OF the
incident. 1T being at o'clock p. NJ, might have
become like caiamity. 1t was, h wever, extin-
| guished without serious consequences.
The warnings we find in the great disasters re-
ferred to ought not to 20 unregsrded.
In neither city were the departments pre-
| pared for the emergency; In both, the municipal
|
answerable for consequences. yet it is
doubtedly true that thu burden of the
blame is borne by the fire departments Of both
| AS the head OF such departmens 9 Of onr city, it
justice and to public Justice slike to invite such
| measures em to me necessary in the face OF
the terrible warnings 80 afforded
The great need OF having hook and ladder
spot With mel enough to raise the ladders and do
the work needful for safety, should be provided
| for now. and its efficiency permanently preserved
/ am, hence, led to make one or two sngges-
tions with that view: The efficiency Of our pres
ent sys'em is much impaired by the fact that The
| vigilants, or men who await call in the engine
houser, are MT chosen by the Board Of Commits.
sione RS and made immediately responsible to the
Chief Engineer, but instead are placed there by
the Foremen. The consequence is thas their
sense OF responsibility is Inadequate to the re-
quirem' Mt. III appointed by the board thev
would feel the Importance Of their position and
! their efficiency would in eve case BE- CONNER
surate with the occasion. Under the immsdia.e
appointment of the board and control Of the
Chief Engineer. each steam engine COM mpany
| should be provided with four horses and the
house should be provided with heaters. and
| sufficient number OF man be statiooed in the en-
gil e-hGuses to convey the apparatus, ven more
instsntaneously ttaa now, ami perform any and
s work which danger could require, take what
shape it might.
l would sl5o urge the adoption of fire escapes
on large 6uii i'nks by means of which, alike, the
impsrilled occupants might Effect their own
escape or he men be enabled to reach them.
There il also another app lance for the extin-
punishment OF fies now being adopted by large
cities OF the Southwes'; refer to the stand pipe,
nsed hardly say tn Vt interim ediately through
you have in view the action OF the Muncioal
Council upon the Adoption of these measures.
1t Is well known that our assoc alton is wholly un-
able, bv reason OF its embarrassed condition, to
take any steps whatever toward their accom-
plishme t. BY the unhappy default Of the city
it is imp pverirhei beyond precedent, Of wbi b
have 80 repeatedly spoken as to render it who'll
superfuous to do 80 here.
1t is hoped that whate YER inadequscv may pre-
vail as to other req iremeDts these will be imme-
diately prov ded for BY the Council.
I trust TO mat your approval to the necessity
Of urging the subj ct upon their attention, and ss
to the discharge Of my duty in suggesting meas
ures rendered 80 momentous BY the events re.