New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-25
ERE RISKS IN TIE CITY.

The efforts of the Board of Fire Under
writers TO decrease the danger of fire in the dry
goods district of the city should meet with all
possible encouragement. Their meeting yes
terday was step in the right direction. There
is no other equal area on this continent that
needs so much protection as that district
bounded by Reade-st. on the south. Spring-st.
on the north, Crosby and Elm sts. on the
east and West Broadway and South Fifth-aye.
on the west careful estimate, made up by
the Board of Fire Underwriters, OF the value
of the buildings above the ground and mer-
chandise in that district places 1t at $780,
600, 900, and it is much greater in the spring
and fall when stocks are iuil. The insurance
risks there are said TO reach $780, 100000,
which may afford some idea of the loss a
great confagration would cost the city.
The Chicago fire sent sixty-eight fire
insurance companies into bankrup " and
Boston the next year performed the IKE
Office for thirty-two more. The net assets on
January / last of all the Gre insurance
companies admitted to the State. after de-
dncting all liabilities, as shown by their
reports to the Insurance Department, were
SlO6, 3s4, 264. Hence the loss by destruction
OF OUb QutiltI pSiS WI N'N wv
known as the dry goods district would equal
all the fire insurance capital represented IN
the State.
We trust that the underwriters overesti-
mate the danger from fire IN that district,
though at the best the hazard is great. Within
its limits there are 1892 buildings, only five
of which are strictly firstciass in respect to
fire protection, as fIst-class is defined by the
underwriters The rapid increase OF manu-
featuring there adds TO the fire risk. In 1874
the dry-goods district contained only ninety
four buildings used for @anufaciunng pur-
poses, employing in the aggregate $500 per-
sons At the present time manufacturing Is
carried on in 500 buildings, in which are
employed 21,403 operatives, exclusive of
clerks. porters and other helpers. And this
rapid change continues, which makes the call
for better fire protection the more urgent.
We have a well-organized fire department
but the danger from the high, infammable
buildings i'll narrow streets, with an insufficient
water supply, can hardly be oveTestimated.
formidable danger is to be found in the long
and close line of buildings mainly built
of wood, which cover the piers ON the
river front. A strong northwesterly breeze
blowing at the time OF fire IN any OF those
sheds is liable to do incalculablc harm. The
merchants should do what they can to carry
on. the underwriters suggestions rs to parapet
walls, iron shutters for the protection Of build
ings facing in narrow streets, and the mtiga-
ton of the exposures from open shafts and
elevators.
The Aqueduct Committee undoubtedly APP
preciates the necessity of speedy action on the
question OF an additional water supply. The
pressure in tho mains at tho City Hall Park
is now only three pounds. In 1912 it was
thirty pounds, in 1852 twenty pounds, and IN
1862 five pounds. There should be no time
lost in restoring the pressure to the
high point it reached When the dam
ger from fire was comparatively small. Com
missioner Lane has returned from Europe and
no doubt the Board will take action on the
matter at once, now that it can proceed with
itS work