New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-28
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC.
TILE DUTY LAID UPON THE COMMITTEES
MAYOR GRANT CALLS ATTENTION TO THE
DANGER OF FIRE AND MIsHAPs-
ADVISING PRECAUTION

Mayor Grant sent an Important communication yes
teriay Hamilton Fish President Of the committees
Of the Centennial celebration, urging that all possible
precautions for the prevention Of fires. accidents ard
casualties Of all kinds b. taken portion Of these
suggestions were made by Henry D. Purroy. president
Of the Board If Fire Commissioners IN letter 10 the
Mayor of April %. Mr.. Grants advice To Mr. Fish
IS embodied in the following letter. signed by sec
rotary Grain:
in view Of the large power vested In your committee
by statute and by the permissons for the erection OF
structures from time 10 Time granted the Mayor feels
incumbent upon him to bring TO YOUR attention the
dangers necessarily attendant upon the carrying 0Ht Oh
the demonstrations arranged for by your committee In
order that You may take such steps rs 10 you may seem
me oc re- OF of nr 10 l' ~
one danger is that Tho structures erected by your
committee Will become Ovccrwded, ami that by reason
Of such OverrOwding they will be- unable TO sustain
the weight upon them, and falling will injure those
them and near them.
As your committee have had the privilege Of erecting
tbrsc Structures and as they viii control them when
poitance of seeing that no more are admitted to them
than the structures can ra'onaby sustain.
Another danger equally apparent. Is the increased
liability to fire arising from your orcctions As OF
hcers of your subcommittee VIII, 10 a great extent,
control both the civic and military parades the Mayor
desires to direct that In the event OF fir they cause
the professions 10 halt whenever requisite; for The
passage Of engines. and that they afford all reason
able facilities to rcmen TO reach the scene Of any
connagration.
10 describe In terms the dancers incident 10 The
gathering If great crowds In this cry. and of their
lions arranged for by your committee nor Is 10
possible TO state in terms the means which you should
lake lessen the liability 10 accidents. The purpose
II this letter + TO point out TO you the grave re
sponSblity which rests upon you, and to invite your
attention to the proprety of thorough consideration
and a speedy enumeration of those means which, In
your Judgment, You shall adopt to prevent the oc-
currcnce OF injury 10 the public.
The following reply to Commissioner Purroy's Letter
referred to above sent by Mr.. Grain yesterday:
I have the honor TO acknowledge on behalf Of tho
NayOr your communication Of the 26'h inst. detail
ing at length the precautions taken BY your depart
nent to prevent, SO far within YOUR power the
Of accidents the days Of the Centennial
professions,
Tho Mayor desires me TO express his satlsfac non
with the careful and wise Of your department
and thank you for the valuable suggestions which
YOU have made. While the control OF the structures
and the management Of the paradcs rests largely with
the Centennial Committee. and the responsibility con
scQucnt upon such control Is theirs he feels that so
far your department IS concerned every prrc8uQh
VIII be taken to prevent the occurrence OF accdepts'
He has caused letter be addressed Ia the cen
tennia Committee urging upon them the adoption, OF
all requisite precautions. copy Of which he lhciosoS
for pcrISal