The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-05

The number OF fire alarms has doubled.
during the past fifteen years, while the
number OF buildings has increased 80 per
cent. But the average loss at fire, as above
shown, is now materially less than former
", and the casualties from conflaRrations
have been similarly diminished. The num-
ber OF persons killed during the year COW
cred by the present report was 81; and OF
these % persisted before the engines arrived
on the spot.
Responding to fire alarms and putting out
fires are the most important functions Of
the Fire Department, but they are not the
only ones. The maintenance Of stables and
repair shops. with an army OF horses, the
supervision and control Of combustbles and
fireworks. the protection OF the water front
from the havoc Of chance fires. the erection OF
fire escapes. and the inspection OF buildings.
all come within the authority OF the de-
partment- The Building Bureau examined
last year the specifications concern
ing 1000 new buildings now erecting. or
these, nearly 5000 were flats or tenement
houses, and the cost OF erecting them
amounted to nearly $70,0O0.OOO Moreover,
1900 passenger elevators were inspected,
1,799 orders were given to remove or repair
unsafe buildings, 1000 fire escapes were Or
dered, and specifications for the alteration
OF old buildings to the cost Of 50, COO 900 were
passed upon.
The New York flremen are fine body of
men, intelligent active. hardy, well trained.
courageous. and, on occasion, heroic. The
chief OF the department is so years OF age,
his deputies are so and Al respectively, and
lot,,,
"a and 40. The great body OF the force Is
composed of men between the ages Of 81 and
80. In point of speed In getting to fire the
firemen OF Now York, by common admis-
sion, excel all others. By ingenuity and
thorough practice the time needed has been
gradually shortened. There are 63 fire
engines, with marine engines besides, and
twenty-seven hook and ladder companies,
together requiring 800 horses.
Fires In New York are most frequent on
Wednesdays, and least so on Saturdays and
Sundays. In the early morning hours, be-
tween midnight and sunrise, fires are rare.
They begin to be numerous at o'clock In
the evening. and reach their greatest fire.
consumed by the department in Its
operations llSL ycul Ndo lO'oVVIOuV Buiioilo'
Tho month during which the largest num-
Der of fires occurs is December. They are
fewest In summer, notwithstanding the py-
rotechnlc celebration OF July4
During the last year ten persons were
| held to answer on accusations OF arson. or
these seven were natives Of Poland one IL
German, and the two others were minor
children OF native birth. who were sent to
correctional institutions. There were no
adult persons OF American or Irish birth in
tho list. Five trials occurred, but in each OF
them, strange to say the Jury disagreed.
So great Is tho opprobrium In which incen-
diaries are held and so general the dptesta-
ton for the crime OF arson, that absolutely
conclusive proof Is needed to convict
An examination into tho report OF the
Fire Department would add much to the
knowledge OF tho ordinary reader. and Its
perusal ia especially commended to those
restless reformors who are intent upon con
vlnolng tho public that New York is thu
worst governed" city in the world. Thu
conclusion Is extremely popular among thoS'