New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-04
A MUNICIPAL CONTRAST.

Thousands of citizens during the first hours
of Yesterday saw task of great magnitude ana
importance sklrully accomplished. With in
tense interest they watched the fierce iight ne
tween iiremen and flames, and dispersed at last
with a strong sense of admiration and giau-
tude Undoubtedly the broadway fire was a
hard foe TO conquer, but it never occurred 10
single spectator that the men whose duty 1t
was to subdue il would surrender. Everybody
felt certain that whatever it was possible ana
right to do to control the emergency would be
done with skill, energy and ardor. Inc pop
ulace has witnessed many other demonstrations
of the Fire Departments fitness for its work
until now the fact of its superiority has become
firmly established as popular conviction.
finer and more impressive display OF discipline
obedience. courage and capacity is nowhere to
he seen than that which the frcmen have made
familiar to the people Of New-iork.
And vet the people somehow fail 10 learn
the most valuable lesson which such notable
achievements as these offer 10 teach BY some
unaccountable means the Fire Department has
escaped the decentralization which involves o'her
branches of the city government. II Is PRIME
source of security and an object OF Just pride
Its moral and material equipment IS at once thc
admiration and envy Of other communities ln
all parts of the world. Foreign officials ana
visitors of distinction invariably want 10 IN
vestigate its organization and inspect It's opera
tons and the local authorities take great salS-
faction in gratifying this universal curiosity
There is scarcely a day in the year on Wmch
he system and methods Of the Department are
not explained to some inquisitiye spectator from
another city, and there is not hamlet III the
land to which its reputation has not EXTENDED
II is not the custom of the City Fathers. 50 Tar
rs we are informed to suggest to eminent men
from abroad the advantage of inspecting mi
nutely our streets and pavemcntS They are
never invited except with the hospitable IN
tention of quenching their thirst, to investigate
the application Of our Excise laws 70 the nine
thousand saloons which flourish among us. Al
idle moments they may possibly be found Watch-
ING with mingled wonder and amusement the
dispenSa:ion of Justice in the police courts but
they have never sought 10 transplant IT. They
are NOT urged to drive along the waterfront
and invited TO borrow ideas from the docks.
Our transportation system always brings them
to despair but never to imitation.
II might be thought thai the excellence OF
the Fire Department. SO conspicuous 50 lohg
maintained and so enthusiastically commended,
would act as leavcn, and gradually bring
other branches OF administration mp to ITS own
level Except for unvaying experience PROV
ing the contrary. it would seem safe and reason
able to predict that when the people had
chance to prescribe the manner in which thclr
affairs should be conducted they would take the
Fire Department for model and lnNtall the
same sort Of administration everywhere lheF
witness and read about the SubjuGation OF hrcS
with pride and admiration for the zeal and
efficiency the adaptation of means TO ends. the
prompt. straightforward procedure and tn" IN
conoaerable spirit which come of triumphant
from every conflict and at the earliest oppor-
tunitv thereafter they vote for the supremacy
in other branches Of their common business OF
every opposing quality and method. Inc con
traSt and the inconsistency are both amazing.