New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-27


The front Of the building IS constructed ~ red
granite Lake Superior sandstone. Tiffany br'k and
terra Gotta and the roof Is cover with spanish es'
Above the square doorway In the base u the t'"'r
(. n mas, Of carving and scrowork The name Fire
Headquarters l. In the r'llwork upon lie ach'
There are carved capitals Up II the columns support
ing the cornlce and an open balcony beneath the
,op 81 the tower Tho front has lie n male a hgly
ornamental ms consistent with the proporti rs Of the
structure. Tie design see tel after competition.
Within the building is planned for use 70 the best
ADVANTAGE. The first story is devoted TO wagon
ROOM whore the officials OF tie department WIZ Keep
their vehicles for use in fastening TO fires. In the
rear are horses. The walls Of enanelii
brick and the floor IS II concrete. The main entrance
beneath The tower has oakcn doors and the hallway
Is tilcd The staircase and elevator are Il IRON The
second floor IS occupied by IN Offices ~ the Com
nj s,ioncr. tn dcpuy mm- and the chi 4 en-
ncor IN the front ana by those of the assistant chief
engineer the district engineers. the fire marshal and
the fire Inspectors in the rear. All are fitted up in
| antique oak and provided with every facility for
the work f the department. on the third noor are
the record Offices and supply rooms. the quarters II
the superintendent of supplies ana the TRIAL 10 I'M.
where the C,mmis,i 'ncr lolis court. The fourt
! npor Is fitted up "A training school FIR new men
appointed upon the force from the CvllServiee hNt
and they can learn what the best methods for
performing their duties from experienced hrcmen
floor the telegraph superintendent and his sibordinates
have their quarters ard storage and battery
rooms also. The building Is heated with st am and
lighted with2gls and electricity. 1t stands upon the
| Site OF the old FIR" headquarters AID property ad-
| Joining purchased when IT was de ided to erect -
| new structure Tho cost OF the structure IS about
$4,000.
The pail Fire DcpaI'm Of III" city orGan1"d
| In 1862 tho cty'S protection from fire before that
tine having been supplied hy the companI,, Of vol
wntocrs who organized I'm various parts Of the
| city. Many oi the volunteer frcfnen entered the
scrvic" OF the city. The thirteen engine companies
| and six truck companies ~ that time have now in
creased To thirty four engine companies ard twelve
| trucks. For all save one year. when John Cunning
ham served chief engineer this post La, been FLIED
hy Thomas +. NcvinS. lie has the heads Of the
department change from four 10 one. and stll is rs
| active and vigorous In his work rs ever lie Is now
only iorty-unc years old and has many years before
him for work I'm his onirc. unless hi, career r. cut
short by accident. which h, IS Frequently exposed.
The ii~t Fire Commissioners OF the paid department
were Frederick Massey, Hugh Mclaughlin, William
! the first president. In 1873 the number Of Commits
s,ones wa, reduced 10 three Il. VI. Phraner had
| succeeded Nj. Campbell. and he and Mc>NiN. Massey
| and Mclaughlin We're ioapl They sue
! c,,.cd In l-7G by lnvld Williams. james Ryan and
bernard Gallagher. who served urtl l~79. when Hugh
| Mclaughlin VA, rcNppcinird ana Nose, j. Wafer and
! Philip brennan were appointed In l1-o the number
Of commissioners was reduced 10 ont and jacob Worth
| VAS appnln,d Coi,rl John y plrtridcr succeeded
him In I-o2 la ISL Richard II. Poll n took his
place and IN l,-G he WAS su trcci,d by John Ennis
! who sim holds the Olive. commissioner Ennis has
! been appointed and reappoin'ed by thr," MAYORS.
! Many Improvements have been made I'm the conduct
! Of the department under his management. The new
building Is Of them. the former structure had
proyA wholly hal qmte. Temporary quarters have
! been occupied In LaWr"lr'tt While the Row billin.
! Is being Constructed. Deputy Commissioner William
u. Moore la, held that office since lSi and has been
connected with the department since l-71. There are
two assistant chief engineer, and ten district ongi-
nc,rs. The force ~ r,m,n numbers over 800 twelve
men being allotted To- each company.
In TIE twenty three years ~ the existence Of IN,
! Fire Department property worth many millions Of
dollars la, been saved hy the prOmptnc,S and energy
| Of the ircmcn. only ten ircmen have lost their
! i've, while engaged In the discharge II their duty
two NJ them I'm O." recent fire the water front
The assessed valu" Il real property I'm the city has
increased from rlSO.OooOoO I'm lSGD to nearly 1868.
OOO.O0O. Tho lose, from tire last aggregated
&3,5iOot3. II was thought that the l)ssc, this yea,
would bc much less. but I'm ten days I'm the early
part r November the losses aggregated nearly 81 +.
! 100000. The hrrmon never had harder period o
! duty. following month remarkable for light lDSScs
the total In October being only $4,000. -Four larc,
fires followed In quick .slon p,Ople bcin.
burned ont n their homes by one o. tom than
before by similar disaster I'm the city, and the lives
Of two ircmcn being LOST at another.