The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-06
OUR SISTER CITY'S FIREMEN.
THE COMMISSION OF INVESTIGATION
MAKES IT'S REPORL
nirrns for Commissioner Ennt. ana Fnias
Praise for Ch,ef Nevins-Necessity for
More Eouiuep. HYDRA ats. and Fire Roxe.

ninne for Commissione~ FAINT. and Fsias
Praise for chief Neyins-Necersity for
More Engines. Hydrnats. and Fire Boxes.
Alexander f Orr. T. b. Bartlett, and John q.
jenkins, the Commission appointed under an
act OF the Legislature to invest igate the Brook
lyn Fire Department after the Tariff Associs-
tion OF New York had raised the risks 25 DER
cent. in that city, owing It was alleged. to the
incompetency OF the department has SUBJ
mitted voluminous report to Mayor Boody.
The total strength OF tho department is e03
men, OF whom So1 are unltormed; the
engine companies number thirty. OF which
two are flroboat companies. and tho hook
and ladder companies eleven. The Commits
sion finds that the testimony ELECTED at the
investigation fully justines the statement OF
the Tariff Association rs to the inadeauacy Of
the strength Of tho present force in relation
to tho area OF the city and also ms to the small
number OF alarm boxes. but not as to their In.
feriority to those in use In other citios. There
was evidence to some extent OF the frequcnt-
ing OF saloons by frnmen In uniform, OF the
location Of alarm gongs in saloons. and of the
lack OF sufficient hydrant inspection aud pro-
lection on the part OF tho City Works Depart
ment. This reference Is made to Commits
sioner John Ennis.
1t Is our opinion hat the commissioner OF the Fire
Depat'Ilen does nor synse any rmarSah,e degree q
"cini oGsatioHs seem 10 be ,erfSrine in ' per- .
and notwh',ani TX the general exesii.nrs OF he
iicer. aid men nner ~, sgnitnl som. "liat demor
e.idsntly tls eNnr,.ncs nr does MT seem TO hare
sa II IA G 5"m n rs ss
Impressed with tn. sindhness OF his disposition and
his integrity OF purpose.
.Chct Engineer Thomas r. Nevns. who was
singled out by tho IariH Association for spe.
ciAl critic ism, receives this mention from the
Com mission:
II our opinion that the Chirf Of the Fire Depart
men. is enaTas.Hns ricisnt and competent 70 rum
.s aud has pt,ytd n,rns. tssresa and a
the same nine l.y.og, ,eaier; ma; pro rnsed se
moi Nlin, ,nndus tho iHii IA ns..tans are -x
tie "a" Senss sn Of
wouh im ar "a. eIcenct a, Gnet knSmsser Ine eHi
ms nH.rnss from ~, pGs' hay. =" g., s, S,- auto
though taken I'm Ter eai FROM lis superior: there
II no tss,%ny %h.trESr to ,hSw hsi sn.nr,s en-
officer of the department
The Com mission recommends the increase
dsnrrroves OF the recon, IN endation TINT they
should DO placed under the control ~ the Fire
instead OF hs u. 1 cfS
the number of fro larm hoxes ofthe .kaYless"
pattern WHOM practicable. water tower" !:
q e Are patrol" Is organized it should he main
tai9ed: in the opinion Of the Commiss!ori hrs rs
de apartment. ms far as It goes. Ia prnnouncel a.
llcient but deficient in its vol ume and strength
for the purposes OF ample FIR. protection. In
addition to IN" three new station houses now
being constructed. there should he added and
eQuipped i've more during the coming year.
an additional Ave tho year following. and such
additions from time to time thereafter MS the
continued development Of the city may war
rant.
As soon as possible 200 alarm boxes should
be added to the present number Of 5l2. and
100 more each succeeding year until fire:
each householder. 1t Is recon- msnded that
the owners q hotels and Tenement houses hs
large chemical engines; The Commi.sio9,
tho department; In reviewing the flres which
occurred in 1892. the Commission says
mous that tho free had been well
by the flremen. The Com missioner is
criticised for not dealing more severely with
druaken firemen and for allowing fra eongs
5. Increased from 4.597 to $500 A more
stringent building law is also recomm ended.
as we'll as a more careful and systematic In.
spection Of buildings.
An appendix to the report ,shoys the cost
per cal ita for ma intafning the Fire Department.
in some OF the big cities. And also the loss per
capita by nre. and each presents q result
to the Brooklyn department. -.