New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-06
TJEE LIMITS IND WITER MINIS.

TWO IMPORTANT REcOMMENDATIONS BY THE
nRooKLYN FIRE COMMISSIONER
Fir. Commissioner Wurster. OF Brooklyn. touched
mon two highly interesting topics In his annual re-
port when he spoke Of the necessity OF larger water
mains and the dcsiraby OF extending the IRE
limits The "nre limits Is a misleading term' since
IL might convey the idea OF the district WITHIN which
the Fire Department operates In eNtihsulshls "i's'
II really means the district within which all build
ings erected must be- OF stone or brick or IRON Oh
other non -nfiammable material II marked out OH
"A map these limits would make an exceedingly II
regular line The limits are extended from ume
TO time hy the action OF the Aldermen pu'' so lai
as can be Judged no consistent or ratohaI pdSi''
Only twelve Of the thirty wards OF the cry are
wholly embraced within the fire limits. These are
the First Second Third. Fourth Fifth sixth sew
enth. Eleventh. Thirteenth Nineteenth twentieth
and Twenty first 49,, ,,o oro
comrnisgionor Wurstcr recommends that the IRE
,l,s ~houJ he extended 50 as To embrace all or the
Cd city OF Brooklyn. meaning thereby, ~
tnwn ~ New-Iots nearly ten years ago. ~ wouIl
manifestly not he In order TO require an Nus" or
built I'm the newer wards TO he made OF store 1r
brick since these regions possess now ana propaoy
will always continue 10 have sunurpan
one Of their chief attractions, as, manifesty, II ~
against public interest ma long rows y 81 beeD in
recent years by re hundred In the Old EishteeMn a
Ward II IRE should S oo ha part art u ,he remen
To- prevent the destruction Of the en;re row, t ana
tho safety OF the negnbornoou W""', w -,
o.,cd Such houses can be built cneapiy, anu lney
bring fair rents. Hence there has peeh r ''f In
h,,siness done I'm the last ten or nfteen years III
c"n.,ructinr houses Of this sort the genera WEI
80 c,lIs for a halt nj once. Local interests are
90 ,owcrfi 10 permit the Board OF Aldermen 10
40, =, such a matter the broadcast INES ana al,
90, -, tho legislature IL probably needed 10 extend
the IRE limits as Commissioner Nurstrt i I'LL
,,e,is T nrohblt the erection OF wooden pulluluss
would affect the Insurance rates over large 'e''''
OF the city. 80, ..,.I.hod nv the adoption
~ NJ Wursters suggestion tnat larss, way,
n,.ins no laid in n great part or brookSn. ~ 10
,hinks tvelve-Inch mains should take the place vi
,n,t, nnes thai are only six Inches In daileter
Thc nresen mains have been IN use tnlIty vi -
,,a'ra - and re known be so badly corroheu Una.
!'i a,u,J diameter has been reduced 10 amour
snur inches II IL plain that an adequate supp'y
~ ~ uaaor for extinguishng fires. not 10 nen.ioti,
., nurnoses cannot be obtained WIN su,n
o,nn, pa natalie illustration OF the inadel"a.c
in, WAS given at the time of the burning OF TIE
n ~ 10 and the Hotel Regent There was con-,
~, that the nremen did not reach me s'e". ~
pIai',s a' a,omntly but the evidence showed tnat
the nre ,ppnded as soon as the alarm was reccy,sa
m. .neS ,nIay occurred In giving the alarm tu NIL
.ne 10 on the ground they were ape 20 90 hse,v
M, my W. ,bere vas not water enough. Only iom
s cnuld be got upon the fire. ana none ~ a., a.
',d he noured upon the flames M the Top Vi '''
buildings ,,,.,,or RIGHTLY says that the ear
,m nmt ~ his recommendation VIII cost a ia,be
ry.'s ,,u, the work need not all DE dohe u, ,ning
sum o,,,d seem wise though to make ps,,ii,s ~
W. 90 rIv day at the same time laying p'i's 80,
NJ an &C. ibe work forward steadily unit, co ~
The best possible fire department. MI ~
R.r6s tied II there 10 not an sou"oA"' '1'''' ~
water at its disposal