New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-07
ers now Is 1858. The school buildings are
equipped with all modern conven!ences.
GOOD WORK BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.


the fires caused loss of sl,42o&4 In the same
perlod I'm 1894 there were ls7s fires causing loss
of s54759l The bravery shown by the members
OF the Fire Department resulted in saving number
Of lives. The city now has force OF $40 nremen
an increase OF 81 1894. The financial TRANSACT
lions in the department conducted with econ
omy which allowed an unprecedented extension and
Improvement Of the fire system to be maze Inc
department is now equipped with 81 steam fire.
engines-an increase of nve-two fireboats 43 hose
wagons ard tenders. IL book and ladder trucks.
eight coal wagons and loi portable fire eXtingush-
ers There are $3.50 feet Of hose, compared with
$3.50 feet in 1891 and 132 horses addition Of 70
In the year a rev water tower was put in service
in the department, with the most improved APP
paratus for cxtingushng fires in high buildings and
three new engine companies were organized. Twelve
new engine houses have been completed and
equipped, arordng increased protection 10 the new
wards Of the city. and all the older engine houses
have been put in good order. The number OF fire
alarm boxes rs now 7sO increase of IS over last
year. with $50 miles OF electrical conductors in op-
Grafton, an increase Of 1872 in the year
THE CITYs HEALTH.
TIE work OF the Department of Health. which 10
OF vital importance to the city shows satisfactory
condition things for the last year. No epidemic Of
disease has prevailed and diphtheria has been the
only infectious disease causing especial solcitude.
For the eleven months Of 1895 there were 2l5SS
deaths 1914 births and 500 marriages.. For the
corresponding period in 1879, there were 9isj deaths
IS POS births and 1914 marriages The estimated pop
ulation Of the city at the close OF the year vas
100000 and the rate OF mortality has been 20 for
each 1909 persons This IL slightly higher than the
rate for 1884, but an exceptionally low rate for
Blooklvn and comnares favorably with the rates
OF the populous cites OF this country and the rest
OF the world. OF contagious diseases, the record
shows declining tendency. with the exception OF
diphtheria There we're only eleven cases OF small
pox last year compared with 1888 in 1884, and only
one fatality The reported Of dphthera reached
the high total Of 1868 about hundred more than
during the sane period Of 1884, Menbranous Group
has been among the reported diseases Tor the last
year for the first time. and the medical profession
co-operated with the Health Department in help
full manner in all preventive measures regarding
diphtheria and Group. The number of deaths from
these two diseases combined l.2i6 IN 1895 ami
Az in 1894 showing a decline OF over two hundred.
For the special work Of the Health Department Tor
the last year appropriation OF $1,000 was made
by your Honorable Body TO provide antiioxn, OF
which 800 bottles been made; 1t was first used
at the Kingston Avenue HosStaL and afterwari
supplied 10 the medical profession free OF cost for
treatment Of the sick poor. There have been -'3
persons under treatment al the Kingston Avenue
Hospital Tor Contagious Diseases ia the course OF
the year and twenty-five thousand articles
have been disinfected there.
THE POLICE FORCE.
officers and 1874 patro.men During the last year
there were 80 promotions and a net increase n
the Department OF 81 men. The police made iN+
arrests between January and December !; took
OF 2.iSi lost children. and provided i5l per-
sons with lodging. severe strain was put upon
the resources OF the Department by the strike whicn
began upon three OF the largest lines OF street
railroads on the night January II. and lasted
for hve weeks. Il involved over 2s2 miles u
tracks. more than 40 poHer-houses. carhouses and
stations and over 5000 miles OF wire. Owing 70
the OF the territory involved and the fact
that the and terminals had 20 be watched
during the day and the wires night. largo
amour, Of extra work put upon the police
force. In the year new stition-house was opened
and occupied for the Twentieth Precinct. az Ham,
burg and Dekslb ayes. and ground was broken for
the Ninth Precinct station house az Gates and
Throop
The number OF licenses issued by the Board y
Excise for 1895 was l6s9 This was decrease o.
81 from the number in 1894 The total receipts FOX
1895 1880. compared with s2s,j5o in lNt
This marked gain due to the increase OF fees
which wen, into effect in February. and practically
doubled the receipts.
PARK AREA DOUBLED.
The WORK OF the Department OF Parks for the last
year has been OF especial advantage to the city.
one OF the most important portions Of IL has been
the requirement OF property which doubles the park
area and Increases the pleasure drives. and VIII
greatly add TO the attractiveness OF the city as \
place OF residence In Prospect Park many add
tons haze been made 10 the floral attractions. and
special attention has been given to work. \
wall has been built the Ninth-ave. side % the
Park far F.fih-st At the Thrd-s,. entrance
pedestals have been erected which are 70 DE orn1-
mented with bronze panhers At the Para there
VIII be a fine granite. marble and bronze entrance
designed by Mckim. Mead & White and con-
forming nearly as possible with the design q
Z h. al Arch Tba~a will he fND fp
umns. In addition the already erected, each
Of which will be surrounded By a bronze cage.
The arch will be ornamented with bronze
quadrlga designed by Frederick MacM onnes. ami
Its surroundings are being improved The Lincoln
Statue has been removed to a new site in the
flower garden OF the park, where 1t stands In the
centre OF a broad pathway surrounded by fine trees
and facing the lake. The pedestals at the Ocean
Parkway gate will be adorned with two groups
OF bronze horses by MacMonnos. during the con-
ing summer What was formerly the chdrens
playground near the main entrance Of the Park
has been converted into rOsery. with features
that WI make il one OF the most attractive pof'
tons OF the Park a noteworthy addition to Pros
pect Park the last year was the erection OF me
monument in honor OF the Maryland soldiers sam
In the Battle Of Long Island Ii was unveiled VIA
ceremonies Of public interest. The laying OF the
cornerstone of the Museum Of Arts and Sci
ences under the auspices OF the Brooklyn lnSt-
tute upon the site reserved for il on the east sds
lands adjoining Prospect Park. was an important
event OF the year. ana the completion OF the po'-
ton OF the building under way Will probably
take pace within twelve months \ large amount
OF work has been done I'm grading the gronhd
south OF the Mount Prospect Reservoir. The
Bicycle Path on one side OF the Ocean Parkway,
was formally opened last summer. and one OF me
sidewalks on the Eastern Parkway has been sci
apart for the OF bicycle riders Improved pave
merit has been laid In Nnth-ave. alongside OF lhe
for na.a irlRn
During the past year the sum OF about N""'''
has been raised by the issue OF county bonds ~
purchase lands for parks and parkways, and one
haf of this has already been expended. This mas
been done under the authority granted by an act
o. ihe Legislature 1892 and avaed Of before inc