New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-13
rpp LONDON FIRE DEPARTMENT..
.on Engineering.

Prom Engineering.
The scheme for the improvement of the Metro
,i,an Fire Brigade (Of London, in consequence
= ,he CripDlecatf fire. is also now before u.s.
W. as we have so often had occasion to point
nt the defects Of that force, II affords us par
,s,nIar pleasure to congratulate Commander
VII ON some of the ideas embodied in his suS-
t1ors IN the Committee of the London County
Sonncil Let il be promised that we are not
dealing with any large scheme OF reform or
thorough reorganization OF the ire brigade but
Nth certain improvements based on the existing
..ats If affairs There is no question of radical
Hanee in the strength or the working hours of
he brigade no radical change in Its organlza-
ir or equipment its officers or its stan; but we
,,e 70 have more men. more stations fuller
,n,Dlorent TO each section, more horses, better
sjsriy-ition and above all, better facilities for
wa-saying Given the existing circumstances,
hsse improve utS are all practical ana COM
naratiyely Inexpensive. There has been, we are
lad 10 see no panderins to the hysterical out
srv for chemical engines. water towers or other
fuch appliances.
Brt il should also be remembered that the i'm
nroyernents TO our mind, do not so much affect
ne safety OF property as the saving of life. we
have 50 far primarily dealt with property. and
have not referred to the fact that we have been
t,Sng nearly one hundred lives per annum
from FIRE which is indeed large inquire com
rared say. with the loss OF life in years trav-
Cling on the railways Of the British Isles. TO
, certain extent this loss Of life must nave peen
due % the insufficient equipment and unprac-
And as matter Of fact largely due 10 the ante
oluyian manual ire-escape, which is, TO great
extent relic from the times Of the old Life
rving Society which existed prior 10 the forma-
don Of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. Now
Commando Wells has had the strength TO break
OF from precedent and the principles OF his pred
e,essors and We are at last TO have the hOrsed
tre-escape which can rapidly reach the scene or
n outbreak with "A crew fresh for the arduous
duties il So often has TO undertake. The
endless outduti,s with escapes which have so
long harassed the brigade will thus also be linn
tied and the existing staff can be used TO
greater advantage Greater areas can be pro-
tected by individual appliances, and the concen-
ration Of such appliances becomes feasible But
without wishing to disparage Commander
Weiss idea Of the horsed escape, We think the
scaling ladder Of the Continental and American
sre brigadcs also deserves a trial in the metrop-
Oils and that ladder-truck sections might be
formed on the same lines the horsed hre-es-
cape sections. 1t is only too evident that there
Is considerable amount Of property, partcu-
ayiy in the suburbs. for which the escape or any
appliance Of that description Is quite unsulted;
We refer 10 the villa residence. the seini-de-
taehet houses standing some twenty feet BACK
tror, the road: also the suburban shop property
where the shops are built out In front OF the
main building We must not forget that there
" also many courts and alleys into which es-
apes cannot be taken.