New-York tribune., 1900-07-03
LOSS OF LIFE NEEDLESS. CRAM SAYS.
DISCIPLINE LACKING. HE DECLARESFIRE
COULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IN
NEW-YORK

The Dock Board met yesterday afternoon with
President Cram and Commissioners Murphy and
Meyer present. The Hoboken fire was discussed
One resolution was passed directing the North Ger
man Lloyd Steamship Company to repair Pier No.
81. North River, at Watts-st., which was knocked
out of plumb Saturday by the Bremen which
bumped into il during the big fire. II the company
does not repair it within certain time the city
VIII DO the work and send the bill to the company.
President Cram talked over the latter part Of the
meeting afterward. unhesitatingly and emphatcal-
y declaring that there need have been no loss OF
life whatever had there been proper discipline
shown during the fire, He said:
Such Va rs re- could not POSSIBLY have occurred in
owing TO the superiority Of the docking facilities
ana the fire and police departments.
III vas S IN H9ooken today examining the piers Of
Lle North German Lloyd Steamship Company
They are too narrow, and the space between the
were rotten, in the hrst place, and were nothing
but finder boxes. The sheds were only made OF
the reason the ere spread so quickly and with
much further apart It would be absolutely i'm
spread to vessel lyng alongside that pier as the
piers are vide and there Is plentyvSofvsaaSe for
freboats 10 work outside
Commissioner Cram dwelt length this point
and became very emphatic at times, repeating
MS ideas of the necessity OF having wide and
much space between them. He continued:
Dir Of excuse in this world for the terrible loss
Of life that took place the ships at the FIRE sat
urGay- There was. II reality, not the slightest
discipline exercised during The FIRE. I found on
examna ton Of the three burned vessels that not a
single LfebOat had been cut away from the daYits.
The unfortunate people IN those vessels could all
have escaped roasting and drowning II there had
been but the proper discipline There no
All the FTench English and American steamship
lines dock n New-Eork City because OF the su-
perior docking facilities, but the North GerTna n
Lloyd Steamship Company owns It's piers at Ho-
-0kan, and docks there because they save some
slight expense The protection afforded in this city
by the Police ana Fire departments with the 81
perOr docking facilities. would make II worth
while for II dock here An officer OF an
he fact that ne had TO pay more for labor in
New-YOrk than in Liverpool Southa mpton he
could discharge freight cheaper mere than on the
other side becaus of superior docking
All the docks in NeW-YOrk OF the latest i'm
proved pattern whereas those Of the North Ger
Lloyd Line in EObCNen were OF an antiQuated
pattern on account OF better improvements il
would he worth more 70 them 70 dock in New-York.
7 speak a Ia mmany man, but citizen
vice and for he public good should be under
ncipal control and II be under municipal con-
trol and still protect the rights Of private indi-
yidualS and corpora ttOus. II makes no difference
whether Tammany some other party is in
power. IL is well known that the Police and Fire
Departments of New-York City the best In
me world. Their projection is worth great deal
steamship line expecting TO retain its patronage
will have TO dock in New-York.
What 7 the unanimous opinion Of the
Board in the discussion OF the Hoboken fire