New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-12
CITY EASY PREY TO FIRE.
NOT ENOUGH PROTECTION.
Committee Says Lorer Districts
Jeopardi@c Municipality.

THAT Manhattan Island is likely to be swept
snv time by a conhagration which would
zine out hundreds of millions of dollars worth
:, nroperty value and cause financial panic
so-o which all the United States would suffer
= tho conclusion drawn from a thorough in
,-es+igation of the situation by the committee
- twenty OF the National Board Of Fire I'm
5e-vriters. The report of this committee for
Manhattan and The Bronx has just been issued,
80 more than one hundred closely printed
noges are necessary 10 show the results of the
;ryesrigation Of the Fire Department, the water
s,,nnlv system as related to fire lighting. and
tbe structural conditions and the confiagration
hazards.
CAPTAIN John Stephen SeweII, of the United
states Army, an expert engineer who was de-
tailed by the War Department to assist in the
investigation, is inclined to go even further
han the members Of the committee of twenty
De declares that the personnel of the Fire De-
partrnent is the only thing which has saved the
city so far, saying:
The type and occupancy OF buildings prevail
ing in the worst sections their mutual eX-
ToslIres the narrowneSs of the streets, made
ouacv Of water supply and Distribution, To-
S1efher with the enormous values involved, COM
Line To make the situation in Manhattan by
FAR the most serious fire AID connagratlon haz-
ard I have ever seen. The conclusion IS m
evitabe that the magnificent personnel OF the
Eire Department has been the only thing Whch
prevented sweeping ConfagratlonS IN Inc
mast The existing physical conditions, not 10
mention inefficient engines and deteFloFaIeo
alarm system, constitute a handicap unoeF
which any mere human agency, however per
feet must ultimately fail.
In view of the enormous interests inVolVed
and the almost international character OF the
catastrophe which would be represented by a
sweeping conhagration in Manhattan, no time
should be lost in putting into erect all proposed
improvements. In my judgment, the description
of existing dangers in this report of the com
rpitree of twenty is. if anything too conserNa-
rive; the hazard is at least real and serious me
adoption of the reconnenoauons OF lhe 10 =
7nirfee in full would reduce it to a pracCca4
minimum, and no lesser measures will suffice
Asserting that on the whole the Fire Depart
roent is efficient and powerful. the committee
recommends many changes, the principal one OF
which is that the incumbent Of the office OF FIRE
Commissioner be of demonstrated administrative
ability and free from active political affiliations
Reform IS necessary in the engineer department
of the department, many Of the steamers being
found in terrible condition. The committee rec
oron1ends the establishment OF seven new engine
houses eight additional hose companies ten ad-
ditional ladder companies, two additional water
lowers Additional protection is strongly ad-
vised for the outlying communities OF Hunt
Point, Bronxdale, BaychesIer. EasJchester ana
Van Nest new hreboat with statlon a
24th-st and the Hudson River. is considered al
visable
Marshall S briggs. treasurer of the National
Board of Fire Underwriters, said yesterday
The purpose OF the IRE un0erWrllers mas DcSI
TO put INTO the possession Of the city authorities
The results Of the most careful, complete ana
scientific investigation Of conditions that are q
danger to the city because they invite olsastL
logs- IN great conaagration. The city author
tiles while they may have the interests OF the
citv at heart cannot be supposed 10 have full
information of the threatening conditions unless
1T is furnished to them as the result of such an
Investigation We hope that the result OF the
Investigation viii be better facilities for fghtlng
fires il the congested portions of Manhattan
where the danger is greatest We are aiming
Of course at ideal conditions. It will take time
and the expenditure Of large sums to make the
city safe against q general conhagration, put
with the facts in their possession the city au-
thorities can have no fear that action by them
viii not meet with public approval
Steps for an increased water supply for nre
purposes cannot be taken too soon The other
Recommendations Of the committee are too I'M
portant to be overlooked. The fire underwriters
have not confined the investigation to this city:
hut have extended it TO all the large cities OF
the country. The investigation has cost about
$4,000. and the only return the hre under
writers can hope for IS increased protecuoh
inst