Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-11
POORLY PROTECTED
New York is in Serious Condi- ion-Report of the Fire
 Underwriters.

New York, Dec 1.-The Journal of Commerce today says:
 The city of New York from a fire protection standpoint is in very serl- ous condition, as is shown by the just completed report of the committee of twenty of the National Board Of Fire Underwriters. There are several vital defects in the various branches of the fire department and water sup. ply which at any time might in com blnation form very grave menace to the greater part of the city. With its vast congestion of values and narrow and obstructed streets in the business section, taken in consideration with dangerously unreliable fire alarm sys tenn, insufficient water supply and poor distribution, causing extremely low pressure in some localities, antiquated and defective hydrants, absence of suf. hclent number of fire engines and in- efficiency of some of those in use, there is decided opportunity for a sweeping confiagration in this city. The com mittees engineers have completed d very careful examination of the entire city and the result of their findings is confirmed by Captain John Stephen Sewell of the corps of engineers, United States army, who was detailed by President Roosevelt to assist in the work of the committee. Captain sew ell says in part:
 The type and occupancy of build lngs prevailing in the worst sections, their mutual exposures. the narrowness of streets, inadequacy of water supply and distribution, together with the enormous values involved. combine to make of the situation in Manhattan by far the most serious fire and confiagra ton hazard 1 have ever seen. The conclusion is inevitable that the mag nificent personnel of the fire depart. ment has been the only thing that has prevented sweeping confiagratlons in the past. The existing physical condi. t10ns, not to mention inefficient enginef and deterlorated alarm system, con stitute a handicap under which any mere human agency, however perfect, must ultimately fall.
 'ln view of the enormous interests involved and the almost International character of the catastrophe which would be represented by a sweeping contiagratlOn in Manhattan, no time should be lost in putting into effect all the proposed Improvements, and all the recommendations in this report, Of their full equivalent. In Thy Judgment the description of existing dangers in this report is, if anything, too con seryatlye, the hazard is at least as .aaL and serious, and imminent, as AereiI stated. The adoption of the recon. mendations in full would reduce it to a practical minimum, and no lesser measures will suffice
 The report is issued under the au-- pices of the committee of twenty OI the National Board of Fire Under writers. This committee was appoint ed by the national board shortly afte: the Baltimore conhagration with view to Investigating the fire protec tion of the large cities of the country and includes n it's members:
 Henry Evans, president of the Cen. tinental Insurance Co, chairman: Fred W. Arnold. president Of the Equitable Fire and Marine Insurance Co of Prov idence: Colonel Robert R. Beath, pres ident of the United Firemen's Insur ance Co of Philadelphia; R. NJ. Bis sell, vice president of the Hartford Fire Insurance Co of Hartford; Will liam E. Clark. president of the Aetna Insurance Co of Hartford: James Nich- oIs. president of the National Fire In- surance Co of Hartford: Edward Mil ligan. secretary of the Phoenix Insur- ance Co of Hartford; F. C. Irwin, pres ident of the Fire Association of PhiIa- delphia: E. l.. Ellison. vice president of the Insurance Company of North America of Philadelphia: A. w. Da- mon. president of the Springfield Fire X Marine Insurance Co of Springfield. Mass.