New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-12
FIRE HEAD SEEKS MONEY
Commissioner Johnson to Ask for
$11,995,542 This Year.
SAYS EXTENSION IS NEEDED
Declares Department Has Been
Standing Still-1911 Appropri-
alton S3,8OS,O02 Lower.

The Fire Department is getting ready 10
ask the Board Of Estimate and Apportion-
ment for Nl.9SS.542 for use in 1912. This is
the largest appropriation that has ever
been sought and is SS.sos,ooe greater than
the 1911 appropriation. Fire Commissioner
Johnson SAYS IT all comes about through
the long delayed extension of the depart
ment" Extension for 1872 he saws, will
Ydual tho entire budget for the Fire De
psrtment twenty-five years ago.
This enormous addition to the cost of
running the city's Fire Department may at
first stageer the Board Of Estimate" saws
Commissioner johnson, but the necessity
Toy it is real and urgent. For several
years the Fire Department has been mere
" maintained. and not extended. Conse-
ouently il has fallen 10 the present Com
missioner to catch M with the growth Of
the city and to witness the revolution in
equipment caused ny the development Of
auto FIRE engines
Commissioner Johnson points out that the
annual increases in the fire budget for the
last six years have been utterly dispropor-
tionate to the increases in assessed valua-
ton Of new buildings and the increase in
population.
III
SAWS. that if the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment allows the Fire Commits
sioner 10 bring the Fire Department up
even with the growth Of the city there VIII
be thereafter a continuing increase in the
budget As matter of fact, If the amount
asked for is granted in 1912. the succeeding
several years should show actual de-
oreases. because the Fire Department
would then be in a state Of equipment and
repair which would for several years re
ouire but trihing maintenance expenses.
1t Is hoped too, that the peremptory
powers which may be conferred upon the
Commissioner in the Hoey bill and the new
charter will lessen the work OF the FIRE
Department When the Fire Department
is once up to its highest notch OF equip
nent and efficiency We can reasonably
hope FOR a material reduction IN our ca
Cessive annual FIRE loss
In the new and evolutionary factors
in reducing the fire loss the Commissioner
includes nigh pressure in all districts Of
the greatest hazard. scientific inspection
for the purpose Of fire prevention ana
greater speed and radius Of automoble
spparatus. lie also makes few compan-
sons between New York and London
We are now having about fourteen thou
sand fires a year. as against less than four
thousand in London proper. or in that par
Of Central London having about the same
population as greater New York, he says.
.,ybiIe II Is true that from fire hazard
standpoint construction in London is lar
safer than in New York. on account OF the
materials used and greater conservation ll'
building still it seems remediaole sltud-
zion that New York should have more than
three times the number OF incipient hlazes
~ London. our fire marshsls Invest
cation reveals that the loss in more than
- ner cent Of all fires is less than $40.
,rbie indicates wide field for the bureau
o. fire prevention"