New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-08
yI2,47O.SO6 IN 1871 F|RES'
rnoines Got 1858 Calls, with
AVERAGE Loss of S855.69.
s3o0O.O0O MORE THAN 1910
commissioner Johnson Makes
Public Annual Report, Which
He Submitted to Mayor.

,,..nh Johnson, Fire Commissioner, maze
M. Yesterday his report 70 Mayor Gay
,or 1911. The report shows that there
- ere losses in the city for that year
.~.oating Sl2,470,s06, an average loss Of
.:ss 20 fire, as compared with a total of
20, ss1. or an average Of 1896 IS FIRE
,ofo Fourteen fires alone, which &C.
"a in the first six months of 1911.
..n.sd loss Of s3.75S.065, In the entire
80, during the whole year there were 49,
-; 6res. as compared with 144o5 fires for
ne wear before.
The important achievement Of the year
= ,hs Fire Department was the reduction
- che last six months Of 1911 in the num-
-. =. fires al the rate OF 2,452 a year,
~ Johnson states in his report. The
--,,har Of fires in the first six months Of
,o,, uas at the rate Of forty-three a day
- the number in the last six months, up
:. nscsnobAr 20, was thirty-six a>day, a re-
S,c,ion during the last six months Of seven
a.. dav. This is the first sudden and
,rbstantial reduction in the rate of fires IL
~. history Of the greater city. This reduc-
non was brought about, in part. by 4
,n4eial and thorough investigation Of haz-
.rdous premises in the city, resulting in
,bA nlacing Of 5000 violations upon the
vorst OF the buildings. AT the same time
The uniformed force was greatly heartened
n ,ts work by the Mayors executive order
that appointments must be made in numer-
icst order from the eligible list"
Motors Improve Service.
Another important improvement in tile
Are service given the city, Mr.. johnson says,
is tbs notorization OF the Fire Department,
which Is well under way. There are now in
the department he says. forty-three motor
vehicles. including one motordriven steam
humping engine, one gasolene motor and
humping engine, one motor propelled water
tover and eight high pressure hose wagons.
The other motor vehicles are touring cars
for executive officers. runabouts for
deputy chiefs, delivery trucks. etc. Be
fore December 81, 1912, it is probable tina;
$50 pieces Of motor apparatus will be in
service. There are under contract, due
for delivery during the first three months
Of 1912, two gasolene-propelled pumping en-
gines one combination hose wagon and
engine. motor propelled, three high pressure
hose wagons. four automobile hook and lad
der trucks, two gas electric tractors for
water towers and two three-ton delivery
trucks.
An innovation for economy was made IN
the shoeing OF the horses Of the depart
ment, Mr.. Johnson says, by which saw
ing Of about $4,000 was brought about.
During 1911 the old system OF shoeing fire
horses by contract was abolished, and ten
horseshoeing wagons, owned and operated
by the department itself. were placed in
service. During most Of the year the Fira
Department shod It's horses with It's own
men. These wagons visited the various fire.
houses and the horses were shod on the
premises.
Return $f63,3o5 "a to the City.
II is stated in the report that out Of the
1911 appropriation for administration thers
remained unexpended balance Of s163.-
sos g. which will be returned 10 the city
treasury.
The Fire Prevention Bureau was organ
lied on October 21. 1911. the report states.
by the consolidation of the former bureaus
Of FIRE marshal. violations and auxiliary fire
appliances and combustibles. In addition
10 this consolidation, twenty-five officers anJ
hremen were detailed from the uniformed
force 10 the several divisions Of the Fire
Prevention Bureau. This temporary organ
ization, 10 carry out the provisions Of the
FIRE prevention law which went into effect
October 19, 1911, enabled the Fire Com
missioner TO make a start in fire proven
nor. With this inadequate force tnspec-
tons have been made Many orders have
been issued for the purpose Of remedying
dangerous conditions, such as alterations 10
stairways and doors, and for the erection
Of FIRE escapes and the installation of aux
Hilary fire appliances. Compliance with the
rules and regulations of the Municipal EX-
ploslves Commission has also been en-
forced by this temporary organization and
campaign against incendiarism started.
The budget presented by the Commission
er for 1912 is sS,5373s5 IS. as against SIS
is7,459 70 for 1911, an increase Of s349,-
so5 s. Of this increase, II is explained,
100000 provides for the organization and
maintenance Of the new Fire Prevention
Bureau IN 1912, S43,s64 s. for mandatory
Increases Of firemen IN advancement In
grade and new positions allowed, s1O5,94O
for supplies and materials made necessary
by the proposed organization Of new com
Psnies during 1912 H. 1912 this depart
msnt Will have 70 pay $4,000 for water
which is new charge against the Fire De-
partmsnt appropriation.
Among the recommendations made BY the
Fire Commissioner Is one for a new FIRE
alarm telegraph service in all 5oroughs 1t
is the most urgent need OF the department
he says, and will cost $4,000. He rec
ommends that isolated sites be obtained for
the FIRE alarm telegraph stations in Man
haitian, The Bronx and Brooklyn. He also
urges great extensions in the high pressure
system