The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-08

Increased the number of fire inspectors
from less than 200 to more than 5000
men, who are now systematically ex-
aiming one building after another
wherever situated within the confines Of
Greater New York and who are making
detailed reports on hotels, theatres
dance halls, music halls, piers, rail-
way stations. schools, churches on all
places in fact which are open TO the
public.
Another step Commissioner .Adamson
y now ready to take is that of start
ms a citywide campaign Of education
IN the matter OF preventing fire. Every
possible organization will be enlisted
in Il from the Chamber OF Commerce
70 the Boy Scouts OF America. inc!ud-
ing the leading clubs and societies OF
Girls and the trade groups. and last but
by no means least the Commissioner
expects that the Board OF Education
will introduce regular teaching OF fire
prevention into every grade OF every
school in New York. both public and
private.
During the six years beginning with
1908 and including 1913 there We're $50
men. women and children killed by
tires In the boroughs OF Manhattan, The
Bronx and Richmond. This is by no
means the total for the city. however,
because no record is kept of lives lost
by fro IN Brooklyn. Many OF these
lives, perhaps a majority Of them. would
not have been lost II New York had
possessed n system OF fire prevention
such as Is enforced in tho principal
cities of Europe, and the loss in money
and property would have been corre-
t,.n. tat. 90
those qualified to speak with authority
preventive medicine IL OF first import
ance in medical science. And this prin-
ciple Commissioner Adamson Is apply
ing to the city department OF which no
10 the new head. AZ he expresses Il:
1T Is certainly as necessary 10 pre-
vent fires from starting as TO eXtin-
guish them after they are under way"
Tie Commissioner Is 30 alive to the
Importance OF interesting every citizen
rhat Notwithstanding the enormous
volume of work piled up in his office
he took the time yesterday TO make a
detailed statement OF the situation 20
that readers OF THE SUNDAY Sun might
know exactly what existing conditions
are regarding tire risk and danger to
life throughout Greater New York.
WI eu tUb ETs commissioner NdS
asked to talk about the work of the Fire
Prevention Bureau he prefaced his re-
marks by saying:
Mayor Mitchell very wisely cautioned
all OF his heads Of departments when
appointing them to do little talking, and
have followed his advice. The Fire
Prevention Bureau. however. presents.
In my opinion, an instance where an eX-
ception might wisely be made to this
rule, and the Mayor agrees with me,
This Is because Of the fact that TO a
very large extent the success of this
bureau depends upon publicity.
Half the work Of tho bureau IS edu-
cational, and because Of that fact pub
liclty Is an Indispensable feature Of that
branch Of the Fire Department work
Through that means hope We will he
able 10 open the eyes OF all the people OF
the city to the work the Fire Preven-
ton Bureau is trying to do and the
practical help they can give us. II every
citizen and every property owner had
constantly in mind the taking Of ordi-
nary precautions against fire and co..
operating with lis the reduction IN fires
would be very great.
when ] came into office as Fire Com
missioner | found the Bureau OF Fire
Prevention almost paralyzed because Il
was overwhelmed with work. Remem.
Der, there was o force Of only o23 people
In the bureau all told. including clerks
sAninincrs and inspectors. There were
less than n hundred men engaged IN
work outside as inspectors. and these
men We've supposed not only To inspect
'he buildings OF the entire city OF New
YORK but to investigate all complaint.
which come IN here, and they are yer,
Numerous. They are required to in
spe"t every moving picture theatre II
New York, to inspect every dance hall