The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-18

a total OF S540, 900. Commissioner
/ Adamson explains that this has been
accomplished by revoking the details OF
| eleven men in the Bureau OF Fire Pre-
, vention and OF various messengers, in
! Guiding the Commissioners private
messenger, and by reorganizing and
equallzing the various companies. He
| states that the budget for the year 1914
made an allowance for an increase of
only twenty firemen over the year 1913
with the understanding that when the
twenty new frehouses were opened
and the new fireboat William J. Gay
nor went into commission the Board
OF Estimate and Apportionment
would make provision for the additional
men necessary. These new companies
will require about 900 men and officers
To command them.
Commissioner Adamson says:
"By the revocation OF details, read
tustment OF companies and motorizatio
we have been able to save In firemens
salaries something like $260,o00 in 1914.
When We get through there will be
twenty additional companies In the SER
vice and one fireboa6 not only with
out any increased cost TO the city but
with an actual reduction OF s26,420
under tho 1914 allowance. notwithstand-
ing twenty salary increases are provided
for in the budget and an increased stan
in the fire prevention bureau AT an
additional cost of S32 600.
Great attention has been devoted by
the Fire Commissioner TO the question
of supplies and he has been able TO cut
down expenses In this direction alone
to the extent of s173,75s for the year
1916. Thus the department will expenu
on supplies that much less money than
during the present year despite the
fact that there will be twenty new COM
panies. the average cost of supplies for
each company being about $1,000.
Following special orders issued by the
Commissioner with reference to the
purchase of coal for the engine houses,
a great saving has been effected. In his
letter to the company commanders Com
missioner Adamson stated that no would
hold them strictly accountable under
the rules for the correctness Of tho fuel
reports which they render theNchief OF
the department. lie said:
Heretofore some of these reports
have been careless and slipshod to the
last degree. This will not be tolerated
any longer. The fuel reports must cor
rectly reflect the amount OF coal re-
CURED and consumed and responsibility
for the correctness of these reports is
placed directly on the company COM
mnnders. It is clear that many of the
company commanders have merely
guessed at the quantity on hand and the
quantity required With such reports
it Ia impossible for this department to
keep any accurate records or TO enforce
proper economy in the consumption Of
coal. AZ an example OF the careless
method In which these reports have
been prepared ! call your attention to
the fact that the reports from nine COM
panies show that $4,000 pounds OF coal
were consumed from May to June /,
1914, whereas accurate estimates show
that the quantity consumed should not
have been In excess OF 6O,95O pounds.
A careful study shows that 1928 pounds
per day for single company and $50
pounds per day for double company
Is liberal allowance"
One OF the most interesting features
OF Commissioner Adamson's report In
that which deals with the readjustment
OF fire companies. made possible
through the motorization OF the depart
ment, which has resulted In n saving of
"a officers, engineers. . pilots,
stokers and 1l9 firemen. who have been
or are to he sent from the old com.
panies. where they are found 10 be M
longer needed. to new companies THe
total salaries Of these men per year