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

iatiDll "a va AASptNblttS
mendihg orders for changes in buildings
thousands in all. These orders had
not been issued. There We're 5000 COM
plants that might represent dangerous
conditions; iht - We're over 5000 orders
recommended Tor correction Of condi
tons which hal not been issued"
why had tn, y not been issued
Because the force was inadequate
or the method caL 'oyed was too round
about. 100 cumb RS )me, to do the work
eXped.tiously. Mt only We're there ac-
cumulat!ons Of III, investigated com.
plants and unissued orders, but there
were hundreds OF orders issued for the
correction or conditions, and the bureau
was unable to tell whether or not they
had been compiled with. That was due
TO the fact that the bureau did not have
enough people to follow up It's own or
ders and see that they were enforced.
So that really those In the Bureau Of
Fire Prevention We're almost tieo III a
knot and were making very little head
way.
"The first day | was here | took up
the situation. | had conference with
Chief kenlon, and asked him II the uni
formed force had been utilized In any
way to assist in the work Of fire proven
ton. and he told me no. | asked him
why. and he said he did not know, but
he thought they could help In round
figures. tho uniformed force consists
OF about five thousand men.
II Immediately set TO work on n plan
to utilize the uniformed force, and is
sued an order about two weeks ago di-
Q 4
once n month inspect every building in
tho city for certain purposes. The
deputy chiefs Of the uniformed force,
! some fifteen Of them. We're called in con-
ference one morning. and we went over
tho whole plan. and l made them re-
sponsible for this inspection of tho uni
formed force. ] made them re-
sponsible for the men who would make
tho, inspections, ana directed that the
inspections should be made by COM
pany captain. a lieutenant or a first
grade ftreman--a first grade fireman
being necessarily four years in the de-
partment, and possessing experience
thereby.
"They went right ahead with the in
spectlon and since then have been going
into these places and finding conditions
that created fires-piles OF rubbish
heaped UP, standpipe equipments out
Of order, fire alarm systems in build
ings that were disarranged; water pals
untitled and tho fire eXtinguishing ap-
planes out OF fix: doors locked that
| ought TO be open, doors that ought TO
open outward opening inward; smoking
In places where 1t is prohibited, and
many other conditions Of the kind.
I'm order not to pile up clerical work
these men were ordered to correct these
| conditions by verbal orders. To give an
| Illustration. one deputy chief. Langford
| reported that In his division 124 stand
| pipe equipments We're found out of
condition, and 104 Of them were imme.
| diately remedied on the verbal orders of
the firemen who made these inspec-
lions"
do you think that fire conditions
are better than they used TO be, say
ten or twenty years ago.
UNNECESSARILY better, but very bad
NJ compared with what they ought to be
ana what they are in large European
cities. Our fire loss. for example
roughly speaking. IL about Ave times
what It is in London. Ave times what 1,
Is In Paris and. l think. about nine
times what 1t IL in Berlin. Our fire
loss here Is appalling. although 1t has
been reduced greatly, The reason fol-
this Ia that until recently the authorities
have never given any attention to the
subject Of fire prevention
Then, again, we have himsy con
struction, wooden construction all owe
the city. as you know from observation
The thing that makes our problem &c
vast and difficult is that for year.
the authorities have permitted the con.
struction OF the kind have mentioned
and now tho Fire Prevention Burea,