The sun., 1916-12-17
By ROBERT
Fire Commissioner.


IT HE big task in tho Fire Depart
ment in tho last three years
has been to modernize the de-
partment. This process has. Of course,
not been completed yet. but the re-
suits accomplished may be broadly in
dicated by the following:
In tho three years Immediately pre-
ceding this administration we had q
total Of 4S,1s5 fires. 3s.46e Of which
were In buildings. The total IRE loss
was @2s. o0s $3.50.
In tho two years eleven months and
thirteen days Of this administration
We have had 40.727 fires. 33.44O O.
which were In buildings. the others
bonfires. brush fires. &C. and the total
fire loss has been. in round figures.
SCI .475. 900.
There has. therefore. been a reduce
ton In three years despite an enormous
Increase In population In the fire hazard
and In the number Of fires In buildings.
OF 2.45s In he total number OF fires. Of
5.016 In the number Of fires in build
ings (the class OF fires affected by
fire p%revention). and $7.533.s 1856 In the
fire loss. incidentally. We had last
year the smallest loss per capita and
per fire in the city's history.
Steadily for sixteen years. from the
date OF consolidation right up to the
beginning OF this administration, the
cost OF the Fire Department showed
an average annual increase OF $3l3.s79.
In the first Fire DEPARTMENT budget
made by this administration. that for
1915, not only was this huge average
annual increase checked. but for the
first time since consolidation a re-
duced budget Was adopted. the budget
being 65,1l0 lower than that for 1914.
instead OF $3i3.679 higher. as had been
the case every year since 1898. The
budget for 1917 is Sl73,050 lower than
that for 1914.
Thus the operating cost OF the de-
partment was in two years placed
upon IA basis Of $%ss.s29 lower than
that obtaining at the beginning OF this
administration.
Except for an increase In the sal
aries OF all first grade firemen and
engineers in the department. amount
ing to SOS 900. the budget for 1917
would show "A much greater reduction
still. as many other administrative
economies are reflected in this budget.
This reduction OF approximately half
Il million dollars a year in the ~orcrat-
Ing cost OF the department has ieen
accomplished in spite OF the fact that
during this time we have put into
service twenty-four new fire COM
panies. with total payroll and main
tenance charges OF approximately
$5l5. 900 "A year. and have added en-
ployees to perform new duties imposed
upon the department at an increased
cost Of s74,4l2 a year, and despite the
further fact that there has bcen n
80 per cent. advance In the cost OF the
principal supplies used by this de-
partment.
This result has been accomplished
in part by "a reduction. through care
and economy, Of $294.647 in the cost oi
supplies. by the abolition OF vacant
positions costing 5000 "A year, by
revoking details Of sixteen officers and
s.xty-three firemen, who were scn'
back to active duty; by the consolida'
ton Of shop and other activities. and
by the surrender OF forty buildings
and sites, which as the result Of thes,
readjustments were no longer needed
Fifteen fire companies. with a total OF
seven captains, twenty lieutenants
twenty engineers and l57 firemen, ant
four pilots were found after careful
study to be no longer needed in their
existing locations because of changed
conditions. and were transferred &c
other quarters.
An appropriation of about 81 900 ,0oC
has been secured for a new fire alarm
system in Manhattan to replace the
present Anticipated one. Contracts foi
the greater part OF this system have
already been let. and II il expected
that 1t will be put into operation the
coming year.
At a cost OF S7l1 ,s44 2s5 pieces OF
motor apparatus have been added &c
the department.
An emergency fre alarm station hal
been installed for use In the event Of
n breakdown OF the old system before
the new system IL completed.
Monthly housekeeping inspections OF
all buildings except residences by
members OF the uniformed force were
instituted in January. 1914. as tho
proved facilities for the personal com
fort of employees at section stations