Frequency Of Fires.
The Times, 1824-11-19T00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMIES. Sir,-Although the hints thrown out by E. A. in his communic.- Lion to you, to prevent the extension of fires, are very good, and de- qerve every attentiom, yet I was in expectation that before I got to tle end o it, he would have buggested some plan by which a sreedy Rupply of water might be obtained, as the most effectual mode ot -hecking so dreadful a calamnity. It has, however, occasioned my re- rerring to the Building Act, in which there appears to have been i great desire en the part of ita framers to guard against tke extension of a fire, by pointing out the manner in which buildings shall be constructed-in ordering the erection of fire- cockg In the seveyal streets-and in apportioning rewards to the firemen and turn-cocks who may be earliest in their aLttendance to extinguis4 it. Now, Sir, althoughi builders mav bave discovered a mode by which they can avoid the penaf. ties of the act, (as what individual would not, if he thought sny thing was to be gained by it ?), still there cannot, I should ima- tine, exist a desire in any of the vestries whorovern thc. several pa- .ishes of the metropolis, to avoid complying with its enactments, or loing that which must be acknowledged' would be a benefit to everv Xdividual in them, or to incur the penalties to which they are liabfe or such non-compliance. I must, therefore, attribute the inittten. tion of the several parishes to the provisions of the act, to their not seing.geuerally-cuoym. 3t .eor4d give meamuch pleasure if, through the medumu ot your widely etC rctstd jourial, I sbnut& be lnstru- ental in directing the attention of the gentlemen composing the se- vcral vestries in this metropolis, to the following extracts frnm :lnuses in the Building Act-viz. "It shall and may be lawful to anid for the churchwardens of every pariah, or overseer cf every precinetnot havingany churchsi'arden,andtheyare herebyrcspectivelv required from time to tinmeforever,tomake,place, and lx, at thecharee f such repective parish, precnct, or place, upon the mains and pipes belonging to any water-work vvhatsoever, such and so many fire- eocks to go into eacb main, and to be placed at such distances, in each and every street or pLace, as such churchwarrldems or overseers shall direct; and in default of making, placing, fixing, and con- inuing such firecocks on the several mains, every churchwarden or sverseer of auchparish shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds." There are other regulationn as to the kers of these fire-cocks, en. rnes, &c., wvth which it is unnccessary to trouble you. Now, Sie, I contend that thc severat parishes have the power, and ire compeled to take the means of procuring a speedy supply of water in casea of fire into their own hands in the easlest possible nanier. The VFater Companies assert that their mains are always -barged. If, then, this be the case, it refnies only the conn6xion of the fire.cocks, vwhich the parishes are bound to erect, with these nainc, and there will alwvays be a ready supply at hand, witheut the aecessiry of wafting the arrival of a tuencock, as is now the ease, be- tbre water can be obtained. These stand-pipes, if in the form of posts at the corners of streets, would be esily seen; might be so cou- itructed that any person could turn them and occasion a flow of water; aud keys mighc be lodged with the watchmnen, or attached *o the fire-engine, and used immediatelv on their arrival at the fire. As the Water Companies' stop.cocks arc at present placed, antl they are, no doubt, so situated as to belconvenieut for the supply of 3f wsater to the inhabitants, wvhich is equally important, I can easily Imagine Xhat it would require every watchman or fireman to be regu- [arly instractcd in the business of a turncock, to enable him to use keys t!at might be left in his possesaion, but with a fire-rock erected ipon the highest ground in every street, a child might soon learn tlow to turn it so as to produce water when required. If you should consider it probable that any benefit might arise from the publica- tion nf tlw,e oh, .v,s;ns,o ,,n,s ,.;it nhtt,.,. I,,, ,t;..t-t-- Sir. vour verv obedient cenant. G. :I.1r. November IR- IR24. FREQUENCY OF FIRES.