DOCUMENT No. 7. BOARD OF JANUARY 16, 1854. The following communication from the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, in answer to resolution, was received, laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. D. T. VALENTINE, Clerk. To the Hon. the Board of Aldermen: GENTLEMEN :-In replying to the resolution adopted by your Honorable Body on the 5th instant, directing the Chief Engineer to report what fire companies are provided with apparatus and houses, and what companies are not supplied; whether, in his opinion, there are not more companies organized in the city than is necessary, and if so, what companies could be dispensed with; also the calibre of the engines now located in the seventh and eighth districts, and whether more powerful ones are not necessary, and if so, whether a union of two or more companies would add to the efficiency of the Department in that section of the city. Also any other information which may suggest itself to him, calculated to render the Fire Department more efficient in the above named districts, I beg leave to state, that so far as relates to the condition of houses, it is out of my power to give any official information respecting them; formerly the small repairs to the houses were done under the superintendence of the Chief Engineer, who could then report their condition, &c. ; it is now, however, in other hands. Engine companies Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 48 and 49; hose companies Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44. 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54; hook and ladder companies Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11, as near as I am able to judge, have houses which are in good condition, or new ones are now building. The houses of engine companies Nos. 10 and 45, hose company No. 30, and of hook and ladder company No. 10, are in a dilapidated condition, but yet occupied by them. The apparatus of all the above companies is in good order, or new ones are contracted for, except engines Nos. 20 and 36. No. 20, located in the lower districts, should be supplied with a new one as soon as possible. Engine companies Nos. 3, 27, 36, 37 and 40; hose companies Nos. 32, 55 and 56, and hook and ladder companies Nos. 12 and 13, have no locations, except that engines Nos. 36 and 37, and hose companies Nos. 55 and 56 are doing duty from temporary houses. Engine No. 39 has no house except a temporary one, but by a resolution of the late Common Council, one was directed to be built in Thirty-first street, near Seventh avenue, and the engine now used by No. 9 appropriated to their use. Hose company No. 5 and hook and ladder company No. 6, occupy the lower part of the building known as Firemen's Hall, in Mercer street. As the hall is to be rebuit, they will of course, be out of service, as soon as the present building is demolished; this will, doubtless, be very soon. I understand, however, that provision is made for their accommodation in the new hall, but as some time must necessarily elapse before a building of the magnitude of the one contemplated can be completed, it is desirable that a temporary location be provided, particularly for the hook and ladder company. Locations should also be provided for hook and ladder companies Nos. 12 and 13; as soon as possible as they are much needed. That more companies have been organized than are necessary, certainly is the case. If your Honorable Body should think proper to dispense with any, those not provided with locations could be as well spared as any others, except the hook and ladder companies mentioned ; and also perhaps engines Nos. 27, 37 and 39. There are none too many hook and ladder companies, even when all are in active service, and the three engine companies alluded to are placed far up town where, from the growth of the city in that direction, they are more and more required every day. The hydrant companies are of very little service, and might be dispensed with without detriment to the Department; at any rate, Nos. 1, 2 and 3, with ten men each, is certainly sufficient for all practicable purposes; at present there are four hydrant companies organized, and I have received a resolution directing me to organize No. 5, for the Sixth district, which, if done, will make three for that district, viz: Nos. 2, 4 and 5; with a view, therefore, to await the action of your Honorable Body on the subject, I have declined to receive the return for the organization of said company, until an opportunity for that action can be had. A resolution was also adopted by your predecessors, directing me to organize hose company No. 60, althongh there are none numbering higher than 56. I shall also decline receiving this return (if offered), until action is had by your Honorable Body in reference thereto. During the past year, several extremely violent fights have occurred between companies; pistols, and other dangerous weapons, have been brought in requisition, the apparatus upset, and nearly destroyed; the worst of which, were between engine companies Nos. 6, 18 and 44, and hose companies Nos. 16 and 17; yet, no punishment has been awarded (except that No. 18 was suspended for three months), although the facts were duly reported to the Common Council, who, instead of investigating the circumstances, allowed the matter to lie for several months, and then adopted a resolution, directing the Chief Engineer to return the apparatus which he had taken from them. If these acts of insubordination should receive proper attention from your Honorable Body (and I feel assured they will hereafter), and the persons who are found guilty of any serious offence be expelled forthwith, disbanding the companies to which they are attached, and transferring innocent members to other companies, you will not only reduce the number of companies to what it should be, and rid the Department of the persons who have been placed therein only to bring reproach upon it, but materially augment the force of the remaining companies. Another serious detriment to the Department, has been the increasing of the number of men in some companies, whilst others in the vicinity have scarcely half the complement. In the resolution adopted, I am directed to report the calibre of the engines in the lower districts, and give my opinion as to the practicability of procuring larger ones, and uniting the companies. At present there is but one first class engine, viz: No. 38, being 9 inch cylinder; four second-class, Nos. 14, 21, 22 and 42; and three-third class; Nos. 5, 13 and 20; Nos.. 14, 21 & 42 are each 8 in. cylinder; No. 22, 8 in.; Nos. 13, 7, & Nos. 5 & 20, each 6 inches. Formerly there were three powerful engines in these districts, known as first class, viz Nos. 22, 38 and 42. No. 22 petitioned some three years since for a second class piano engine, which was given them, and no place being provided for the old one, it was sold. No. 42 recently asked for, and received a second class engine. The old one-a very powerful engine of ten inch calibre-is stored in the house formerly occupied by hook and ladder company No. 2, in Beaver street, to be used as a reserve. The complement of men allowed to each company is as follows: Engine No. 38, (first-class Philadelphia style) 9 inch cylinder.... 60 men. |