FIRE AND WATER

FIRE AND WATER

NOTWITHSTANDING the costly experience of last winter, when so many pieces of fire apparatus became stalled in the snow drifts, and either failed to reach the scene of the fire at all, or reached it too late to be of any service in saving the burning property, those who are in charge of the fire department of this city have failed to provide runners for the engines, hook and ladder trucks, hose wagons, etc.—at least in the outlying districts of New York. As a result there are chronicled this week two fires on different sides of the East River, in which precisely the same thing occurred. An easily avoidable loss has been incurred through the fire apparatus of the city having been blocked by the snow. There is no excuse for such negligence as this, and the fire insurance companies directly concerned, as well as the others which do business in New York city, should address a strong remonstrance on the subject to the mayor, to the municipal assembly, and to Fire Commissioner 8cannell, calling upon them to see that steps are at once taken to supply such an obvious want—one to which the attention of the fire department has been repeatedly called in the columns of FIRE AND WATER ASSEMBLYMAN HENRY, of New York, has introduced a hill which should pass. Its jntention is to secure the registration of electricians. The governor is to appoint in each county a county examining hoard, to consist of three persons, of whom two shall he employing or master electricians of not less than seven years’ experience, and one, an electrical engineer. In New York city the commissioner of publicbuildings shall he an ex-officio member. Every person applying for a certificate must deposit a fee of $25. The members of the examining board are to serve without compensation Persons not complying with the provisions of the act shall he guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to a fine of not UNIS than $10, nor more than $250.

In the face of the many destructive, sometimes fatal fires which are so constantly resulting from defective electrical work, such a measure, if passed, as we hope it will he, will, at all events, he an instalment of useful legislation aimed at wiping out the crowd of incompetents and charlatans, who at present pass themselves off upon the unwary as capable electricians.