GREATER NEW YORK FIRE GOSSIP
鉴于这一事实将w的问题ater from one or both rivers by means of fireboats or stationary pumping engines into a series of six or eight-inch auxiliary mains— chiefly into the “dry goods ” district—has assumed a more tangible form, a Boston insurance paper has assumed to itself the role of supreme arbiter in the matter and has declared the project impossible of execution, (1) Because the “cost would make it prohibitive in the present state of the city’s finances,” and (2) because the “public would probably not take kindly to the further wholesale tearing up [of the streets] that would be involved by duplicating the water piping for the use of salt water,” Despite this infallible utterance of an outsider, who can know nothing about either the feelings of New Yorkers or the state of the city’s finances, the proposed auxiliary system is bound to be adopted—and probably sooner rather than later. Had the municipal authorities both of the past and the present been more alive to the interests of the public and less set upon those of their party or themselves, the citizens of New York would not have seen provincial cities, such as Boston and others, get ahead of the metropolis in this matter.—The Second Fire Zouaves’ Veteran Association, which recently dedicated its fine monument on the field of Gettysburg, finds that, after paying all the expenses, it has a surplus fund left of about $ 1,000. It is now proposed to take this and erect a bronze tablet containing the names of all who were killed and wounded in the battle, and place it upon the spot occupied bv the regiment on the third day’s fight. It was first proposed to erect a fine railing round the monument; but this the Government will not permit. The matter will be further discussed at the; next meeting of the veterans and a conclusion arrived at.—Some important reductions in fire insurance rates have been made by the Fire Underwriters’ Tariff Association. On about two hundred non fireproof apartment houses in New York and about fifteen more in Brooklyn the rate has been reduced twenty per cent. S. A. Reed, the manager of tne taiiff association, said the reduction was made on account of the “good record of the buildings.” The rates on a number of charitable institutions are to be reduced. Manager Reed is now considering the schedule. The institutions affected are of several classes,including the fireproof,or first-class structures, known as “slow-burners.” buildings erected before the passage of the present building laws.—The trial of George V. Holt, accused of arson, will probably end in an acquital. He has been able to bring into court a number of credible witnesses to character, among them Commissioner Welles, of Brooklyn. Holt denied all the charges. He said that he interested himself in Milch, the convicted firebug, whose was the only testimony against him. who was also obliged to admit that he expected to benefit by appearing against Holt, solely from a spirit of friendliness, and knew nothing against him. When he heard ugly rumors concerning Milch, he asked him if he had ever known of a fire being about to take place before it occurred, and then advised him, if he were innocent, to surrender himself. His annual revenue as a fire adjuster was about $4,500.
