Praise for New York Fire Bureau

Praise for New York Fire Bureau

Frank M. Patterson, as attorney for the Master Builders’ Association, sent a letter last week to Mayor Gaynor highly commending the work of the bureau of fire prevention. "It is doing a valuable work for the community,” wrote Mr. Patterson, “in spite of the fact that its inspection force has been criticised by some because of the alleged political complexion of its composition.” The activity of the new bureau, Mr. Patterson says, was displayed by an investigation by the Master Builders’ Association, in which it found that since October 15, 1911, the number of fires in New York had decreased about 20 per cent. The Master Builders’ Association membership is composed exclusively of builders whose work is practically confined to the construction of municipal works. There are about twenty-five members, or about 60 per cent, of the builders engaged in this line of work. According to T. J Buckley, the president, the organization was formed about a year ago, shortly after the time when Mr. Waldo decided to change the construction of new firehouses from brick to concrete. Individually the builders protested, but could get no results, so decided to form an association both to protect their own interests, said Mr. Buckley, by obtaining a greater uniformity in the awarding of city work and to prevent irresponsible dealers from cutting in with bids not in accordance with specifications.

Frank M. Patterson, as attorney for the Master Builders’ Association, sent a letter last week to Mayor Gaynor highly commending the work of the bureau of fire prevention. "It is doing a valuable work for the community,” wrote Mr. Patterson, “in spite of the fact that its inspection force has been criticised by some because of the alleged political complexion of its composition.” The activity of the new bureau, Mr. Patterson says, was displayed by an investigation by the Master Builders’ Association, in which it found that since October 15, 1911, the number of fires in New York had decreased about 20 per cent. The Master Builders’ Association membership is composed exclusively of builders whose work is practically confined to the construction of municipal works. There are about twenty-five members, or about 60 per cent, of the builders engaged in this line of work. According to T. J Buckley, the president, the organization was formed about a year ago, shortly after the time when Mr. Waldo decided to change the construction of new firehouses from brick to concrete. Individually the builders protested, but could get no results, so decided to form an association both to protect their own interests, said Mr. Buckley, by obtaining a greater uniformity in the awarding of city work and to prevent irresponsible dealers from cutting in with bids not in accordance with specifications.