of fires. And it shall, moreover, be the duty of the said Chief Engineer, to examine twice in every year, into the condition and number of the Fire Engines, Fire Buckets, and other Fire Apparatus, and Fire Engine Houses belonging to the Corporation, and report the same once a year to the Common Council, together with the names of all the members of the Fire Department, and the respective associations to which they belong. And whenever any of the said Fire Engines and other Fire Apparatus shall require to be repaired, the Chief Engineer, under the direction of the Committee on the Fire Department, shall cause the same to be well and sufficiently done. And it shall, moreover, be the duty of the Chief Engineer, to report in writing all accidents by fire that may happen in this city, with the causes thereof, as well as they can be ascertained, and the number and description of the buildings destroyed or injured, together with the names of the owners and occupants, to the City Inspector, who shall keep an accurate register of the same.

appointed.

IX. And be it further ordained, That so many of the Free- Firewarholders or Freemen of the said city, as the Common Council dens, how may deem proper, shall from time to time be appointed in each of the wards of the said city, to be denominated Firewardens, each of whom shall be assigned and attached by the Mayor of the said city, to such Company of Firemen having charge of a Fire Engine as he shall think proper; and shall report himself to the Chief or other Engineer at every fire. And each Firewarden shall have a certificate under the seal of the Mayoralty, stating his appointment as a Firewarden, and the Company of Firemen to which he shall be attached.

ded into

rules and

X. And be it further ordained, That the Firewardens of each To be diviward shall form a separate Company, and each of the said Com- Companies, panies shall, and may choose out of their own number, a Fore- and to make man and Clerk, in such manner and at such times as they may regulations. think proper; and each Company may make rules, regulating the time and manner of conducting their elections, and imposing such fines upon the members, as in their judgment may best secure the performance of the duties of the said Firewardens, both at fires and at visiting the buildings, and in other duties in their several districts; and disobedience to such rules shall be reported by each Company to the Common Council, and shall subject the Firewardens so disobeying, to removal by the Common Council.

3

Vacancies

XI. And be it further ordained, That whenever a vacancy how to be shall happen in any of the said Companies, the Company in

filled.

Firewar

dens sub

which the same shall happen, may recommend through the Chief Engineer, to the Common Council for approbation, a suitable person to fill such vacancy; but none other than those who have been Firemen at least five years, shall be so recommended.

XII. And be it further ordained, That the said Wardens, ject to the when attending fires, shall be subject to the direction of the direction of Chief Engineer, and the other Engineers of the Fire Departthe Engi

neers.

Duty of

ment.

XIII. And be it further ordained, That it shall be the duty of Wardens. the said Firewardens, immediately on the alarm of fire, to repair to the place where it may be, and aid and assist in procuring supplies of water to the Fire Engines, to which they shall be respectively assigned and attached; and to such other Fire Engines as the Chief Engineer, or other Engineer may direct them to attend. It shall also be the duty of the said Firewardens to prevent the Hose from being trodden on, and to keep all idle and suspected persons at a proper distance from the fire, and from the vicinity. And the citizens are hereby enjoined to comply with the orders and directions of the said Firewardens in the premises.

Wards to

be divided into inspection districts.

XIV. And be it further ordained, That each of the said Companies shall divide their ward into districts, and the Foremen of the Company, shall attach one or more of the members of the said Company to each of the said districts, for the purpose of making the visitation and examination directed in the next following section, who shall keep a record of the names of the occupants of the houses, and of the members of the same, wherein they shall observe any violations of this law, or of the act for the more effectual prevention of fires; and annually, in the month of January, exhibit a transcript of the same to their Foreman: And the said Foreman shall report to the Chief Engineer, in the month of June, annually, the name, residence, and occupation of each of the Wardens of his Company, and to the Common Council, all neglects on the part of any of the Wardens of his Company to comply with the requisitions of this section; and every Warden so neglecting his duty shall be removed from

his office.

XV. And be it further ordained, That it shall be the duty of

cessary.

examine houses, &c.

the said Firewardens, twice in every year, viz. in the months of Wardens to June and December, and as much oftener as they may think proper, to examine the dwelling houses and other buildings in and to give directions, their respective wards, for the purpose of ascertaining all viola- &c. tions of the act for the more effectual prevention of fires in NewYork; and also to examine the fireplaces, hearths, chimneys, stoves, and the pipes thereto, ovens, boilers, kettles, and also all chemical apparatus which, in their opinion, may be dangerous in causing or promoting fires; and also the places where ashes may be deposited. And upon finding any of them defective or dangerous, they, or either of them, shall direct the owner or occupant, either by a printed or written notice, to alter, remove, or amend the same, in such manner, and within such reasonable time, as they, or either of them may judge neAnd in case of neglect, or refusal so to do, the party offending shall forfeit and pay twenty-five dollars; and for every day after the time allotted as aforesaid, to alter, remove, or amend the same, in conformity with the directions aforesaid, the party so offending shall forfeit and pay the further sum of five dollars. And all the expenses of any removal, alteration or amendment, as aforesaid, shall be paid in the first instance, by the occupant, but shall be chargeable against the owner of such dwelling house, or other building, and shall be deducted from the rent of the same, unless such expense be rendered necessary by the act or default of such occupant, or unless there be a special agreement to the contrary, between the parties. And it shall, moreover, be the duty of the Firewardens, or either of them, at such time as aforesaid, to enter into, and examine, all buildings, livery or other stables, hay-boats or vessels, and places where any gunpowder, hemp, flax, tow, hay, rushes, firewood, boards, shingles, shavings, or other combustible materials may be lodged, and give such directions in writing, in the premises, as may be deemed necessary by them or him, relative to the removal thereof. And in case of neglect or refusal, on the part of the possessor of such combustible materials, or any of them, to remove or secure the same, within the time and in the manner directed by the said Firewardens, or either of them, the party offending shall forfeit and pay twenty-five dollars; and the further sum of five dollars for every day's neglect to remove or secure the same, after being so notified.

XVI. And be it further ordained, That the duties prescribed Report to by the foregoing section, shall be performed within each district the Fore

be made to

man.

Firemen.

by the Warden or Wardens attached to such district, who shall make an immediate report to the Foreman; who shall record the same in a book to be kept for that purpose, of all persons neglecting or refusing to comply with the orders and directions aforesaid, together with the circumstances of each case; and shall also make report whether any, and what cases of violations of the laws of this state, prohibiting the construction of wooden buildings within certain limits in this city, have come to his knowledge: And in case of any violation of such law, he shall particularly report the name of the owner or owners of the building, and of the master builder, and the particular circumstances of each case. And in case of neglecting to report as aforesaid, such Warden or Wardens shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten dollars. But it is hereby expressly declared, that the Foreman, or any of the Wardens of the ward, may give such orders and directions as are authorized and directed in and by the preceding section of this law, in case the same shall not be given by the Wardens of the district where the danger exists or is apprehended.

XVII. And be it further ordained, That the Firemen shall be divided into Companies, to consist of as many members as the Common Council shall from time to time direct, to attend to the Fire Engines, Hose Wagons, and Hooks and Ladders belonging or that may hereafter belong to the Corporation of this city, or to such Hose Wagons and Hooks and Ladders as the Common Council shall direct; and that each of the Companies shall and may choose out of their own number, a Foreman, Assistant and Clerk, in such manner and at such times as they may think proper. And it shall be the duty of the said Firemen, as often as any fire shall break out in the said city, to repair immediately upon the alarm thereof, to their respective Engines, Hose Wagons, Hooks and Ladders, and convey them to or near the place where such fire shall happen, unless otherwise directed by the Chief or other Engineer; and there, in conformity with the directions given by the Chief Engineer, or other Engineers, shall work and manage the said Engines or apparatus and implements, with all their skill and power; and when the fire is extinguished, shall not remove therefrom, but by the permission of an Engineer; and on such permission, they shall return their respective Hose Wagons, Hooks and Ladders, Engines and apparatus, well washed and cleansed, to their several places of deposit. And for the more effectually perfecting the Firemen in their duty,

and keeping and preserving the said Fire Engines and other implements and apparatus from decay, the said Firemen shall, in the months of May, June, July, August, September, October, and November, draw out their said Fire Engines and other implements, in order to wash and cleanse them, and to exercise the men; and if any Fireman shall neglect the said duty, he shall forfeit and pay for every default, the sum of one dollar; and if he shall neglect to attend at any fire as aforesaid, or leave his Fire Engine or other apparatus while at any fire, without permission, or shall neglect to do his duty on such occasion, without reasonable excuse, he shall, for every default, forfeit and pay the sum of three dollars. And if any Fireman shall neglect to do his duty as such, in attending at fires, or at washing, exercising, managing, trying or using the said Fire Engine, or other implements or apparatus provided for extinguishing fires, every such person shall, besides the fines and penalties aforesaid, be removed from his station. And whenever any Fireman is appointed to supply any vacancy in any Company, it shall be his duty to call on the Treasurer of the Fire Department, and procure a certificate within one month from the date of his appointment, specifying the name and number of the Company to which such Fireman shall be elected. And any Fireman, after being re-elected, shall obtain a new certificate as aforesaid. And it shall be the duty of the Chief Engineer to certify, on every return, whether a vacancy exists in the Company.

dermen,

and Fire

XVIII. And be it further ordained, That in order that the How Almembers of the Common Council, Engineers and Firewardens, Assistants, may be more readily distinguished at fires, the Mayor, Recorder, Engineers, Aldermen and Assistants, shall severally bear, on those occasions, wardens a wand, with a gilded flame at the top; and each of the Engi- are to be distinguishneers shall wear a leathern cap, painted white, with a gilded ed at fires. front thereto, and a Fire Engine blazoned thereon; and shall also carry a speaking trumpet, painted black, with the words. "Chief Engineer," "Engineer No. 1," &c. as the case may be, in white, which shall also be painted on their caps respectively; and each of the Firewardens shall wear a hat, with the brim black, the crown painted white, and the city arms blazoned on the front; and shall also carry a speaking trumpet, painted white, with the word " Warden," in black, painted thereon.

Firemen,

XIX. And be it further ordained, That the Foremen of En- Caps of the gine Companies, and the Firemen, shall, when on duty, wear leathern caps, in the form heretofore used; and the said caps