The excellent work which is being done just now by the Fire Brigade gives occasion for reference to some points of interest in connexion with past services and future development, One of the most satisfactory features of the work, upon which the various companies and Chief Officer Pett are to be congratulated, is the marked decrease in fire losses during the past three years. In 1912, the losses by fire exceeded Tis, 1,000,000. In the following year, the figure had been brought down to Tls. 724,000, and the total for 1914 was Tls. 318,175, a decrease of Tis 406,290. This decrease was not due to a decrease in the number of fires, the "calls" rising from 115 in 1912 to 151 last year. It has also to be observed that Inst year, of the total loss one fire alone, that at the works of Messrs, Hall & Holtz, was responsible for Tls, 200,000, more than half the total for the year, while in the preceding year, the fire at Ewo Cotton Mill absorbed Tis. *00.000 of the total loss of Tls. 750,- 00 theca fures showing that the losses in the numerous other fires were kept down to the minimum.
The question of fire prevention in Shanghai is a very difficult one to meet, particularly in regard to Chinese buildings. and it is satis: factory to note that the matter is having the attention of a special Fire Commission. Now that building operations on a large scale are nroecding in all parts of the Set'lement, the opportunity shoul? be taken of rendering the building bye-laws more stringent in the mat: ter of preventive measures against fire.
There are features in the building of both foreign and Chinese houses very unsatisfactory from the fire prevention point of view. It may be mentioned that in a recent fire, the lack of a fire well had the effect of adding considerably to the aves involved. and the construction of the roof. of corruested iron lined with tarred felt, assisted the spread of the fire and added to the dificulties of the Brigade. ings.
The present method of constructing ceilings and roofs in Chinese houses also tends to increase the danger of the spread of fire and the difficulties of the brigade in dealing with an outbreak, fire in the majority of cases—spreading along the flimsy roof from house to house and involving whole blocks of houses.
The present type of "fire wall" is also highly unsatisfactory. In numerous instances the fire wall has been found to be hollow above the first floor, and in all parts to contain timber uprights. The hol: low part of the wall is not infrequently used as a receptacle for rubbish, and thus it happens that the brigade has to spend half an hour extinguishing the flames inside which is supposed to be a protection against the spread of fire. It is very necessary that these walls should be solid, and be of masonry only.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.