operations at fires as in military affairs. The habit of prompt obedience is essential to concert of action, and must be formed by discipline and drill. The devotion to duty which it is presumed will continue to characterize the members of this department furnishes the best possible foundation to build upon.

There is no question that a force, all of whose members are constantly employed, is capable of being made more efficient than any body of call members, but it is not thought expedient to extend over the whole city a system which is more especially adapted for the business centre. The varied character of the territory now included within the limits of the city demands an organization which will measurably supply the needs of each without entailing disproportionate expenditure.

Within the city proper, therefore, all the companies will be put upon this permanent basis, but in all other districts the existing system of call companies, slightly modified, will for the present be maintained. With this view, the following organization has been adopted :—

The companies are divided into two classes:

1st. Permanent Companies, all the officers and members of which are constantly employed.

2d. Call Companies, a greater or less number of the members of which are called out by the public alarm, and do duty only at fires.

1 Chief Engineer, permanently employed. 11 Assistant Engineers,

doing duty only at fires.

In companies which have separate horse hose-carriages, the foreman is permanently employed, and drives the hosecarriage.

At the present date, Engine Cos. Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8 and 25, Hook and Ladder Co. No. 8, and Chemical Engine Co. No. 1, have been reorganized as permanent companies.

Engine Cos. Nos. 3, 10 and 23, Hook and Ladder Cos. Nos. 1, 3 and 8, and Fire Boat, will at once be reorganized as permanent. The rest of the force will consist of call companies.

The force, when completely reorganized, will consist of 3 Commissioners; 1 Chief Engineer; 1 Superintendent Fire Alarms; 13 Assistant Engineers; 4 Clerks; 15 Permanent Foremen; 10 Assistant Foremen; 29 Steam Enginemen; 5 Chemical Enginemen; 28 Assistant Enginemen; 142 Permanent Hosemen and Laddermen; 383 Call Hosemen and Laddermen, and 3 Permanent Hostlers, and 20 Hand Enginemen; 1 Captain of Fire Boat; 1 Mate; 1 Steward; 1 Engineman; 1 Assistant Engineman; 1 Stoker; and 1 Deck hand; 4 Fire-alarm Telegraph Operators, and 5 Repairers; in all, 675 men.

The actual force, April 30, 1874, is 712 men.

FIRE DISTRICTS.

The city, including the territory recently annexed, has been divided into Ten Fire Districts, as follows:

DISTRICT 1.—Comprises all that part of Boston known as East Boston.

DISTRICT 2.- All that part of Boston formerly known as

Charlestown.

DISTRICT 3.-All that part east of a line beginning at the Charles River Drawbridge, and running

through the centre of Charlestown street, Haymarket square, and Washington to Summer streets, and north of Summer street and the N. Y. and N. E. R. R. Passenger Depot to the Water.

DISTRICT 4. All that part west of District 3, and north of a line running through the centre of

Winter and Park streets, and west of

Beacon to Otter, and North of Otter street to the water.

DISTRICT 5. All that part south of Districts 3 and 4 to the centre of Dover-street Drawbridge,

and a line running through the centre of Dover, Berkeley, Boylston, Arlington, Beacon, and Otter streets to the water. DISTRICT 6.-All that part of Boston known as South Boston.

DISTRICT 7.— All that part of Boston south of District 5, to the centre of Albany-street Drawbridge; thence through the centre of Albany, Northampton streets, Columbus Avenue and Chester Park to Charles river.

DISTRICT 8.All that part south and west of District 7, to the boundary line of Ward 17 (formerly West Roxbury), and west of Shawmut Avenue, to the Brookline boundary line, and including all of Ward 19 (formerly Brighton).

DISTRICT 9. All that part south of Districts 6 and 7, to Ward 17, and a line running through the centre of Blue Hill Avenue, Columbia, Green, Bowdoin, Church and East streets,

and east of District 8 to the water.

DISTRICT 10. —All the southerly part of Boston, south of Districts 8 and 9, including Ward 17 (formerly West Roxbury).

ASSIGNMENT OF DISTRICTS.

Each district has been placed under the charge of an Assistant Engineer, as follows:

Assistant Engineer Joseph Dunbar, assigned to District 1.

The Assistant Engineers in charge of Districts Nos 8 and 10 will be aided by Call Engineers in that part of their respective districts known as West Roxbury and Brighton.

The Assistant Engineers of the several Fire Districts in the city will respond to alarms out of their own districts, as follows:

The Engineer of

DISTRICT No. 1. To second alarms in Nos. 3 and 4.

To third alarms in No. 5.

DISTRICT No. 2.-To first alarms from all boxes north of State, Court and Leverett streets, in No. 4.

To second alarms in Nos. 3 and 4.

To third alarms in No. 5.

DISTRICT No. 3.-To first alarms in Nos. 4, 5, and to East Boston Ferry for No. 1.