IN ASSEMBLY,

January 22, 1831.

REPORT

Of the select committee on the petition of Samuel Badger and others, for an act authorising said Badger to erect and maintain a dam across the Susquehannah river.

Mr. Robinson, from the select committee to which was referred the petition of Samuel Badger and others, inhabitants of the county of Broome, praying for the passage of a law authorising said Badger to erect and maintain a dam in the Susquehannah river, in the town of Vestal, in the county of Broome,

REPORTED

That the petitioners represent that a dam can be erected as prayed for by the petitioners, without in any way injuring the navigation of said river; and this representation appears to your committee, from the certificates presented, to be true; nor does it appear that the said dam will injuriously affect the rights of individuals.

Your committee have therefore prepared a bill, and directed their chairman to ask leave to introduce the same.

IN ASSEMBLY,

January 22, 1831.

REPORT

Of the select committee on the subject relative to the firemen in the city of New-York.

Mr. Myers, from the select committee consisting of the New-York delegation, to whom was referred the bill to abridge the term of service and extend the privileges of firemen in the city of New-York,

REPORTED

That the firemen of the city of New-York are composed of a respectable and useful class of citizens, who are duly organized into companies for the laudable purpose of extinguishing fires and protecting the lives and property of their fellow-citizens. From the great extent and population of the city, and the frequent occurrence of fires and alarms, their labors are peculiarly arduous and dangerous. For a few years past, the number of fires in the city have been from one to two hundred annually, besides numerous false alarms, all of which call the firemen from their employments or their beds. Many of these fires occur in the dead of night, and render the labors of the firemen both arduous and dangerous. And from the constantly increasing severity of their duty, it is becoming difficult to obtain men enough to supply the various engines in the city.

When it is considered with what alacrity they fly to their engines at the alarm of fire, whether at noon-day or at midnight; and with what intrepidity and courage they ascend ladders to the top of buildings, enveloped in smoke and exposed to the devouring flames, both in the heat of summer, and the severest cold of winter, to rescue and save the property of their fellow-citizens from destruction—and also frequently the aged and infirm, and the helpless inmates from death, [A. No. 62.]

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your committee believe that the privileges proposed in the bill referred to them for consideration, are just and reasonable, and should be extended to them. The committee are aware that this is but a small reward for their services, but they have no doubt those of their fellow-citizens who are engaged in this service, possess a reward in their own breasts, paramount to every other consideration -the gratification of aiding their fellow-citizens in distress, and preserving their lives and their property from the devouring element, and bestowing benefits upon the community which cannot be paid, because they are above price.

The committee have instructed their chairman to recommend the passage of the bill referred to them for consideration.

IN ASSEMBLY,

January 22, 1831.

REPORT

Of the select committee on the petition of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Essex.

Mr. Gardiner, from the select committee to whom was referred the petition of the board of supervisors of the county of Essex,

REPORTED

That they have had the said petition under their consideration, and the following is a statement of facts relative to that subject.

The town of Newcomb, in the county of Essex, was organized by an act of the Legislature, passed March 15th, 1828, and the present population consists of only nine or ten families; and that the taxes on residents is trifling, amounting to a few dollars only; and that the non-resident taxes are large, amounting to several hundred dollars; none of which is paid to the collector. The consequence is, as stated in the petition, that he receives very little compensation for his services; his place of residence being about sixty miles from the office of the county treasurer, where he must go to settle his accounts. The petitioners ask for a law to be passed for his relief.

Your committee think that the prayer of the petitioners is reasonable and ought to be granted; they have prepared a bill for that purpose, and ask leave to present the same.