The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-16


added in each case the watchmen In bell towers
telegraph operators and line men, and other en-
ployes of the department With so large reduc-
ton OF force the duties OF the firemen have
essentially changed, and discipline and constant
attention to duty supplies what is lost in numbers.
IL Is Indispensable that everything connected with
the service should be the best obtanable and that
apparatus, horses and machinery should all be In
constant readiness for action, when time Is often
the main element to safety To ensure this, each
man is selected for appointment after physical eX-
animation by the surgeon or the department., ana
must be thrty-hve years OF age, or under to avoid
his becoming at an early day, superanuated on the
hands of the department He must also be able to
read and write to enable him TO perform the duties
OF an officer, to which he becomes eligible. That he
has performed duty in the old Fire Department is an
element of fitness, but not an absolute requisite.
No man admitted to the rolls OF the department.,
however recommended who Is not qualified for the
position, or allowed to remain after he has devel-
Oped want OF unfitness for his place. The use oil
liquor when In uniform or on duty Is strictly pro
hibited, and drunkenness attended with dismissal.
When appointed each member Is assigned 10 us
position and drilled in his duties so that when az
gregated into companies of ten or twelve men such
company moves as unit The Chief Engineer:
district engineers and company officers are tried
and experienced firemen. the engineers OF
s sna appointed A on certiacases Of qua
cation from reliable sources, and the officers are
for special fitness Each.apparatus house Is not
only in daily official report with the headquarters,
but can be communicated with at any moment by
telegraph by the talking circuit" and when the
alarm Is sounded at the same instant both in head
quarters and In company quarters every man In the
department knows his duty and his place, and Is
ready 10 take it without confusion or delay Even
the horses which are carefully selected and kept
from necessity under the closest scrutiny and In
the highest condition (being fed, shod and exer'
csed with perfect regularity, learn to know by In
stinct the time for action, and back from their
stalls when the alarm signal Is sounded, ready to
take their places ut the pole or shafts when the
halters are loOsened without assistance. At fires
all persons are excluded by Gordon OF police, ex
cepting members Of the department. and the insur
ance patrol, and by this means the loss by plumber
which was estimated by the underwriters as a very
large percentage over that by fire, has entirely
ceased. At fire tho discipline, beginning with the
individual and extending to the company, Is found
where several companies act together, all with
concerted action, free from confusion or delay. n
this way the department Is entirely II
hand, and can be used BY the Chief and
his assistants, even where several fires occur a.
once without weakening Its efficiency at either, at
each company knows, BY carefully prepared codes
and charts where its services are due. TO preserve
this system and TO retain the men in such subordl
nation as is requisite the rules are necessarily
strictly en- forced. In case Of their violation TN
delinquent appears before the Board on Its weekly
trial day. the testimony is taken on oath, and the
finding printed in an order and placed on the re
cords OF every company, showing the names OF tht
offender. the nature Of the offence and the penalty