The New York herald., 1872-11-17
QUE FIRE DEPARTMENT PREPAEENC.

appointment of Two Boz rds of Exam n
crs--The S.rictcst Efficiency To Ise Sc
cured-zncompeteptsT To re Retired a nd
Good Men TO f8e Appointed-TtesoIved
TO Protect the City.
The extraordinary circumstances attending the
Boston fire, and the blunders-at least the So
called ones-of the Boston Fire Department in
combating the progress OF the destroying element,
have aroused the fire departments OF all the
larger cities in the country to a sense OF the re-
sronsbility resting on them, and to q close in
vestigation OF the adequacy OF the means at their
command in case of the most serious emergencies.
The necessity OF this step on the part OF the fire
departments seemed to be the more needed, mas.
much as the Boston Fire Department had been con
sdered to be so wen and so thoroughly organized
that every reasonable hope might have been enter.
tainei or it's
COMPETENCY TO MEET ANY ExlGENcy
that might occur in Boston, or at least be strong
enough to prevent such terrible confayration as
that which has laid half that city in ashes. With
the fact before them, however, that Boston has
been half ruined by fire, the Fire Commissioners of
this city have resolved wisely to profit by the sad
experience Of the sister city's misfortune and to
leave nothing undone that can tend to prevent the
occurrence OF q similar catastrophe In the Empire
City, whose fremen are Justly considered to be
model for the whole country, yet whose fate,
owing 20 apparently small accidents, might
equal or exceed ali the terrors OF
either Chicago or the Hub, were the fire aend to
seize 1t at advantage. The Fire commissioners
consulted long and seriously over the condition Of
their department, aS to heter 1t would be able In
ITS present state OF efficiency to meet every demand
tnat might be made upon It, even were
THE MOST SERIOUS AND UNEXPECTED CALLS
upon its strength and numbers to put il to the Sc
vcrest test The result of these considerations
that resolution was come TO that tine efficiency OF
tained; that where the standard required
for the service was not reached an i'm
mediate change should be made; that thus
the whole department being stimulated to acquire
proficiency, those who were found to be inconpe-
tent should be removed and their pa ces filed with
better men. II would seem from this that the Com
missioners feel persuaded that the department is,
III ITS general arrangements, sufficiently broad and
comprehensive to meet all the requirements OF
TINS great city, and that no fears need be enter
saincd OF the ''devourlng monster' provided the
tanned and the men do their duty. For the pur-
pose oi ascertaining fully the exact proficiency of
the department
rwO BOARDS OF EXAMINERS
nave within the past lew days been appointed Ivy
the commissioners one Tor examination of the
officers o the various companies and another Tor
the examination OF the assistant engineers. These
boards, Which might properly be called the Retiring
Boards OF the department. are altogether different
from the old Board OF Examiners, winch has been In
existence for several years, and whose duty IL has
been 10 examine applicants and TO test the com
potency oi officers before promotion. The main
object OF tho two new Loarci Will be to discover by
examination whether or not any incompetent Gu
or whether any members Of the companies are
physicaly disabled Tor duty, citner by Old age or
nom any other cause.
THE EXAMINATIONS
viii be held in part at the headqua tcrs OF the de-
partment IN Mercer street and IN part at the com
panieS' quarters IN the several distrcts the object
o. this being to test the practical knowledge OF the
officers III regard 10 apparatus, horses, DC, wen
as to ascertain the amount OF intelligence pos
sessed as to general requirements. 1t is intended
that the whole depar tment shall be thoroughly
organized by these examinations, for promotions
shali be given to the deserving, while those hold
ing esponsible positions at present shall be either
DEGRADED OR DISMISSED
as they may be found wanting in the necessary
knowledge OF their duties The board having
charge OF the examination of the officers OF com
pan!es consists OF Chief Engineer Perley Assistant
Chief Bates, Assistant Engineer Nash and Assistant
Engineer Shay The Board OF Examiners for as
sistant engineers consists OF Chef Engineer Perey
and Assistant Chief Engineer Bates. 1t will
be necessary to have at least one OF the
Commissioners present at each meeting Of either
board, but all the Commissioners may be
present II they so cho sc. II was intended that
the examinations should commence yesterday, but
owing 10 the absence In Boston on important
business OF Chief Engineer Pcrley they were post
poned until tomorrow. The examinations of the
examining boards are not flna II being necessary
TO submit TO the Board OF commissioners an accu.
rate report ol the several tests, with a view to
ultimate perfect efficiency in the department.