, 1874-10-05
GEN. SHALER.
Ills EEigh Opinion Of Tho Material Of
tbs Chicago Flro De-
parlment.
The New Buildings Superior to
those Of New York,
Special Excellence OF tho Depart
mont in that City.
He Will Not Accept Office I1crc.

NoWPAAASp MIL b41b pAs AAkaEu HUN tup AAt VI
the worid remainB Jot to bo proved. bnt 1t ia GER
tain that hor citizens, In viow Of tho great mis-
fortunes Which l,avo bofallon hor on two ocoa-
alona, whom n largo fire and soutl1wcst prairio
Wind conspircd against her uelfare, nro now
loollng round for tho boat means for securing
themselves against third visitation.
To certain oxtont the unwarfantod action Of
tho National Board Of undcruritcrs las pro-
duoed panic in the city wliioh is really hardly
less serious than tho financial unpleasantnoss Of
this tins Inst year. and the spoople nro ready, ono
and all, to listen to tho suggestions and accept
tho advice Of any who may bo reasonably sup
posed to possess tho experience that could DO
bonolota1ly applied to Chicago's eaae. Houes IL
calne that whon it was known that tbs CittzonB'
AsRoointiou had extontod au invitation to
GEN. sHALER,
tho organizer Of tho Nov York Paid Fire Depart
nent, to visit this city, many people felt that tho
examination Of onr city, mud fits tire organization
by such au expert In Buch matters could not but
bep to place tho city on safor bis, II bis aug
gcstions Of improvements aud general advice ro-
ceived tito duo attention OF our civic authort!nn.
dcn. Bhalor arrived in this city at o'clock yos-
tordny morning, and At II o'clock TRIBUNE rc-
porter was Boatcd with him at his room in tho
Palmer HonBe, chatting over fire matters In
general aud thoir relation to Chicago IN particu-
lar. Tho following was tho roault Of tho inter-
view:
noporter-aen. shalor, wili you toll mo what
THE EXACT oDJEcr or Youn COMING TO c1lrcAao7
Con. ShaIor-Aly object In coming hero ia to
confer With tho civic officials, and with lcading
citizens. with regard to tho city fro organization.
came on tho invitation Of MI. franklin Mac-
VoagL, OF tho Citizens' Association.
Roporter-'Fhht is tho general idea down East
OF tho Chicago fire organizaton7
!. Con. sha1or-Woll, my idea always has been
that Chicago had, with tho exception Of Now
ioan n tgo e0e eoany Tsss naopa of ho
ganization ia without doubt, as good as that Of
any 0thor.
lsoporter-you think the Now York organiza-
Con. shalcr-Tho Now York organization is
tue best in tho conntry-pnrhape in tho world.
This iB duo to its complete organization and dis
ciplalo.
Reporter-You laye before soon tho workings
our CHICAGO FIRE FORCE.
Whnt do you think Of it? ..-
Con. Shaler-1 do not suppoeo that tho gontte-
1non who have invited mo hor8 would ask any
fro organization. II they did would not giyo
it.
THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT..
Reporter-How Is the Firu Department Of New
York organiZed2
uou. shaler-The department III under the
control Of Board OF Commissioners. Tho uni
formed force iB untler tho control Of an officer
called tho ohiof of tho Department.
neporter-Whns nro tie rowora OF tho Board
ol tomatahloaeTsf r. IF
rules and regulations, have general superrs..
ion over tho workings of tho department, and
mako all appointments aud promotions.
Mo!,ortea-Aso lucy ever aecnseu o1 using 'aor
Gen, Shaler-Ihe cry has bcon made that they
promote in accordance with their political pro-
o1Vluee, pus ~ appo'nsnents nnu pronotonS
arc lnaao on4y utter faelu examination or @l'pls-
cants. ING rue Is, too, tnas promotons arc
meyer mGae except WIN the approval OF the
the applicant has undergone Searching medical
examination. 1salnatl ,,,.,,
A9rottgt-mH4 you 1na6o Ill examination OF
our Fire Department.?
Gen. shaler-1 shall not spond any tlno as thee
tlro Dopaftmcnt. unless It is changed asnco l
last saw II, 1t II very fAir organization.
nepoItor-WhaE T. arc the points Of excellence
OF slo AGW iofR ~ Ttto uepatmeht
don. 5Hn!of-!he succeps OF tle No" iorK
Ere Dcpartncnt Is quo TO lts perfect nfe"alarm
system, TO 1ts thorough organization, and ats
oomnIeto dlaclplsno'
MaporteFt,om II what y4n know is our DO
Gen. shaler-Iho Chicago Fire Department
aud no other III tho country iH so perfect in ita
organization or thorough IN its discipline as that
Of Now YORK: ,,
aaFo4klt- uAt HAa LA1 ntAto u tAc VAG@h4-
zatiou and discipline Of tho Chicago department
when en- yen a l,ss say af it. -, ,,o, - .,.,o.
tcn!ar when last Raw il. At tho present tilno
there may be for all know. There il no do
partmont in tho city which has better material
than tho Fire Department, mud, it properly man.
aged il could bo mado superior to most othera.
4 fire department, to bo succeusful, must bo
THOROUGHLY ORGANIZED, 1SsTnucTEp, AND DIS
pLINEp. !.
Il must have Intelligent officers, good material,
! and IN abundant wltor-supply. If Chicago ao-
eutoa thla, shs has no roaso.! to fear from con-
fagrations:: New York l,an Ill this and Is conae-
pcpartmens can be improved upon in mattera ef
detail.
Neporter-What do you considor to be
THE GREAT POINT
| In fro Department.
Gen. shalor-Tho instruction OF the men is
tho greas thing. In New York overy atop man
takos from the time he hears tho tap OF bell is
prescribed Tor ht)n. lilo folowa instructions
ninato!y, and is consequently, alwaya right.
KepoEtor-Whae do ron think Of
TUE BUILDINGS or CHICAGO?
Gen. Bhalcr-TA0y are excellent. They COM