, 1874-07-16
THE CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT,

Whilo concoding TINT tho Firo Department
did as we'll In Tuesdays battle as any depart
ment organized on Buoh plan could dol willis
toilod not only horolcally but intolllgontly
through tho lght-lt atill romainB to be- said that
tho force is greatly deficient, and needs reorgan
ization on entirely new principles. And first.
the CAiof should bo scientific fireman. lie
should lavo all the science and tact Of
military Rtratogist, and Bhoull be on
dowod with dlotatorial power. ue should
have tho absolute powot to appoint or dismiss
his eubordinatcs, and he should bo hold respon-
stb!o for their competency. Politics and politi-
TANGO from the Department.
But how eau We secure a competent Chief and
d thoroughly efficient Fire Department. It
Boouls To US that the city might with advantage
turn over tho whole management OF that Depart
mont to the insurance companies. Lot the Com
Board OF Underwriters, and have them manage
tho Fire Department Of tho city for 90 many
Thousand dollars year. The insuranco oompa-
nies Rro pecunarity intoroatod In every fire,
largo and small, aud hence more insoroBtod than
any othor body in the efloioncy OF our Firo De-
pnrtment, aud tits certain that they would choose
tho most competent man for Chief that could be
found,-a man who would introduce soionco and
aystem into the action Of the Department. on
occasions euch as that On Tuesday night. We
10 nf i'm r3fv HpH t1,fn
much moro economical than the present.
The business interests OF s.le community would
most asBuredly prefer 1t. They would feel that,
under auch management, they would receivo all
tho protection from fire which 1t was possible to
give them. Tho insurance companies would
tux their ingenuity to devise means to prevent
the Wholesale destruction Of property. It Would
be their highest peouniaEy interest to do 10. We
should mover eco, under such regime, our Fire
Department. acting like bushwhackera and
guorrillaa,-each company on Ito own hook.
We should not Heo thom lntorfered
With by incompetent Commissioners and
other oiticials who know as much about ex-
tinguishinR fire "a they do about leading the
armies OF Germany or Trance.
The taxpayers and property-ovnoya Of Chioa-
go demand that Immediate atepB be taken to give
US stronger Firo Department and Chief who
understands hia businos8. Tho oitizena laye no
confidence In tho present aystem or in tho men
rho hayo charge OF it. however koalous they
may be lii emergencies. Find = Chief
who can load his picked. trained, and OK
porenood subordinntes to cope manfully, syH-
tematicaly, aud scientifically agaiust tho fro
Hcourgo, and Chicago will reward him aud
honor him as he deserves. Her future hangs
On our finding auch q man, and giving him
suitable powers. Unless the capitalists Of the
country SEQ that we take doosded steps towards
preventing catastrophoa similar to tint Of Tues-
day night, thoy will give Chicago a wido berth.
So will the best insurance companies, md no
one can blanc them for doing 10. It is not i'm
possible to romody tho evil Modorn aclence,
which haa accomplished go much, Ia certainly
equal to coping with = conaagratton and pre-
vomiting itH assuming any vory extraordinary
Dimensions. But then no want Fire Dapast-
n,ens scientifically organized and handled, and
xc Ynunt have H.