Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-08
Western Device for Saving Firemen's
 Time.

Western Device for Saving Firemen's Time.
 From the New York Sum-
 In some of the western cities the fire en-
 zine companies consider the ordinary means
 of descending from one story to another ted ious. They therefore ignore the stairs
 when in hurry, and slide down pole in stead. The pole is round, polished and oiled, and runs from the first floor, where the engine stands, through the second floor,
 where the firemen sleep. As soon as the alarm gong sounds a trapdoor is thrown open in the second floor, leaving space around the pole about four feet square, and the fire men tumble from their beds, rush to the pole and slide to the ground floor. In Chicago this is considered very clever and time saving device, and the firemen of that city look upon the departments of New York and Boston as being far behind the age.
 A Sun reporter called upon Foreman Me Gill, of No. 32 engine, in John street. The foreman said ''The Chicago people are ex- tremely proud of that bean pole of theirs. The last time Chief Swenie of that city was in New York he came down here, and we had long talk about it. He claimed that it saved an immense amount of time, but that's all nonsense. It's utterly impossible to shorten the time now, for we've got it down to the finest point. Our engine IS a self mover, and it takes a little longer to get her into the street than itwould if she was drawn by horses. Still we can all be abed except the night patrol when an alarm comes, and seven seconds after the first note of the gong will find us tearing up the street. The men are always down stairs and by the engine in couple of seconds, and all the telegraph poles in creation can't make them any quick er."
 Capt. G. L. Crum of No. engine said "Pole? We don't want pole. It's impos- sible to get an engine out any quicker than we do. Three seconds after the first stroke of the gong our engine and men are ready to start and waiting for the alarm to stop strik- ing Actually ready before you can count 
 The captain touched the gong. and in 2s seconds the driver in his seat shouted, "Ready."
 sId like to know how a greased pole is going to better that time." said the captain
 Chief Eli Bates was found at the head quarters in Mercer street. He said ''Chi- cago's a queer town isn't it? That pole of theirs is well enough for country town, but what are you going to do with it in a large city? Of course, of an afternoon 1t is very lady friends and slide down greased pole for their edifcation, but in the dead of night, when every minute is of vast importance. it is nothing more nor less than a bother. Our men twist into their coats while running down stairs and save time in that way. We are now building our engine houses so that the men sleep on the same floor where the engine is When I was in Chicago they had their stairs made four feet wide. On one side was a smoothly planed board, and the fremen, instead of running down stairs, slid to the floor below on the board. It was poetical sight to see big two-hundred-and d-ifty pounder rush forward and glide to the bot tom of the shaft with smiling countenance. I don't think we shall adopt the Chicago pole"