New-York tribune., 1882-02-22
TRAIyIYG HORSES FoR FIRE SERTIcE.

NEW PLAN EXPLAINED BY COMMISSIONER VAN
COTr.
With reference TO recent resolution passed
by the Fire Commissioners providing for " training
school for horses in the service OF the Fire Depart
mcnt, Commits Van COt said to TRIEUNL reporter
who spoke to him in regard to it;
"Yes, we have provided for a trimming school for
horses The old esgne-house in One-hundrtd d-and
twenty y-ftst between Ninth and Tenth avcs is being
fixed up he purpose and propose have three
four there all the time. You 1t takes consider
able training to make the engine horses what they
ought to be- We shall take . lot of green horses, Iut
them into that school, accuston them to the telegraph
and then driEc them The engines"
" Who viii teach these lorses p
1--WE have detailed man from the regular force vho
with two other competent persons viii take full charge
These men belong 10 the engine company opposite the
training school, nnI at night will DE duty there
" In what does the training consist -
"Well, in getting the horses accustomed TO the gong
running Of their stalls to the pol being hched up
aud being taught to obey orders promptly. We shall
have the arranged there just 1t is in any
gne house, ready to put the horses in second of
time Then shall take the teams ont every y. har
messed to the eng nes of course going about mile in
the morning miles in the az fcrnoon and increasing
the distance little each day. In the course OF month,
under hat sort of training they'll be ready for steady
work in the engine huusCs.'
"Whcre do you get the horses for the Fire Depart
1--WE get them of Dalman in Twcnty-fourth-st., and
take thca trial for thirty days II any thing happens
Them in that lime It's Ms loss not ours. We have to
procure intelligent horses-tlc most Intelligent We can
Who selects the horses ?"
"NeI, We nave superintendent OF horses who does
that work Before they accepted. however, the
pcTncndent brings them here and we thai ia. the Com
mi-Si ners examine them. Some companies have had
great trouble with the horses IL is dlfcult To obtain
suitable ones that I've known company to have had
twenty tTial and then not be- suited. Thee
horses just ntellg gent They carefully
trained. and have The 1est Of care.
Now, when there an alarm OF fire it is first heard
here al the Central Office. by means OF switch the
alarm OUT to all the houses from Ford
ham 10 the Battery. When the gOng- in the eng ne
houses strike hey So adjusted O move system
Of weighs which fall aud wire is pulled, thus ooseniug
the the stall Those wires attached tO
spring bl Ia he side Of the stall over which the ring ia
of the haer ia placed, watch slips III as
the bolt j. pulled. The whole thing an ingenious con
ttIyaucc aud worth investigation"
Al tue suggestion of Commissioner Van COtt, the
Engine House No. 49, in Mercerst, where,
through he court OF the captain, he the whole
operation performed. Under the present stem the
giucs ready leave their houses seconds after
the fri stroke OF c gong. As the horses have 10
from ls aud bc harness in that me the train
ing Of the ia essential part of the hOrs of the
dep Inc training school will probably be rcaGy
for use IN three weeks.