The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-09-23
THE PAID FIRE BRIGADE.
How tho Volunteers Feel.
Chief ottinger Interviewed.

The eagle eye of a HERALD scribe
yesterday spied bunch of men in
front of Firemen's Hall, and with
that curiosity characteristic of re-
porters and ladies Of all ages, he at
at once bent his buoyant step in
that direction. Upon arriving in
close proximity to the nall and the
men. the sound o. the hammer
within and the hustle of the men
without, intuitively conveyed to
his erudite mind the impression
that something Of an unusual char
acter was happening. At this juno
ture an aged gentleman who doesn't
take the paper came along, and
began to ply all sorts of questions,
and the scribe sensing the oppor-
tunity to learn without the disagree
able formality of asking, hastily
ensccnced himself in a chair
hard by, opened wide his orr
fees for the reception of sound,
took from an upper vest pocket his
elegant gold-mounted, self-acting
pencil, with tooth. pick attachment,
and was soon lost in frenZied efforts
to take down the following, which
is the baseless fabric of a cOnversa-
ton between the aforesaid aged
gentleman and fireman:
Aged Gent.-Bless me, why what
are you dom Of?
Fireman. - Oh, we're getting
ready for the new fire brigade, the
paid service. Haven't you heard
about it, dad?
a. G NOT the first word.
F.-Well, the City Council last
Tuesday evening voted to accept The
designations of the members of the
fire brigade and decided to establish
paid department to consist of four
men at the hall here besides the en-
| gineer, Mr.. Simpson, and forty call
men, who will he selected by the
chief Then there is to re horse
stationed here to pull the hose cart
to the fire, when there is one.
| The familiar voice Of the chief
Col George NJ. Ottinger-here re-
verberated through the air from
within the building, and without
forther adieu, the scribe
collected his scattered leaflets and
gracefully ambling to the interior
poured forth a volIey of interroga-
ton points, which were answered
in that happy manner chardcteris-
tic of the chief, the conversation
) being in something near the fol.
lowing wotds:
"AIr. Ottinger, it has been stated
that the boys of the old volunteer
fife brigade are dissatisfied with tht
action of the City Council in insti-
tuting paid service. Is that true ?
'tNo, sir, not generally. There
may be few who are dissatisfied
but with my Oldest and most relia
bic 6remen the change is entirely
satisfactory. OF course it will breat
up their old associations more Of
less; it will put an end to their ex
cursion parties, balls, social sup,
pers, ETC., which have beer
the main stimulus heretofore
in holding them together
but there is no doubt the innovation
will increase the efficiency of TIT
, department and all the sturdy fire
!, men realize it. We have in the past
/ you understand, had a great dea
of pleasure connected with our fir
works, but the increased demand
, on the liremen's time and the neeC
! of greater alacrity in putting ou
: fires, have conspired to make thu
duties of a fireman more matter o.
business than pleasure; and in thi
we are simply following in tie wax
| of other cities"
sWhen will the new arrangement
60 into effect?"
II am pushing everything ahead
.. as fast as possible to have the new
system in operation by the 1st O.
! October. You see there are consid-
/ cradle alterations going on here"
) Would you object" pursued tn
) scribe, "tO letting the public know
something of the extent and charac
ter of the improvements in contem
e plation aAd of the regulations tina
you design to inaugurate under tn
paid system?"
Certainly not. This addition to tn
east room l am making for the hoo
and ladder truck, which vacates
!. place in the main hall for a stall t
be occupied by the horse, which
design to keep within four feet G
the shafts Of the hose cart he
expected to draw. 1t also make
room for manipulating the swingin
harness, and leaves no impedimen
in the way of the men who, after
little practice, 1 am convinced Wi
be able to hitch the horse and b
rafting away to a fire in twent
seconds from the first tap of a
alarm. In some cities the freme
get out in much quicker time tina
this-NeW York, Chicago and Sa
Francisco for instance, whose aver
age time is from ten to twelve set
0 onds. There are companies WhC
0 on test exhibitions, have made it
two and a half seconds, but of cOurs
s we can't be expected to be as quic
as this. However, practice will en-
able US to approach it, aDd each liz
will accelerate our speed, The hors
must become accustomed to the SCI
. vice as we'll as the men 20
( know, and of course in tn
: start we must expect to b
a little awkward. The regulations