Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-07
NEW HAVEN FIRE DEPARrmENT.

NEW HAVEN FIRE DEPARTMENT. The New Roster of the Force Under the New Regime Now fn Eject Where the Men Are Located, Their Hank, Etc.-The Increase of Perma. nenI Men i'm the Central Steamer H0uses-A Gymnasium Thoroughly Equipped For the Use of the Fire men-The Aerial Truck.
 The new permanent men for the fire de- partment who were appointed at the last meeting of the board of fire commissioners went on duty for the first time on Saturday, and now all the men are permanent men in the houses of steamers 1, 2, and 4, hook and ladder 1 and hose 2. There are no longer any call men at these houses. This new move will put the fire department on still frmer basis and render it still more efficient than before. This matter is one of great importance to the fire department and the city and one in which our citizens can well take satisfaction. The change is great improvement and was adopted after mature dsliberation by the fire commissioners as a precautionary measure, owing to the large number of still alarms in the city annually. The number of these still alarms is increas-
  ployment of permanent men highly essential, especially in the central part of the city, as the call men at such times are not available. Last year there were about sixty still alarms responded to by the department.
 Another thing will add still more to the efficiency of the fire laddies and will also add greater alaerity in responding to alarms. The aerial truck will in few days have another horse attached to it, making three in all, which will be driven abreast. No doubt this will prove novelty to some of our citizens, but it is nothing new, however, as in all large cities like New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Chicago this plan is now in vogue. The two horses which are now on the truck, though powerful animals, were unable to pull the ponderous machine and make any sort of time in responding to alarms. The three horses will make a handsome appearance. There is very little difference in their weight. Their respective weights are ,480, ,405 and 1,600 pounds.
 Another horse has also been added to the hose wagon of steamer ?. There are now seven horses in the house of steamer 3 and truck 1. There will be no change made in the other houses in this respect at present.
 The men at the house of steamer and hook and ladder 1 were busily engaged in breaking in the new horses on Saturday and expect to have them in high state of efh- ciency in 8 short time.
 There are now only thirty call men at taehed to the outlying engine houses, and twenty substitutes who can be called in case of an emergency. These substitutes, at the sounding of a second alarm, will report to 7's hose house and await orders. They will also take the places of men who are sick or dis abled. The entire force, including substi- tutes, consists of hundred and fifteen off cers and men. Of these sixty-fve are per manent, thirty call, and twenty substitutes. There has been any amount of large-sized talk indulged in that this one has had favor~ itism shown them or that another has failed to get @ place, but as the commissioners were, after thorough deliberation, unani- nous in every particular regarding the Rp- pointment of the new men and in making tho change, which went into effect Saturday night, there can be no doubt but that their action will have the sanction of the public. It is not to be expected that all would be suited, or that perfect satisfaction could be had on account of the various changes, but it is safe to say that the action of the com missioners was guided solely in behalf of the efficiency of the fire department, and that this was the controlling motive that governed their action in the case, together with the intent of still further rendering the department an efficient means for the pro- lection of the lives and property of our citi- capital, which is used in regard to the new changes, is uncalled for from the fact that the board of fire com missioners is a non-partisan board. It IS therefore fair to concede that they have wrought the change for the public good and not in any sense from a political or fsvorit- ism standpoint.
 The chief has been instructed by the com- missioners to fit up the hay loft of hose 7's house for a gymnasium to be provided with horizontal bars, dumbbells, Indian clubs and narrow rafters. The rafters are for the men to practice balancing themselves upon while walking-a good practice and very likely to come in play in freman's duties. Other gymnastic apparatus will be added from time to time, as the occasion may require. The work of fitting up the gymnasium will be done by the members of the department. Captain Johnston of this company. who is fine all-round athlete, will be the athletic trainer and also in charge of all supplies at this station. He formerly acted in this ca- pacity for the New Haven Gymnasium club on Chapel street in the Exchange building. The force will be divided into classes, one or two members from each house going there at time for practice once or twice @ week, and systematic plan of action will be mapped out for the guidance of the men. This arrange ment will never leave the houses without full complement of men to manage the ap- paratus. In the spring regular drill will be inaugurated for the hook and ladder men of the erial truck, which will take place on Water street and in the yard of the supply station.
 The Springfield fire department have re- gently added three horses to their new truck, which is an exact duplicate of the srial truck at hook and ladder Is house here. Had they had this truck with the life saving ap- paratus connected herewith at their fire last spring, in which so many lives were lost the result would undoubtedly have been differ ent. Two men were saved from a burning building there only two weeks ago by the Rrial ladder.
 The following list is given. It shows how the men are now located and denotes their tached:
 CHIEF ENGINEER.
 Albert 0. Hendrick.
 ASSISTANT CHIEFS,
 Andrew J. Kennedy
 William c. Smith.
 STEAMER co. NO. 1.
 Captain, John F. Dougherty.
 Engineer, James B. Toocker.
 Stoker, Charles GesSner.
 Engine driver, John Mullen.
 Hose driver, J. D. Gadwin.
 Hosenen, Patrick F. Redmond, Richard Murphy, James Goodwin.
 STEAMER CO., No.2
 Captain and acting assistant chief William H. Engineer. E. B. Sanger.
 Assistant engineer, Samuel s, C. Nash
 Hose driver Philip Reilley.
 Hosemen, William L. Cooper, James Davidson, George U. Allen, William F. Moves.
 STEAMER co. NO. 3.
 Captain, John W. Camp.
 Engineer, Henry Johnson.
 Assistant engineer, Wilbur A. Peck.
 Steamer driver, George Goebel.
 Hose driver, Edward s: Johnson. Hoseman, Richard R. Worsell.
 Hoseman, Charles D. Bristol.
 HosemaD, Edward Allen.
 STEAMER co No4 4.