The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-07
INCREASE THE FORCE
COMMISSIONER MAGUIRE's VIEWS ON
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Commends What There Is, but Thinks
New and Modern Apparatus Should
Sc Purchased-Cfty VIII Act.


had anything to say in reply to criticisms
offered as to his management OF the fire
on South Meridian street Tuesday, said:
II had thought OF making a reply to Mr..
Conner. but have decided to say nothing.
understand he is a member OF the conf
mittee that is to investigate the firehouses
and apparatus, and / will have an oppor-
tunity OF meeting him then. L understand
he is going through all the houses to make
an inspection. II he does, 1t will be the
first time, as he never made trip through
all the houses of the department during the
time he was a member of the Board of
Safety. At least. If he did, knew nothing
about IL. Mayor Taggart has asked me TO
be present at a meeting OF the board, and
shall explain my side of the story TO
them. 1 don't mind being criticised when
there Is just cause for 1t, but think every
thing done was for the best. had four
streams OF water turned into the fire from
the Levy building, as we'll az from the
McCune building. II was suggested to me
a stream OF water ought TO be turned on
the roof of the building occupied by the
Fairbanks Scales Company. L went up
into the top floor and decided to try and get
line OF hose to the roof. Smoke
coming into the room at that time and in a
few minutes the roof fell in. If men had
been at work the roof they would have
been burned to death. My men will go
wherever directed. but 1 don't believe in
ordering them into what i know are dam
gerous places. / think it is better for a
block to burn than for life to be lost"
Mr.. Webster said on the subject of need
ed improvements in the service that he
would suggest that better engines and a
uxo tor frx.- he. aa1 ff,af ha
be reorganzed. or, rather. enlarged.
He thinks the present force is inadequate,
as in times OF great fires it is necessary
TO have all the men at work. They are
compelled to labor until fires are subdued
When the fires are finally extinguished
many OF the men are completely exhausted
and unfit for. duty for two or three days
His idea Is that there should be a suf-
fclent force for part of the men 10 be
held In reserve for relief purposes. Mr.
Webster said all the men and apparatus
in the city were at the recent fire, with the
exception or one hose company. He had
directed the captain OF that company to
remain in the engine house until he was
telephoned TO go 10 the fire. AIR. Webster
was too much occupied with the fire TO tele-
was very lucky circumstance, as two
alarms were sent in from that part of the
city and the company was able to save con,
been criticised for the noise incident TO
the management of the fire. He said: How
out noise? 1t is necessary for me to give
my orders to the captains In tones that can
be heard, and they. in turn, must give the
orders TO the men In loud voice i can't
take my men TO one side and whisper my
instructions. Neither can direct .them by
signs. i can't work with mutes."
Mr.. Webster C-)eS not seem al all alarmed
BY the criticisms that have been offered,
but appears inclined TO think he will be
able to satisfy Mayor Tassart and the
ment OF the fire department is all that
could be desired, and that IL will be found
that the s,f fault T., lies In the poor equipments
nothing OF the faulty water pressure.
VIEWS OF MR.. mcguire.
From what Mr.. Charles Mcguire. presi-
dent OF the Board Of Public Safety, had TO
say yesterday. the city officials are inclined
TO think Mr.. Webster Is not 10 blame and
that faulty equipment. low water pressure
the lack OF a water tower and other de-
fects are at the bottom of the trouble. Yes
terday afternoon Mr.. Mcguire said he
thought Mr.. Webster was the right man
in the right place. He thought IL Mr. Web
ster was provided with good supply of
hose, better engines and water tower
his services would be found entirely salts
factory in every respect
II went to the fire the other day." said
he, FOR the purpose OF learning where the
trouble lies. 1 was there practically all the
time-at any rate, until the fire was under
control and II was known Ii would spread
pressed me was the extremely low pressure
OF the water. Firemen had to throw bricks
through the windows In order to get a
stream inside the buildings. At times the
wind blew the smoke down from the roofs
into the street in such binding clouds that
L could not see the firemen. About Mr.
Webster 1 have TO say that I believe him
thoroughly competent 10 fill the place. No
man has more experience than he In fight
Ing f1re. He is always on hand, and is the
LAST man TO leave fire. lie has given the
city thirty years of satisfactory service.
and am In favor of giving him trial
he Is given a trial with modern equipments
a water tower and the like, If he proves in
competent II VIII be time TO consider MAX
will be necessary.
Mr.. Mcguire said the Mayor and the
the fire with a view of determining just
what should be done. 1--WE are going 10
purchase whatever is necessary. 1t has
been our intention all along TO buy a water
tower as soon as IT was possible TO make
the purchase without contracting debt, but
now We intend to buy proper equipments
pose. It is necessary for the preserv y fi
OF property that this course be pursued
We intend to have Mr.: Webster present at
our meeting. He Is acquainted with the
needs OF the department, and Is a man OF
good Judgment"
Mr.. Mcguire said some action will be
taken at once and within O few days the
public will be apprised of what course has
been determined on. 1t is his opinion that
as so many insurance adjusters are in the
city, it would be a good plan to consult
with them as to what the city ought TO
purchase; what kind OF equipment is neces-
cessary. He said committee would prob
ably be appointed on the part of the city
officials TO confer with the Joint committee
of the Board OF Trade and Commercial
Club.
THE WATER PRESSURE.
Judging from what Mr.. Mcguire said
the city officials are disposed to deal fairly
with Mr.. Webster and give him an oppor-
tunity to show what he can do under more
favorable circumstances. About the last
thing he said was: The members Of the
Indianapolis fire department earned a repu-
tation for bravery and daring throughout
the entire country at the time of the Bow
en-Merrill fire, when so many OF them lost
their lives. They will go anywhere and
they stick to their posts. Mr.. Webster
stays right with fire until II is out"
He said he did not know TO what extent
the water company was to blame for the
low pressure OF water. but IL Ii were found
at fault IL would be required TO live up TO
Its contract. I've intend TO get what we
pay for" he said Mayor Taggart and the
been working with this question ever since
the fire and intend TO do something i'm
mediately. The board was I'm consultation
with Mayor Taggart practically all day
yesterday. Three meetings We're held-one
in the forenoon. one in the afternoon and