Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-03-16
OUGHT TO TRAIN.
Practice Which Will Make the
Firemen More Perfect.
LADDER CLIMBING PARTICULARLY

Last Two 1hss Have Demsostsassa ths
Necessity q llsrs Exercise n Oas Dares.
sss.-sssala ss - Expsris.esa That sAs
Hrassisal Oosasssa VIM b Qaiek.
Whether It 10 because the depart
ment has had 20 little occasion for
active service in the past year. or
whether the apparatus for reaching
high buildings 10 not Of the modern
nature with which other paid de-
partments are equipped in cities
about the size of Rock Island, the
work OF the Rock Island paid firemen
has not ut the two recent fires been
fully up to the standard Of which the
public has heretofore been accus-
toned to seeing here. The COM
ments that were heard ut the IRE Of
Saturday afternoon and again on the
occasion Of the false alarm of yester-
day, while not ~ rule Of . fault
finding criticising nature-although
any citizen has . perfect right to
pass judgment where the FIRE depart
ment 10 supported % it Is in Rock
Island now. BY the tsxpayere-were
more in the line of expressions of
surprise at the lack Of the custo mary
slertness and discipline. Rot that
the department has deteriorated,
but that 1t shows lack of training
that may result in . tendency in that
direction il 1t 10 not checked before
It 10 too late.
The main evidence of lack Of train
ing 10 in ladder practice. The exhibit
ton of elevatipg the ladder in both
instances referred to was painful to
anyone accustomed to seeing the
operations of . we'll operated depart.
ment. 1t is unnecessary to 90 fur
ther away than Davenport to witness
demonstration Of she efficiency that
can be attained in this respect. To
be sure Rock Island has not 0 hoist.
ing apparatus Of the most modern
invention. yet it 10 possible through
practice to attain wonderful alacrity,
both In raising the ladders and In
mounting them. Where q paid de.
partment 10 maintained the people
are accustomed to see this. TIE Ar.
GUS from the first the strongest aud
most steadfast friend of . paid sys'
tenn, 10 not seeking an opportunity
to pass adverse comment upon ii,
but knowing what can be accom-
plished through the exercise of disci
pline over men who are hired instead
Of being volunteers, it is convinced
that the highest evidence of perfec.
ton should not only be expected BY
the public, but exhibited BY the fire
men.
EIrsmsn Need Practice.
To DO brief and to be plain, what
the Rock Island firemen need is prac.
tice. They should not wait for N
alarm to demonstrate their knowl.
edge and skill in fire fighting. The
mere riding about the city in the
pursuance Of daily exercise 10 moi
sufficient. There should be practi.
cal demonstration. The men and
teams should be put through q
course Of training daily, Just % thew
would If they we're in actual service,
It costs nothing to do this. and the
diversion would no doubt be more
welcome to the firemen-even il
their personal wishes were consulted
than otherwise. The advantage OF
training and discipline 10 the chief
end to be served In . paid depart
ment. where . well controlled, small
body Of men proves its superiority
over numbers. In the last two fires
the volunteer service of citizen,
outside Of the department has beer
noticed. too. This should only b
resorted to when the chief may call
In the ass stance OF outsiders
which may sometimes be necesss
but it 10 the exception rather thar
the rule where such occasion arises
The Rock Island 6remen can Learn
both to raise and to climb ladder,
much more quickly and gracefully
than they do now.
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