Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-12
WILL TRAIN THEM.
Experienced Chicago Fireman
and the Local Ladies'.
THE MAYORS EXCELLENT IDEA


Ex -Assistaot Chief Greene Of the LArg-sr
ID psrt,nsnt In shs World Arrives 60 Per-
feos the Roex Island sysssm OF Prope T.
Protection.
John H. Greene. u 81 years con-
nected with the Chicago fire depart
ment. arrived in Rock I-land Satur-
day night, aud for the rext month
will give the firemen If the paid de-
partment q thorough AID prscti al
training in the methods and disci-
pline essential to successful fire-
lighting. Mr.. Gre ne comes on the
recommendation of Chief Swenie. vi
the Chicago department., to whom
Mayor Medil wrote some weeks ago
for good man to put the Department.
here through q course that woaid or
dinarily be denied the tiremen of u
city the size OF Rock Island. Mayor
Medill has seen no reason to criticizs
the working Of the department., but
be hiss always entertained two ideas
with reference to it. One is that
it should be equal to the best in the
country inasmuch as the people pay
for it. and the other that to make 1t
the best qualification and expert
ence alone should be con sidered in
its composition. He believes taa,
politics should be entirely eliminated
from 1t just as Is the case in other
cities OF paid departments. especially
the larger and more.importantc cities,
and discipline aud proper manage
ment should be exercised at all times,
whether at ii res or otherwise. 1t is
customary with cities bavi g the
best OF fire departments to send the
chief away to all gatherings If f;e
marshals with view to gaining the
advantage of intercourse. and while
the mayor believes in that plan be
felt that first and above all the en- lire
department should be subjec ed to
q months training. Chief Collier
readily acquiesced IN tina, suggestion
and in speaking about it few DAYS
ago said: elf it was simply be-
tween my going away to conven-
tion OF firemen and one experienced
fireman coming here. would favor
the latter, for while there may be
more pleasant features attached to a
trip for me alone, a man coming here
would be beneficial not only to me,
but to every member OF the depart.
ment."
When Mr.. Greene met Chief CO.
lier Saturday night the fist thing he
said was: IL am not after your Job;
l am here to give you the b ,nefiG of
the knowledge have gained through
experience. 1 have retired from fire
lighting forever, but sill am inter-
ested in department work. aud am
wiling to help build the department.
OF the country up to the standard of
the best, wherever l can be useful"
Mr.. Greene, as said, was for 81 years
in the Chicago department, begin
ming as fireman, and he rose step by
step TO the position of sec
ond assistant chef, having for
several years had charge Of
five fire battalions, including
25O men in one Of the biggest dis
tricts in Chicago. embracing all the
territory south of Thirty first street
He served throughout the world S
fair, and in 1894. having reached the
limit for optional retire nent under a
pension, he voluntarily Withdrew
from active service. The Chicago
department is. the largest 10 the
world, having now LOO mem bers.
Mr.. Greene says there is a mista ken
notion about politics cutting any fig
ure with men getting in there. An
applicant must be q candidate 60 DAYS
before being admitted. and then b 4.
standing is entirely according to The
record he makes. Merit is the sole
qualification with. Swenie, who i.
guided entirely by his as istan,s
lieutenants and captains. and with
out any regard to politics whatever
The discipline is as rigid as the reg
ular army service.
Thinks Rock Island In tsood shape,
MIR. Greene will be here a month
The city paying him a salary and all
necessary expenses while here. HI.
will train the men in ladder climb.
ing. apparatus manipulation and the
general methods of fire fighting. He
will be with the ladies &C all timsr,
and will make his training thorough
and practical. He paid the cepart.
menr neat compliment this morn
ing. saying that in a general way it
was n good shape. and in the mat.
ter OF hitching up in response to
calls was upt, the best of them.
The firemen, from the chief and as
sis'ant down. are all delighted with
the opportunity that is to be afforded
IN the Chicago veterans experience
nj, Ii thar,