The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-15
UP COMING.
Surprises Are
In Store for Gin
ton Laddies.
MEN AND HORSES.
Former to Be Reduced and
Latter Increased for
General Strength.

Clinton, May 14-At no distant date,
the fire engineers will deal with a prob
lem that presents difficulties, because
it means a reduction by a score or
more in the number of men on the vol
unteer force. Chief Engineer Frank
the department will be increased if
more horses are employed and fewer
men. The question of how the changes
are to be acted upon has not been Off
cially discussed in session. But the
engineers have conversed with Chief
Babcock on the subject. There is
little doubt but that there will be a
shakeup The plan that meets with
most favor includes a substantial in
crease in the number Of men compris-
ing the Cataract Hose Company, on the
Acre, and a similar decrease in the
number of the G. Walton Goss Com
pany, which is more commonly known
as the Burditt Hill Hose Company
The engineers are of the opinion that
much greater efficiency would be
gained than now exists if the number
Of men in each of these companies was
driver maintained permanently in each
house, with a combination wagon
which carries a ladder with the hose
There are u men in the company on
the Acre, and IA in the Burditt Hill
Company. The compensation of each
of these men, exclusive of the foremen,
who receive more, is $50 year.
A reduction in the number of men in
these two companies will not alone
Of a a
man into each house, with horse. A
number of the other hose companies
employ more men than the department
considers necessary For instance,
Foreman J. w. Rogers of Franklin
Hook and Ladder Company, thinks that
his force would be ample at 10 men.
There are u men in the company now.
Reductions of the number of men
running with the steamer is regarded
as POSSIBLY practical The Torrent
hose carries ID men, and is situated so
near the central station that the num-
Der of the company can be reduced
without impairing its ability to do eff
fective work.
1t is probable that the proposed
change will touch the Acre first. 1t is
not contemplated, as the correspondent
of The Spy understands it, that all
these changes shall be made at once
The entire plan embraces a reduction
of perhaps % men. Naturally, there
will be much that is disagreeable at
tending such a step, and even though
it is for the best interest of the depart
ment, as Chief Babcock holds, it
should not be accomplished too Violent
ly.
Chief Babcock believes that the mat
ter can be arranged so that the cost Of
running the department will remain
substantial llV as a ( present,
The appropriation for the current
year is 81, 800. The course would be
palmer if it was known how much
money will have to be expended in
maintaining the new fire station. This
is an unknown quantity. There is no
intention to exceed the appropriation
Chief Babcock feels that with per-
manent man on duty in the districts re-
ferred to, each with a horse always
ready to run, and a combination wagon,
carrying a ladder and two chemicals,
the department will be far better
equipped to cope with the fire fiend than
it is today,
Chief Babcoc1 has been looking into
the condition of the fire department in
cities of about the same size as Gin
ton. He has one notable department
in mind that employs five permanent
men and more horses than are en-
ployed here, and that is sustained on
an annual appropriation of $4,000.
Chief Babcock contemplated such a
system as this two years ago, but his
term of office expired before he had OPP
portunity to make his ideas effective
This time the work win be begun ear
lier.